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Campus Conversations is a student podcast brought to you by UCL students and the Student Success Office. We're back for Season 2 — bigger, bolder, and with even more honest conversations about student life at UCL! Hosted by students, for students, this podcast dives into the topics that actually matter to students, from politics and careers to friendships, finances, and everything in between. This season, the conversations go deeper, the debates get bigger, and we’re bringing in more student voices, opinions, and real experiences from across our university. Whether we’re discussing the pressure to succeed, navigating life in London, or the big issues shaping our generation, Campus Conversations is all about sharing perspectives, learning from each other, and reminding you that no one has university life completely figured out. Expect thoughtful discussions, relatable moments, a few disagreements, and a lot of laughs along the way!
00:00:00:17 - 00:00:16:10
Hafsa
Welcome to Campus Conversations, brought to you by UCL Student Success Team. Your go to podcast for all things student life at University College London. We're back for season two and today we'll be talking about gender identity and equality. I'm Hafsa and I study First-Year law.
00:00:16:12 - 00:00:19:03
Brandon
I'm Brandon and I study first year chemical engineering.
00:00:19:05 - 00:00:24:04
Lucia
I'm Lucia and I study first year of history and politics of the Americas.
00:00:24:06 - 00:00:48:08
Hafsa
So we've got some questions here to go through. The first one is reform UK MP Sarah Paulson sparked controversy after saying on TalkTV that she she's driven mad seeing adverts full of black people, full of Asian people. Many have condemned her remarks as racist. However, some have pointed to figures suggesting that minority communities are in fact overrepresented in the media.
00:00:48:10 - 00:00:57:04
Hafsa
What responsibility do media have in representing diverse identities? What do you guys think?
00:00:57:06 - 00:01:23:13
Brandon
Well, I think it's very interesting because personally, I don't think the ethnic minorities are overrepresented, but I think that sometimes they can be representing characters that they shouldn't be representing. And, you know, shout out to Disney. But I think I don't think there's anything wrong with representing more of it because from, from a long time. For a long time.
00:01:23:13 - 00:01:34:20
Brandon
Right. There wasn't a lot of like black people or Asian people in Hollywood. We've only seen a lot of that starting like the 2000. So. Yeah.
00:01:34:22 - 00:01:56:06
Lucia
But I don't think that someone can actually be overrepresented, especially if you are from a minority, because most of the time in most countries your voice is not heard because you're not as important as everyone just because of your race, your religion, your skin colour. So you just seem like you're inhuman just because you're different from everyone else.
00:01:56:08 - 00:02:28:00
Lucia
So like, I don't think the media, by just portraying what's happening in the world that there is our diversity is like something bad. And to be for reform UK like they are known for saying this sort of stuff because they just hate immigration, full stop. And they don't want immigrants in this country when that shouldn't be fair on the people that are here, and then they are working legally on the basis of just earning a better life.
00:02:28:02 - 00:02:30:09
Brandon
Do you think?
00:02:30:11 - 00:02:59:06
Hafsa
I think also. I feel like just like you said, people, minorities already have such a struggle just existing and being heard. I feel like everyone. I feel like even me, sometimes I have to really put myself out there to get my opinion. Just heard as everyone else is there. But it's really important that you see yourself represented because you're having already that struggle in daily life, feeling like you're not as important as others.
00:02:59:08 - 00:03:22:09
Hafsa
But if you see yourself in the media, there's someone just like you. There's someone who's able to get their name out there, who's able to, or even just like in an advert, like everyday life. I feel like that can be that can make a huge difference. Just even just one, like seeing someone who looks like you on a big screen can make a huge difference to your self-esteem, and it can empower you to maybe like put yourself out there more and get your voice heard.
00:03:22:11 - 00:03:24:18
Hafsa
So I think it's really, really important.
00:03:24:20 - 00:03:58:09
Lucia
No yeah I agree. Like for example, my my parents migrated from Spain to here like five years ago roughly. So like it was quite a big change because like, we didn't know the language. Like it's hard to like, learn and became something any country when the country or from you had everything issues that you were striking. For example, my dad came here just because he thought that he could find a better life for me because like he saw like universities in Spain are like not the best because, like, no one guarantees you jobs and stuff.
00:03:58:11 - 00:04:15:03
Lucia
So he came here, he was all alone. He didn't have anyone. He just had to, like, make his life for himself. And it was like, very hard. But like, I feel like, yes, seeing someone can actually inspire you and be like, okay, this is a reason to wake up every day until I keep fighting for like, the people you love.
00:04:15:06 - 00:04:15:13
Lucia
00:04:15:18 - 00:04:16:10
Brandon
00:04:16:12 - 00:04:19:08
Hafsa
Yeah.
00:04:19:10 - 00:04:25:11
Hafsa
Do you guys think there should be an expectation or a quota to represent diversity.
00:04:25:13 - 00:04:54:09
Brandon
I think there should be. And I think in a lot of places or systems that already is there. For example UCL is very diverse, you know like if there's not much Asian people in this specific coast then there might be like some stigma or like some hatred or something like that. So I think it's it's good that there's like, okay, there should be a diverse community here.
00:04:54:11 - 00:04:55:07
Brandon
00:04:55:09 - 00:05:18:20
Lucia
Yeah I agree. Like the only quota that you have to say is that you should respect everyone's culture and like you should try to like spread it. So like everyone recognises it but like you're not trying to like impose on anyone or saying, oh yeah, my culture is just better than yours because of x, y, z. I don't think that's the way you should be, and I don't think media should, like, take that stance.
00:05:18:21 - 00:05:25:08
Lucia
It's more of like just showing you are not just an isolated country like there is a world around you.
00:05:25:10 - 00:05:55:10
Brandon
I was very I felt very inspired on my first week because I went to, the Philippines society and there was just so many, like, people that looked like me. I don't like saying that, but that was the first time I saw that. Yeah. Like, I'm not actually, I'm not as much of a minority as I think I am, that there's a lot of people like me because when I was in like secondary in sixth form, I was the only one that's Filipino.
00:05:55:10 - 00:06:04:00
Brandon
Even though I was in London. So yeah, I think you so that's a great job. And, having a diverse community.
00:06:04:02 - 00:06:06:13
Lucia
Do you want to go next? I was just.
00:06:06:13 - 00:06:22:05
Hafsa
Going to make a point on this. I feel like UCLA really good with how many societies they have. Like, obviously there's cultural minorities, but then other things like interests where you feel like maybe you on there aren't many people like you because that can be a big thing. Interests are really big. Part of who you are and the things that you engage in.
00:06:22:07 - 00:06:44:12
Hafsa
And there's just there's really something for everyone. And I feel like that's like even me, there's certain niche interests and even just my culture. Like being Pakistani. I feel like I don't really meet many people who, like when I did grow up around a lot of brown people, I guess in my school, but not as many people who were born there and then came here.
00:06:44:12 - 00:07:00:00
Hafsa
A lot of them were, born in England. But coming to UCL because there's so many international students as well, and obviously going to these society things, I meet so many people who look like me and they had similar experiences growing up. And it's been it's been really good for me. I really liked it.
00:07:00:02 - 00:07:19:17
Lucia
Yeah, I agree with for me, I believe in here five years. Like I feel like I kind of fit in more than I used to like at the beginning, but I still like, like to go to like Spanish societies, like I'm discovering, like I went to Mexican society. It's amazing. Like, I had so much fun. I'm going to Mexico and it's just like, get to know them more because it's like a very similar vibe.
00:07:19:17 - 00:07:38:04
Lucia
And I think that's what you have to do to like get a sense of like other people to like broaden your understanding and your beliefs and stuff. So like how you go there and I'm like, I see because like, they had a very similar childhood that I do, and it's not like, alienated like I used to before.
00:07:38:05 - 00:07:57:06
Lucia
Like, for example, even with just like simple stuff like, oh, what did you watch when you grow up now, for example, everyone will be like, oh, I watch this, this and this, and I'll be like, I'll have not a clue what that is. I was not here. And they'll be like, oh, wow, amazing. So like, I didn't really think that I fit it in.
00:07:57:08 - 00:08:04:00
Lucia
So it's nice to like be with people that like have the same experiences as you do.
00:08:04:02 - 00:08:23:19
Hafsa
So conversations about the health of boys and men has increased this year with influences like Andrew Tate still popular and with the release of hit Netflix show adolescence. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that young boys are being sucked into a dangerous world of toxic masculinity online, and has framed it as both a policy and moral issue.
00:08:23:21 - 00:08:30:14
Hafsa
Do you guys think that masculinity is in crisis, or that it's just evolving? I feel like you're a good person.
00:08:30:14 - 00:08:31:20
Lucia
You probably. Yeah.
00:08:31:23 - 00:08:45:03
Brandon
Okay. I want to ask both of you, what do you think? Toxic masculinity is like? How would you define it?
00:08:45:05 - 00:09:05:20
Hafsa
In my. I feel like generally, it's when you like when, like regular human reactions and behaviours become like, discouraged in the name of masculinity, like crying and like compassion. All of those things.
00:09:05:22 - 00:09:30:07
Lucia
No. Yeah. I do agree with you what you said and I feel like it tends to be quite negative or like saying like stuff like, oh you shouldn't be doing this just because of your gender, because traditionally that's not your role or like what historically has been. So like age is classified as like something different that has to be changed.
00:09:30:09 - 00:09:34:18
Lucia
And I have to behave like a normal man should behave.
00:09:34:20 - 00:10:03:20
Brandon
Toxic masculinity, I think, is very subjective. I think people can see something that related to masculinity and they can say that's toxic. Well, some people might say that's not toxic, that's actually healthy. So I think that masculinity is actually both in crisis and also is evolving. I think that is in crisis because people don't have a specific definition of what it means to be masculine.
00:10:03:22 - 00:10:30:04
Brandon
Like for example, crying as a man, I think that's totally fine like that. That's good because you're expressing your emotions, but it's not okay to to normalise, I don't know, sexualising women like that. Boys can be boys and attach to those kind of deeds. So I think we need to, I think people need to have a more.
00:10:30:06 - 00:10:37:08
Brandon
I think people need to like, kind of explore it more. They don't have to just see masculinity as fully bad.
00:10:37:11 - 00:10:54:24
Hafsa
Men and boys aren't given enough space to really explore who they are and what they like and what they want to do and how they want to behave. And there's just a lot of, standards imposed on them by their friends. I don't think it's the fault of women. I feel like that's where the problem comes in, where they start blaming it on women and like, gold diggers and stuff.
00:10:54:24 - 00:11:12:01
Hafsa
I don't think it's a woman's responsibility to teach a man what's right and wrong and, like, teach him who he is. So I do, but I do generally think that just the environment that men grow up with in, I feel like they're not given enough space to really discover who they are. And that's why I feel like a lot of issues come in.
00:11:12:03 - 00:11:38:10
Brandon
I think the men generally are just more prideful. I think they're just more like, okay, I, I got this, you know, when, when, when most of the time I think it's okay to, to get help. I think one of the characteristics of being masculine is being a leader. And people think that being a leader means being independent when it's not.
00:11:38:12 - 00:11:44:05
Brandon
Being a leader means are you leading people? By also means that you're being led by people above you?
00:11:44:07 - 00:12:00:12
Hafsa
Generally, if we were all a bit more open, I feel like it's more of like this. I do think is a societal issue. I feel like where it's coming, like we're all a bit more. I don't want to use the word deceitful, but I feel like everything is a bit more like wishy washy and no one is really direct with each other.
00:12:00:12 - 00:12:19:05
Hafsa
And there's just like a bit of an obsession with being cool and like, nonchalant and like the whole thing of like situation shifts and you never really know how someone else is feeling because you're not, like, willing to let them know. I think we need to lean more into being more vulnerable with each other and not expressing any judgement or like feeling like we're doing too much.
00:12:19:08 - 00:12:29:14
Hafsa
We've got a new segment this year that we like to end the show with called Campus Confessions. On this card, we've got a confession from a student that we'll discuss and give our opinion about with no judgement. Are you guys ready?
00:12:29:16 - 00:12:30:16
Lucia
Yeah.
00:12:30:18 - 00:12:48:05
Hafsa
So the confession is, am I a bad person for using the system to my advantage? I'm a woman of colour, and whatever additional opportunities are available to me, I'm going to take. I don't care if people see me as privileged or having or as having an advantage. I know I work hard and after all, things are so unequal in society.
00:12:48:05 - 00:12:51:01
Hafsa
England needs more of me.
00:12:51:03 - 00:13:07:22
Brandon
I personally don't think there's anything wrong with that because it's opportunities. At the end of the day, you're not stealing someone else's rights or opportunities is you're taking what's yours. And they gave it for a reason. So that's just why.
00:13:07:24 - 00:13:08:22
Lucia
Do you want to go next.
00:13:09:03 - 00:13:28:03
Hafsa
Yeah. So I think I think people of colour and women in colour or women of colour especially have a tendency to self-select and feel like they're not worthy, just because I feel like opportunities don't come to them as much. And I feel like it's really important to acknowledge that, like you said, she, you deserve this. And it's just an opportunity that you're taking.
00:13:28:03 - 00:13:44:02
Hafsa
You know, you're not pushing anyone out of the way. And you as a person of colour, you deserve it as well. I feel like it's hard. It's important to remember that. I feel like we shouldn't be as because sometimes I feel like that too. Like, oh, I feel like an opportunity fell into my lap. Oh my gosh. Like, am I a bad person?
00:13:44:02 - 00:13:54:02
Hafsa
Like, am I really privileged? And although I am, I think it's important to note how we struggle so much and these opportunities are harder for us to come by as people of colour. What do you think?
00:13:54:04 - 00:14:18:12
Lucia
I agree with you. I feel like because the way politics is now, that, for example, with reform UK and with Trump, they all just think, oh, they're immigrants, they're just doing our jobs. But realistically speaking, I'm looking at stats. Those immigrants are taking the jobs because the people in that country, they don't want to take them. So like someone has to fill in that gap.
00:14:18:14 - 00:14:37:00
Lucia
And I feel like for taking an opportunity that you worked for hard for, like you are just then like you enjoy it and you try to like, earn a living for yourself. Like, what's wrong with you just taking that opportunity? Like, I completely agree. Yeah.
00:14:37:02 - 00:14:42:16
Lucia
She's such an icon, I love her. I love her so confident.
00:14:42:18 - 00:15:01:22
Hafsa
Thanks for tuning in to Campus Conversations. We hope you had as much fun listening as we did chatting. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to like and subscribe on our various podcasting platforms. The link is in the bio will be back again with more stories, ideas and debates from across UCL exploring the people and perspectives shaping our university and the world.
00:15:01:24 - 00:15:03:24
Hafsa
Until next time on campus conversations.