Now and Men

Conflict, Peace-building and Hope: Taking Boys Seriously in Northern Ireland - Dr Ken Harland


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Apr 16 2024 60 mins   6
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Dr Ken Harland has been involved in youth work practice and research with boys and young men in Northern Ireland for the past 35 years. During that time, he has witnessed a transition from a culture in which violence and conflict was normalised, to one of peace-building and hope. But how were ‘The Troubles’ shaped by gender inequality? What impact did and does the conflict have on young men growing up, and on ideas of masculinity? How is it possible to reach disadvantaged boys and young men and help them find their voice in this context? And are there lessons for elsewhere from the political transformation of Northern Ireland towards peace?

After being a community youth worker for 17 years, in 1996 Ken joined Ulster University and was co-founder and co-director of the ‘Centre for Young Men’s Studies’ there from 2005-2016. Since then he’s worked independently as a consultant, trainer, lecturer and researcher in youth and youth-related issues, and also works part-time as a Research Fellow and Consultant with Ulster University's longitudinal research initiative ‘Taking Boys Seriously’. In this episode, Ken talks movingly about his personal story, linking his early work experiences in the shipyards, to finding his passion in education, his relationship with his dad, and being a grandparent. 


We cover the following topics:

  • Ken’s experience of living through The Troubles (01:14-05:22)
  • The place of gender in conversations about transition away from conflict (05:22-08:45)
  • How men were expected to be ‘defenders’ and ‘protectors’ (08:45-11:52)
  • The dominance of the ‘cult of the hardman’ (11:52-15:34)
  • Similarities and differences in masculine pressures in different contexts (15:34-18:36)
  • The impact of the police and army as well as paramilitary organisations (18:36-20:17)
  • Hopes for a better future despite the challenges (20:17-25:07)
  • The experiences of women during The Troubles (25:07-26:59)
  • What led Ken to work on masculinity issues (26:59-35:30)
  • The establishment of the Centre for Young Men’s Studies in Belfast (35:30-40:59)
  • Making sense of how masculinity influences young men's (and our own) lives (40:59-46:46)
  • Taking Boys Seriously: The need for gender conscious relational pedagogy (46:46-48:33)
  • Practical lessons from Ken’s work with boys (48:33-53:04)
  • Conclusion: Moving away from a culture of violence; Challenging the notion that boys don’t talk; Social change in Northern Ireland, including around Brexit and abortion; Connections with previous episodes, including #39 with Dr Jocelyn Smith Lee on gun violence in the US (53:04-01:00:45)

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