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Are men okay? New data is coming out showing that a gender gap is growing, and young men and boys are falling behind in several key areas, including education, employment, and mental health. Some are inspired by influencers like Jordan Peterson and Andrew Tate. What does it mean to “be a man” today, and how do social constructs and labels like toxic masculinity impact the question?
For some men, labeling masculinity as a “prison” is shortsighted and ignores the evolving nature of the role that transcends convenient, one-size-fits-all labels. Others see men defined by a rigid set of expectations that stifles emotional expression and, in some cases, perpetuates insecurity that can lead to emotional isolation and other negative outcomes.
Is Masculinity A Prison? Join us for a live, no-holds-barred debate about one of the most charged and complex questions in our culture today. With humor and an open mind, we’ll unpack what masculinity means today—and who it’s helping or hurting.
This debate will be recorded on September 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM at the Comedy Cellar's Village Underground in New York City.
Help us bring debate to communities and classrooms across the nation.
DonateIn recent years, and especially during critical election seasons, identity politics have become a big part of American political discourse, with both Democrats and Republicans leveraging issues of race, gender, and class to engage voters and adopt identity-driven platforms to appeal to specific voting blocs. Vice President Kamala Harris’s entry as a female, mixed-race candidate has brought up questions about whether focusing on identity is distracting us from the issues at hand. Those who don’t think so argue that voters from diverse backgrounds want to see their unique concerns addressed, and identity politics offers a pathway for inclusion, representation, and empowerment for groups that have been historically sidelined. Those who think it is holding us back argue it distracts from broader policy discussions, prevents constructive dialogue on solutions that benefit everyone, and risks alienating large segments of the electorate who may feel excluded from the conversation.
As voters are deciding who to vote for, we debate the question: In the 2024 Presidential Election, Are Identity Politics Holding Us Back?
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A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, Open to Debate, formerly known as Intelligence Squared U.S. addresses a fundamental problem in America: the extreme polarization of our nation and our politics.
Our mission is to restore critical thinking, facts, reason, and civility to American public discourse.
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