Lost boys: Why The Manosphere Is Seducing A Generation

Exam results show girls pulling further ahead, with 24% achieving top grades compared with just 19% of boys. But as our guest Mark Brooks OBE, Policy Director at the Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys, warns, the crisis goes far beyond grades.

Boys are more likely to be excluded from school, to end up in custody, to fall into addictions like gambling and pornography - and young men and boys are three times more likely than girls to take their own lives. “For 30 years, we’ve had a policy silence,” Mr Brooks says. “The narrative has been that girls have problems, and boys are the problem.”

In this vacuum, the manosphere has stepped in. Figures like Andrew Tate offer young men the promise of wealth, power and belonging. “Most boys think he’s an idiot,” Brooks says. “But some don’t. And it becomes seductive if they don’t have any alternatives. If they’re not getting guidance from us, they will look elsewhere.”

So what can carers do? In this conversation, Brooks helps families navigate the way forward:

• Why boys fall behind in the early years and often never catch up.
  How often secretive addictions like gambling and pornography exploit their vulnerabilities.
• Why positive male role models matter - and how carers can fill that gap.
• How to change the narrative from “boys are the problem” to “boys have problems.”

This is not about boys versus girls. As Brooks stresses: “We’re smart enough as a society to do both.”

Join us to learn how to support the boys you care for.

About our host:

Lucy Johnston - is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster with a long-standing commitment to social affairs, health, and children’s welfare. As a writer and host of the Care Visions Family Talk podcast, she shares powerful stories about young people in care and explores the systems that shape their lives. With a background in investigative reporting, Lucy began her career at The Big Issue before moving to The Observer and later The Sunday Express, where she is Health and Social Affairs Editor. Her work has exposed neglect in care homes, failures in mental health services, and injustices faced by vulnerable children and families.

More About Our Guest:

Mark Brooks is an award-winning senior policy and communications adviser on men’s health, inclusion and domestic abuse. This includes specialist expertise on men and boys’  marketing communication campaigns supporting help-seeking, service access and inclusion/culture change. He received an OBE in 2019 and an Honorary Doctorate (University of West London) in 2023 for his work in these fields.

A son of a van man from South East London/Kent, he was the first in his family to ever go to university and over the past 25 years has developed a highly successful communication and public policy career for national financial services organisations, membership bodies and the third sector. He now applies this expertise and experience in the field of men’s health, inclusion and domestic abuse.

He is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and a qualified domestic abuse services manager. He has been the Director/Head of Communications at two large national charities –Shaw Trust and Education and Training Foundation.

Amongst his other roles include being the head of media and public relations at National Savings and Investments/Premium Bonds. He won a national CIPR award for his Premium Bonds campaign.

He regularly speaks at conferences, on national media and advises a range of public bodies, think tanks/policy makers, government departments, academics, employers and charities.

He is now a national leader and voice in the field of men and boys’ wellbeing and the barriers they face.

Over the years, we’ve learned so much—by listening to young people and their families, and by working with leading experts in child development and well-being. Now, we want to share that knowledge with you. We know every parent or carer is doing their best, but let’s face it: parenting and caring can be tough at times, no matter who you are. That’s where we come in. Sometimes, a few helpful tips or a bit of advice from someone who's been there can make all the difference. 

Care Visions Family Talk is a series of events, hosted by Dr.Linda De Caestecker. Each session will feature guest experts in parenting and child development, offering practical insights and strategies to support your journey as a parent or carer. Every session will be followed by a Q&A or open discussion, where you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, share your experiences, or simply listen.

We welcome every parent or caregiver to join us, and while we’re committed to keeping things relaxed and welcoming, we do ask everyone to follow a few simple guidelines:  

• No judgment, no shame: This is a safe space for everyone.  
• Keep it clear: We’ll make sure the conversation is accessible to all. If there’s any jargon, we’ll explain it. 
• Curiosity is key-: There’s no such thing as a silly question—ask anything! 
• Join in as much or as little as you like: Whether you want to participate or just listen, that’s entirely up to you. 

During each session, you’re free to ask questions or share comments..