06/03/2026
During my time in Sydney, I had the privilege of sitting down with Raewyn Connell.
Our conversation began with something simple: how she first entered the field of studying masculinities.
At the time, it was not a common academic path. Yet what began as curiosity gradually grew into decades of work that helped shape the global conversation about men, gender, and power.
Listening to her speak about that journey was fascinating. Not only because of the ideas, but because of the way she described how transformative this work has been for her own life.
Studying masculinities, she said in different ways throughout the conversation, is not just an intellectual exercise. It changes how you see the world, relationships, institutions, and the social expectations placed on men.
We also spoke about something that feels particularly important to me: the bridge between research and practice.
The theories developed in universities matter. But they become truly alive when they meet the lived experiences of men in communities, workshops, and conversations.
The meeting itself was incredibly generous. I left with new insights, a longer reading list — including authors like Bob Pease and Henry Lawson — and even a few recommendations for bookstores around Sydney where I can spend hours exploring these ideas further.
Some conversations stay with you long after they end.
This was one of them.
👇 Connell’s brief bio in the comments below
📸 Connell’s photo by James Brickwood
