Winning over young men

Many boys and men do not feel that equality is about them, or exists for them. The men's committee believes that equality's next step should be to include boys and men's challenges to a greater extent than today. . . Greater attention to boys' and men's equality challenges will strengthen equality policy, not weaken it.

ReadRichard V Reeves' thrilled announcement of this evidence-based report, which spells out gender gaps in a range of key areas: education, work, health, leisure, crime family life and social isolation. And makes strong recommendations, including more men studying for careers in health, education and social care. Plus, gender neutral equality law – now how's that for a radical suggestion?

Not that we'd expect anything radical from the Libs – don't forget it wasn't long ago that Liberals were apologising to Brittany Higgins in parliament, funding a second National Plan to End Violence against Women despite the abject failure of the first and voting for Labor's anti-father family law bill. This leopard isn't going to radically change its spots.

But perhaps they could come up with a few crumbs for those wavering young men looking for some sign that a future Coalition government won't continue the divisive gender politics of Labor.

Some reasonable suggestions include:

• An inquiry into barriers to males embarking on teaching careers.
• Measures to address the increasing disengagement of boys at school.
• Introducing blind recruiting into the public service.
• Ensuring equal opportunity in education and employment.

And maybe even the most radical suggestion of all: evidence-based domestic violence policies?