Tag Archives: male

How Long He Abstains: The Impact of Male Ejaculation Timing on IVF Success

Posted on by
Reply

How Simple Interventions Boost IVF Success Rates

Christoph Burgstedt/Science Photo Library

Men are encouraged to ejaculate within 48 hours prior to IVF egg retrieval to enhance their chances of achieving a viable pregnancy. This recommendation comes from the first clinical trial exploring the effects of varying ejaculation intervals on fertility treatment outcomes.

During the final stages of an IVF cycle, a woman receives a “trigger” injection that matures the developing egg. This crucial injection occurs 36 hours before the eggs are harvested and fertilized.

For optimal sperm health during fertilization, men are often advised to ejaculate between two to seven days before providing their sperm sample for IVF. According to Dr. David Miller from the University of Leeds, who was not involved in the study, “There is an ideal timeframe for ejaculation when sperm quality peaks.”

This two-to-seven-day range is quite broad. Prolonged storage of sperm in the testes exposes them to various environmental toxins, particularly free oxygen radicals from metabolic processes and pollution. This exposure can lead to DNA damage and deterioration of sperm quality, warns Dr. Richard Paulson, also not involved in the trial. Conversely, too short a period between ejaculations may decrease sperm count.

Until now, solid clinical evidence supporting the idea that shorter intervals between ejaculations improve pregnancy outcomes has been lacking, though some studies hint at this. For instance, a 2024 meta-analysis observed that ejaculating less than four days apart correlated with improved semen quality in infertile men. Moreover, another study indicated that intervals under four hours resulted in lesser DNA-damaged sperm and enhanced sperm motility.

To investigate this concept further, Professor Yang Yu from the First Hospital of Jilin University in Changchun, China, conducted a study with 453 men undergoing conventional IVF. One group ejaculated roughly 36 hours prior to the final sperm sample, while another group ejaculated between 48 hours and seven days before.

Results revealed that the ongoing pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the short abstinence group: 46% versus 36% in the longer abstinence group. “While these findings are encouraging, it’s essential to note that they don’t completely represent ultimate treatment outcomes such as live birth rates,” Miller states. Nonetheless, the shorter abstinence group exhibited lower miscarriage rates, suggesting a potential for more live births.

Professor Paulson highlighted that the study provided intriguing insights but also noted its weaknesses, including the inclusion of both fresh and frozen embryos. IVF success rates can vary significantly between these two types. He also pointed out that the data showed a fertility decline in the short abstinence group while simultaneously seeing an increase in ongoing pregnancies. This suggests that fewer couples conceived, but those who did were more likely to continue past 12 weeks, warranting more detailed analysis. “Extraordinary claims necessitate extraordinary evidence that meticulously accounts for all potential variables,” he commented.

Future studies may also disclose whether more frequent ejaculation improves pregnancy outcomes for couples not undergoing IVF. “This trial offers strong evidence that shorter periods of abstinence contribute to better sperm quality,” asserts Dr. Jackson Kirkman-Brown from the University of Birmingham, UK.

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Queen Ant Produces New Male Species for Daughter’s Mating

Posted on by
Reply

Male ants of distinct species laid by the same mother: Messor ibericus (left) and Messor structor (right)

Jonathan Romiguier

In the clutches of the Iberian Harvester Ant queens, another male species, the Builder Harvester Ant, emerges. These males are responsible for siring all the workers in the colony.

“This assertion appears utterly unbelievable, akin to the impossible,” remarks Jonathan Romiguier from the University of Montpellier, France. Nonetheless, he has confirmed its validity.

Romiguier’s curiosity was piqued by the Iberian harvester ants (Messor ibericus) after he discovered that all the workers were hybrids. About half of their DNA aligned with that of the builder harvester ant (Messor structor).

The most plausible explanation is that the queen of M. ibericus mated with a male of M. structor. This occurrence is seen in other ant species. The reasons remain unclear, but two main theories have emerged. One is that hybrids of closely related species could benefit from what’s known as hybrid vigor, where various genes can compensate for each other’s deficiencies.

Another theory suggests this may address a peculiar challenge faced by M. ibericus and several other harvester ant species: whenever M. ibericus queens mate with males of their own species, all offspring become queens. This might stem from a genetic tendency to secure their lineage, but it becomes detrimental for colonies that need worker ants for survival. Breeding with another species may provide a solution.

However, M. ibericus colonies are widespread across various Mediterranean locales, unlike M. structor colonies, which are exclusive to Sicily. Nonetheless, Romiguier and his team encountered peculiar, hairless males of M. structor within an M. ibericus nest. So, where did they originate?

The genetic examination of these unusual males yielded perplexing insights. A tiny segment of the mitochondrial DNA—passed solely from the mother—indicated that these males derive from the M. ibericus queen.

This hinted that the eggs produced by the queen of M. ibericus could encompass males of a different species. To verify this theory, Romiguier brought several M. ibericus colonies into his lab. “Under laboratory conditions, it’s nearly impossible to find a male,” he comments. “We maintained about 50 colonies and observed one male for two years without success. Then, fortune smiled upon us.”

From three M. structor males born in the lab, the evidence was undeniable: the queen of M. ibericus produced males from both species. The only explanation for this phenomenon is that the queen ant cloned M. structor males using stored sperm in specialized organs called spermathecae. The resulting eggs were almost entirely devoid of M. ibericus DNA, except for its mitochondrial component.

This also clarifies the origin of M. structor sperm: by producing two types of males, the queen guarantees that her daughters who evolve into queens can mate with both male types. The females use M. ibericus sperm to generate new queens, while M. structor sperm is utilized for hybrid workers and new male ants.

There are notable instances from other species—including ants, mollusks, and stick insects—where female eggs are manipulated by male sperm from different species, leading to the elimination of egg DNA and the production of unrelated individuals. However, this scenario mainly benefits males. This is the sole known instance where both male and female offspring from distinct species rely on each other for reproduction.

“The queen of M. ibericus is entirely dependent on her cloned males. Without them, she cannot produce workers,” states Romiguier. Moreover, the clones of M. structor need the males of M. ibericus for rearing workers and sustaining their colonies—there is no sign that they mate exclusively within their species.

While these findings may seem far-fetched, they have garnered the support of other specialists. “The researchers conducted thorough investigations into these ants,” comments Nathan Law from the University of Sydney. “Their results robustly affirm their conclusions.”

He speculates that cloned males could accumulate harmful genetic mutations that may not be purged over time due to the lack of interbreeding with other strains. “Eventually, this system may start to decline, especially as environmental conditions shift.”

Romiguier agrees that this exceptional situation might eventually lead to collapse. Yet, at present, it appears that M. ibericus and M. structor have navigated their relationship with ingenious adaptability, propelling their expansion throughout the Mediterranean, while M. structor colonies have not established themselves elsewhere.

Insects and Ecosystem Expedition Safari: Sri Lanka

A voyage into the depths of Sri Lanka’s vast biodiversity through a unique entomology and ecosystem-centered expedition.

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Paleontologists Reveal Significant Size Difference Between Male and Female Australopithecus

Posted on by
Reply

Two extinct hominins, Australopithecus afarensis and Australopithecus africanus, exhibited much greater sexual dimorphism than chimpanzees and modern humans. According to Dr. Adam Gordon, a paleontologist at the University of Albany and Durham, Australopithecus afarensis displayed even higher levels of dimorphism.

Reconstructing the face of Australopithecus afarensis. Image credit: Cicero Moraes/CC by-sa 3.0.

The sexual size dimorphism is not just a mere physical trait; it indicates deeper behavioral and evolutionary strategies.

In line with sexual selection theory, the sexual size dimorphism seen in modern primates typically correlates with intense male-male competition and social structures, fostering a one-sided mating system where one or more large males dominate access to multiple females.

Conversely, low sexual dimorphism is characteristic of species that exhibit paired social structures with lower competition for mating opportunities.

Contemporary human populations show low to moderate sexual size dimorphism, with males generally being slightly larger than females on average, although there is considerable overlap between the sexes.

Fossil data is often incomplete, making it exceedingly difficult to ascertain the gender of ancient individuals.

To overcome this issue, Dr. Gordon utilized a geometric averaging method for estimating size from multiple skeletal elements, including the upper arm, femur, and tibia.

Resampling techniques were then employed to simulate thousands of comparisons between fossil hominins and living primates, ensuring that the statistical model accounted for the incomplete and varied nature of fossil samples.

A comparative framework was developed using data from contemporary gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans with known genders and complete skeletons.

Unlike earlier studies where ambiguous or inconclusive statistical results were interpreted as signs of similarity, Dr. Gordon’s approach unveiled clear and significant differences, even with relatively small fossil samples.

To eliminate the potential of body size changes in Australopithecus afarensis reflecting broader evolutionary trends rather than gender distinctions, Dr. Gordon also analyzed time series trends over a 300,000-year span from the Khadar Formation in Ethiopia.

His analysis indicated no significant size increase or decrease over time, suggesting that the observed variations were more likely due to differences between males and females.

“These were not minor differences,” Dr. Gordon stated.

“In the case of Australopithecus afarensis, males were significantly larger than females—possibly more so than the great living apes.”

“Both of these extinct hominin species displayed gender-specific size distinctions from modern humans, yet differed from extant ape species in this regard.”

Australopithecus africanus. Image credit: JM salas/cc by-sa 3.0.

Dr. Gordon’s previous research indicates that the elevated sexual size dimorphism seen in living primates may correlate with considerable resource stress. In situations where food is scarce, smaller, healthier females can better meet their metabolic needs and reproduce quicker than larger females, leading to offspring with smaller mothers and greater size disparities between males and females.

The pronounced sexual size dimorphism observed in both Australopithecus afarensis and Australopithecus africanus suggests a high level of male competition, akin to differences noted in chimpanzees and gorillas. However, the distinctions between the two fossil species could reflect varying intensities of sexual selection or resource stress in their environments (e.g., differences in the length of dry seasons that could affect female body size).

In any event, the high sexual size dimorphism of these fossil hominins starkly contrasts with the more balanced sizes seen in modern humans, offering insights into different models of early human existence.

The implications of these findings are significant. Australopithecus afarensis, which inhabited the Earth between 3.9 and 2.9 million years ago, is often viewed as very closely related to the direct ancestors of modern humans.

However, its pronounced sexual dimorphism suggests that early human social systems may have been much more hierarchical and competitive than previously believed.

On the contrary, Australopithecus africanus—which appears slightly later in the fossil record—exhibits less dimorphism compared to Australopithecus afarensis. This could represent different evolutionary branches within the human lineage or perhaps reflect various social behavioral stages in the development of hominins.

“We often categorize these early hominins together as a single group called Gracile Australopithecines, believed to have interacted with their physical and social environments in similar ways,” Dr. Gordon explained.

“While there is some truth to this, the significant differences in dimorphism between the two species indicate that these closely related hominins were under distinct selection pressures, unlike those affecting modern human pair bonds.”

The survey findings will be published in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology.

____

Adam D. Gordon. 2025. Dimorphism of sexual size in Australopithecus africanus and A. afarensis in contrast to modern humans despite low power resampling analysis. American Journal of Biological Anthropology 187(3): E70093; doi: 10.1002/ajpa.70093

Source: www.sci.news

Research suggests that female bonobos band together to avoid male aggression

Posted on by
Reply

woman Bonobos New research is discovering that they team up to find strength in numbers and combine them to dodge wild men.

With ChimpanzeesBonobo is one of the closest relatives of humans. Scientists have been wondering why bonobos live in general Women dominate Men are physically bigger and stronger, so they are social.

30 Years of Observation in the Congo – The only place where endangered bonobos are seen in the wild is to support the idea of ​​sisters who unite to assert their powers.

These groups of girls found women who ousted male bonobos out of the trees, secured food for themselves, and ranked them higher on the community’s social ladders, researchers found.

“It’s very clear not to step on as a male bonobo,” said Martin Sarbeck, Harvard research author.

The findings were published in the Journal Communications Biology on Thursday.

The combined number of female bonobos appears to change the tide to male fitness, Sarbeck said. This type of strategy allows women to get women to top the top in the Animal Kingdom. Find power in the group as well.

Female bonobos linked, even if they had no close relationships, supported each other against men, and solidified their social status. The observations show how female bonobos work together to protect themselves from male violence, bioanthropologist Laura Lewis said at the University of California, Berkeley.

The findings “support the idea that humans and our ancestors use coalitions to maintain and maintain power over millions of years,” Lewis, who was not involved in the study, said in an email.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The Power of the TikTok Generation: Female Athletes Raising the Standards Above Their Male Counterparts

Posted on by
Reply

LIna Nielsen recalls the moment when inspiration struck. While lounging around the Olympic Village in Paris with her sprinting comrades, she felt bored. “I turned to Yemi Mary John and said, ‘Let’s transform this into TikTok,'” Nielsen recounted. She retreated to her room, grabbed the flip phone assigned to each player, and entered the following into an Excel sheet: “Come on, come at me.”

Shortly after, she swiftly created a five-second parody of Kelly Rowland’s music video text message blunder. “It’s amusing how a video that’s both simple and effortless can be so impactful,” Nielsen remarked with a chuckle. She still finds it hard to believe that her TikTok channel was the most popular among all British athletes at the Olympics, surpassing even the second-place finisher Tom Daley. By the end of the two-week Olympic event, her channel had more views than the Australian and German teams combined.

Nielsen, along with her twin sister Raviai, who also participated in the Paris Games, joined countless athletes in sharing glimpses of village life, ranging from chocolate muffins to cardboard beds. “It served as a good distraction because too much focus on competition can lead to intensity. Social media helped to take my mind off things,” she stated. While Nielsen was defeated in the 400m hurdles semi-finals, she later aided the British relay team in clinching a bronze medal in the 4x400m event.

The “TikTok Olympics” of 2024 uncovered surprising trends, revealing that female athletes outnumbered their male counterparts on social media platforms. Research conducted by the Women in Sport Trust disclosed that female athletes constituted 69% of TeamGB’s total TikTok content and 67% of its views. Globally, women’s voices dominated the discourse in Paris, spanning from Australian water polo ace Tilly Kearns to Dutch skateboarder Keet Oldenbubing.

American gymnasts’ feeds showcased Mykayla Skinner criticizing her former teammate’s work ethic before seizing the gold medal, and Simone Biles celebrating post-victory with the caption, “Champions. Lack of talent, lazy, Olympians.” The subsequent attention on this post evolved into its narrative.

However, the standout star of the competition was American rugby luminary Ilona Maher. Her signature lipstick and unfiltered demeanor in the fake Love Island video from the Olympic Village captured hearts. The 28-year-old, who bagged a bronze medal for the United States in Paris and was a runner-up on Dancing with the Stars, soared to fame upon joining the Bristol Bears team recently.

“I won’t even earn six figures in rugby, that’s the harsh reality,” Maher shared in a recent interview. “Some might perceive that I’m not serious about my career, with TikTok-ing and all, but it’s necessary for me. That’s where I generate most of my income.”

Her candidness plays a vital role in her appeal. “She stays true to herself,” remarked rugby sevens player Ellie Boatman, who scored in the quarter-final clash between Great Britain and the United States. “Her authenticity resonates with audiences. She candidly shares about her journey. Initially hesitant, she now takes pride in it, something that many women can relate to.”

Boatman has amassed a substantial following of her own, with her kit rundown being Team GB’s most-viewed video. Her online presence has grown through open discussions about overcoming eating disorders, advocating social media as a platform for sportswomen to exhibit vulnerability and authenticity.

“Previously, athletes merely kept their focus on performing and diligent work,” Boatman reflected. “Now, people are more intrigued by the person behind the athlete. It’s wonderful to witness more narratives about personal journeys unfold recently.”

In an era where highly-paid male athletes appear disconnected from reality, empathy becomes a unique selling point in the sports industry.

Jenny Mitton, managing partner and head of women’s sport at M&C Saatchi Agency, noted that sportswomen naturally possess effective social communication skills due to the historical need for them to advocate for themselves. “When they are passionate about an issue, be it excelling in the sport or combating discrimination, their sincerity shines through, resonating with audiences,” Mitton added. She pointed out that authenticity is what flourishes on social media platforms.

This newfound power of female athletes in addressing important issues on social media is seen as a positive development by Lina Nielsen, who, living with multiple sclerosis, aspires to advocate for those with disabilities. “Using my voice to raise awareness about MS is something I strive for,” Nielsen expressed, highlighting the impact social media has in driving change and creating a platform for important conversations.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tim Walz and AOC team up for epic soccer showdown on Twitch to win over young male voters

Posted on by
Reply

Vice presidential candidates Tim Walz and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced on Sunday that they will be playing American football as part of their efforts to secure votes from young people, just nine days before the White House election. The game was streamed live on Twitch.

Ocasio-Cortez and Walz will compete in the latest Madden game series as Democrats aim to regain control of the House of Representatives, maintain a Senate majority, and challenge Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election. They also emphasized the importance of Kamala Harris’s victory.

“While we may not all share the same beliefs, defeating Trump this year is our main priority,” said Ocasio-Cortez.

Ocasio-Cortez criticized President Trump as an authoritarian ruler and a facist supported by special interests who are exacerbating the ongoing climate crisis. She also condemned the billionaire owners of the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post for not allowing their editorial teams to endorse Harris over Trump.

During the broadcast, Ocasio-Cortez also called out comedian Tony Hinchcliffe for making derogatory comments about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally.

Ocasio-Cortez and Walz decided to play Madden together a few weeks ago, as Walz had previous experience with the game and had worked as a football coach.

Following a recent NBC news investigation, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris is leading Donald Trump among young male registered voters.

Despite their lead, Democrats have historically struggled with public opinion during past election cycles. The Trump campaign recently criticized the former president during a three-hour appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, which primarily attracts young male viewers.

Sunday’s event with Ocasio-Cortez followed her initial appearance on Twitch, which was one of the platform’s most-watched events at the time.

Harris’s campaign strategy also focuses on targeting young people, with ads on sports gambling platforms such as DraftKings and Yahoo Sports.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Male lemurs exhibit enlarged testicles in the presence of other males

Posted on by
Reply

Male Verreaux’s Sifaka

Gabriel Bueno

Dominant male lemurs grow more flexible testicles when other males are present, improving their position for successful mating.

In many species, dominant males have larger testes than subordinate males. Increased Testosterone Research has also shown that males of group-living, multi-male species have larger testes than males of group-living, single-male species. Larger testes mean more sperm can be produced, which increases the male’s chances of producing offspring if a female mates with multiple males.

Gabriel Bueno and Rebecca Lewis Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin tested whether this pattern held true within a single population by looking at testicle size in 23-year-old adult men. Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus beleaucii) took place outside of the mating season over a 13-year period in Kirindimitea National Park in western Madagascar.

This lemur group is made up of several groups, some with only one male and some with several. As in all lemur societies, the females hold the most social power, but the males also have their own hierarchy. Dominant lemurs have greasy brown spots on their chests from constant scent marking, while subordinate lemurs have clean white bodies.

The researchers found that the testicles of stained males in multi-male groups were on average 103 percent larger than those of clean males from the same groups and 31 percent larger than those of stained males in single-male groups. The stained lemurs in multi-male groups may be producing more testosterone than other lemurs or they may be suppressing the amount of testosterone that clean males can produce, Bueno says.

Stained males living in multi-male groups not only have larger scrotums in absolute terms, but also larger relative to their body size, which Bueno says suggests indicates that dominant males spend more energy competing for sperm when there are other males around.

“The key is that they can make that switch,” Bueno says. Because the dominant male always has the largest testicles, when a dirty male with larger testicles enters the group, the dirty male’s gonads grow. This “highlights how extraordinarily flexible they are and how they adapt to their social environment,” Bueno says.

“It is surprising that males can flexibly adjust their testis size across a range of environments throughout their lives,” he said. Peter Kappeler The researchers, from the University of Göttingen in Germany, added that their findings raise important questions about the potential costs of maintaining large testes: Enlarging them requires energy that cannot be used elsewhere, and likely requires the animal to search for more food.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Male and female spiders resembling a flower.

Posted on by
Reply

A brown male Thomisus guangxicus Spider (center) in a Hoya pandurata flower with a pale amber female just below it.

Wu Shimao

A species of spider discovered in China may have evolved a male-female pair that looks like a flower, allowing it to blend into the background.

“This may be the world's first case of cooperative imitation,” said Shi-Mao Wu of Yunnan University, who observed it with colleagues. Jiang Yun Gao.

Spiders of the family Tomicidae, also known as crab spiders, are ambush predators that usually live on or near flowers.

They are known for their excellent camouflage abilities that prevent them from being detected by prey or predators. Some species can even change color to match the color of the flower they sit on.

Wu and Gao were in the rainforest of southwestern China's Yunnan province when a male crab spider attacked them. Tomysus guanxicus Something caught Mr. Wu's attention.the spider was sitting on the flower Hoya pandurataa plant that lives on ancient tea trees in the forest.

“The first time I observed a male spider, I didn't see a female spider,” Wu said. Only when I got closer did I notice that the male spider was lying on the female's back. “They tricked my eyes really well,” he says.

Researchers hypothesize that the small, dark-colored males mimic pistils (female organs in the center of flowers), while the females mimic fused petals.

Researchers say that only when individual spiders of both sexes come together will the flowers match in appearance.

but, Gabriele Greco A professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences is not convinced. “It's very difficult to determine the nature of the observed behavior,” he says.

In fact, in many spider species it is common for the male to stand over the female during mating. “A simpler explanation might be simple interactions related to courtship and mating,” Greco says.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

New Study Shows Male Mammals Are Not Larger Than Females

Posted on by
Reply

In his influential work Descent of Man, Charles Darwin confidently asserted that male mammals are generally larger than females. This concept, known as sexual size dimorphism (SSD), initially seemed logical. Darwin believed that females needed to invest a significant amount of energy in their offspring during pregnancy and after giving birth, while males needed to be bigger and stronger to compete with other males, particularly in scenarios involving physical combat.

For over 150 years, Darwin’s views on this matter have remained largely unchallenged. However, a recent study conducted by researchers at the City University of New York and Princeton University may radically alter this perspective. The research indicates that in most mammalian species, there is actually no significant difference in body size between males and females.

The study analyzed a total of 429 mammal species, with nine individuals from each species being examined. While in species where sexual dimorphism is present (such as lions and deer, where males and females exhibit distinct physical traits), males tended to be larger. However, this pattern did not hold true for the majority of species.

For instance, many species of bats and rodents show minimal dimorphism, with males and females displaying similar sizes.

“We were surprised to discover that almost half of all bat species have larger females and that half of all rodent species exhibit sexual size monomorphism, where males and females are the same size,” stated Dr. Kaia Tombak, the lead scientist behind the study, in an interview with BBC Science Focus. “These two groups make up the majority of all mammals.”

Past studies on dimorphism have often excluded these species from their findings.

“The concept of ‘larger males’ remains prevalent in evolutionary biology,” Tombak noted. “However, if this research receives sufficient attention, it could lead to significant changes in this area.”

Bat

Yellow-winged bat (Lavia front) in Kenya. In this species, like most bats, females tend to be larger than males. Photo credit: Severin Hex

The most extreme female-biased dimorphism (where females are larger than males) was observed in peninsular tube-nosed bats (Murina Peninsula). Female world leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) also tended to be larger than males.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Power of Positive Male Role Models in Transforming the Social Media “Manosphere” | Social Media

Posted on by
Reply

I
Influencers like Andrew Tate have become synonymous with “toxic masculinity,” using a combination of motivational scoldings, fast cars, and demonstrations of sexual prowess to appeal to large audiences of young men and boys. It’s attracting.

But what about the other side of the coin? Are people creating content with healthier messages for the same audience? Or maybe men and boys simply don’t want to hear it? Or?

Jago Sherman, head of strategy at Goat Agency, an influencer subsidiary of marketing giant WPP, says: -Love, self-expression, fighting knife crime, education, but they don’t always make the headlines.



“People like Andrew Tate are using social media to make far-reaching and far-reaching unsubstantiated claims, as if they are providing a ‘quick-fix’ answer to a very complex problem. The problem, of course, is that these statements are most often not true, or are opinions disguised as facts.

In a social environment where creators compete for attention, this ‘shock factor’ content that can be consumed and understood very quickly can sometimes perform better than longer, thought-provoking, neutral content.

Against this backdrop, Labor last week announced plans to promote a more positive vision of masculinity. According to the proposal, schools would develop leaders from their own students who would help counter the misogynistic vision promoted by Tate and others, as well as be more critical of what they see on screen. Students will be supported to explain their analysis skills in class.




Andrew Tate has been described as appearing to provide “off-the-cuff answers to very complex problems”. Photo: Robert Ghement/EPA

Some men who give a more positive vision of masculinity have already broken out and become famous in their own right. Fitness influencers like Joe Wicks, whose career began with his Instagram posts as The Body Coach, may not attract teenage boys with their lewd content. Simple advice delivered in a friendly, almost relentlessly cheerful manner can still garner millions of followers.

Perhaps the biggest symbol of this more assertive approach to masculinity is the philanthropic work of Russ Cook, known to many as Instagram’s biggest geek. If all goes to plan, he will complete his year-long attempt to cross the continent from tip to toe, ending in April. Mr. Cook raised around £200,000. running charity and sand blast and amassed nearly 1 million followers across his various social platforms, conclusively proving the appropriateness of his username in the process.

But there’s an asymmetry in some of the debate around toxic influencers, said Saul Parker, founder of. good side, we work with charities and brands to help them achieve their positive goals. While young women are encouraged to seek out positive role models for their own benefit, young men are often encouraged to seek out positive role models in order to treat women better. It risks ignoring the harm that harmful influencers can cause to boys and young people themselves, and undermines efforts to encourage them to find better people to learn from.

“There’s a generation of men who have been born into very difficult conversations about patriarchy and its impact on women’s lives,” Parker says. “As a result, they’re in a place where they feel like they’re third-class citizens. And accepting that young men are having a bit of a hard time and needing help is difficult, especially on the left. It’s very difficult.”


Skip past newsletter promotions

After newsletter promotion

Because focusing on misogyny rather than the broader message of traditional masculine norms in which the “manosphere” thrives risks overshadowing a second generation of post-Tate pernicious influences, this is important. Through repetition, the boys learn that repeating the casual misogyny of someone like Tate in public is bad, and when asked, they say they don’t like the way he talks about women, but say, “Other things.” often insist that you just listen to him.

“David Goggins is the kind of guy we’re facing right now,” Parker said. “He’s a former Navy SEAL, he’s a huge influence on every social platform, but he and all his… The content is about ‘self-discipline’ and ‘self-motivation.’ He tells me things like ‘wake up in the morning,’ ‘go to the gym,’ ‘take a cold shower,’ and ‘be a man,’ but he never talks about women or sex.”

“Taking women out of the equation doesn’t make it any less of a problem. He just doesn’t have anything nasty to say, so it’s hard to find sharp points.”

In other words, attracting boys to a more positive vision of masculinity does not happen by default. But neither should lose hope. There is nothing inherent in childhood experiences that only stick with toxic messages, and with a little work, better role models can develop.

Source: www.theguardian.com

New findings finally expose the true differences between male and female brains

Posted on by
Reply

Since the beginning of time, men and women have tended to have different social roles, interests, and occupations. It is natural to think that perhaps these stem from innate differences in their brains and more obvious differences in their bodies. This idea has long been controversial, but now that ideas about gender are changing more rapidly than ever, the question of whether male and female brains are different has become more acute. There is. This remains a controversial issue even among neuroscientists. Nevertheless, they are finally cutting into historical discrimination and gender politics and trying to get to the truth.

Early measurements of skull volume showed that, on average, male brains are slightly larger and heavier than female brains. Some commentators argued that this “five ounce deficit” was the key to the man's superior abilities. In fact, the simple explanation is that the larger the body, the more brain tissue it requires to move it. This is a relationship found across animal species.

The situation became even more complicated in the 1990s with the advent of brain scanning technology, which suggested sex differences in the size of certain brain regions and structures. These findings often turned into compelling stories about, for example, why women are more empathetic on average or why men are more likely to become engineers. But studies from the early decades of brain scanning research should be taken with a pinch of salt, he says. leeds elliott at Rosalind Franklin University in Illinois. “When we control for brain size, all claims about volumetric differences in individual structures disappear…

Source: www.newscientist.com