From Adolescence to the Manosphere: Has 2025 Been the Year of the Boy?
In 2025, attention to boys and men's issues surged in the UK, marked by several significant developments. June saw the first-ever Dad strike in London and Edinburgh protesting the UK's paternity leave provisions, highlighting the challenges fathers face in balancing work and family life.
In November, the UK government released its first-ever Men’s Health Strategy for England, followed by a December strategy focused on preventing misogynistic behaviour in boys as part of efforts to address Violence Against Women and Girls. These initiatives reflect a growing concern about boys' wellbeing and behaviour.
The spotlight on boys' mental health and educational attainment was further illuminated by the Centre for Social Justice’s Lost Boys study, which found boys are being left behind in these areas. This research prompted calls for more focused support.
Public discourse on toxic masculinity and online influences heightened after the Netflix drama Adolescence portrayed a 13-year-old boy becoming radicalised through the manosphere, drawing attention from school gates to Parliament. Gareth Southgate cautioned against the dangers posed by callous, manipulative, and toxic online influencers. Despite legal troubles, Andrew Tate retained influence with a UK poll revealing that one in five men aged 16–29 who knew of him viewed him positively.
In response, Movember and Equimundo launched the Young Men and Media Collective in October to fund influencers promoting healthier masculine messages. Politically, Labour MPs formed the Labour group for men and boys, with MP Natalie Fleet emphasizing the importance of positive male role models in communities.
Joeli Brearley raised concerns about the risks of far-right gains and AI-enabled sexism, urging a balanced conversation that considers both men’s issues and the challenges faced by women. Overall, 2025 was a pivotal year in grappling with the complexities surrounding boys, masculinity, and societal expectations.
