Warren Farrell

Farrell was born on June 26, 1943. Farrell graduated from Midland Park High School in New Jersey in 1961. When he was a junior, Farrell met his first wife Ursula ("Ursie") at a convention. He encouraged her to speak up as she had stage fright, The same year, he received an M.A. in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles. == Feminist years ==

The Farrells' marriage began with the couple following traditional gender roles. Ursula worked but did most of the domestic tasks. Farrell, in contrast, focused on developing his career as quickly as possible so he could be the main breadwinner when they had children. Farrell quickly came to the conclusion that women could not be liberated until men were liberated from the constraints of their own ideas about masculinity. and began a network of more than 200 men's consciousness raising groups throughout the US. In the same year he finished his doctorate in 1974, Farrell published The Liberated Man; written from a feminist perspective and based on his experiences with the consciousness raising groups, the book noted that men are also victimized by sexism. For example, he observed that men were forced into a role as breadwinner/provider and socialized to repress their emotions. In parallel to women's experience as "sex objects", Farrell labeled men's experience as "success objects", judged by their status and potential to earn money. this approach was critiqued by reviews in the New York Times by Larry McMurtry and John Leonard. In 1974, Farrell left New York and his teaching at Rutgers when his wife became a White House Fellow to incoming President Gerald Ford in Washington D.C. He taught part-time at American University (1973–74), Georgetown University, (1973–75) with Alan Alda, Billy Davis Jr., and Marilyn McCoo, in 1975 In the men's beauty contest, men were invited to experience a woman's perspective, because "for women, life...is a beauty contest in which, willing or not, every women takes part, every day of her life". In another activity, women were placed into rows based on their salaries, with the lowest earners branded as 'losers'. However, Farrell became disenchanted with the feminist movement due to its stance on custody policy. NOW supported giving child custody to the primary caregiver, which was usually the mother. == Research into incest ==

Beginning in 1976, Farrell began writing a book on incest, with the goal of "helping people who were traumatized" by the experience. Wishing to go beyond those identified by legal, psycho-social or medical services, He interviewed more than 200 people, including at the 1983 World Sexology conference. He also wrote on the topic, Farrell suggested the reason for this gender difference was that women and girls are socialized to feel sexual guilt, and thus later reinterpreted their experience negatively when they learn of the incest taboo. After some difficulty, Farrell's book found a publisher. and feminists and Farrell abandoned the project. Nearly twenty years later, Farrell reflected that he better understood the reaction, having raised stepchildren in the meantime. "[I] tried to be neutral, to disengage from the horror, let the data speak for itself, then draw thoughtful, balanced conclusions. Now that I've raised two sets of stepchildren I would have a more gut-level negative reaction. The idea of touching is repulsive. If someone touched one of my daughters when she was 13, I'd be so furious." Farrell also stated that his views had been conflated with those of his subjects, and he was simply reporting how they justified incest. == Men's issues ==

By 1983 Farrell had turned his attention to the situation of men, and feminists are ignoring discrimination against men, and are promoting intolerant, anti-male attitudes. He described what he believed to be each sex's primary fantasies: women to find the economic security associated with one successful man, and men to have sexual access to multiple beautiful women without risking rejection. He also wrote a series of articles about myths about men which were published in the media. In his next book, The Myth of Male Power: Why Men Are the Disposable Sex, Farrell elaborated this theme. Published in 1993, the book asserts that the widespread perception of men having inordinate social and economic power is false, and women's sexual power negates any such leverage. He argued that men feel themselves to be disposable, and that only men are subject to conscription in the US.'' Men's life expectation is lower than women's, and to that of African Americans, writing that "men are the new n*ggers". Both books were widely reviewed, often critically, He appeared once more on talk shows, including the Oprah Winfrey Show.'''''' and giving and receiving criticism. He described this as a revolution in men's desire to reenter the family, and maintaining firm boundaries/rules. Noting the increasing numbers of single fathers, he listed research that suggested that medical, psychological, social and educational outcomes for children being raised by single fathers in the US were better than those raised by single mothers. These fathers were older, better off, and better educated, and spoke and consulted on the topic. He toured to Canada and Australia to publicize the book, making presentations, In it, he listed 25 differences in men and women's work-life choices which, he argued, accounted for most or all of the pay gap more accurately than did claims of widespread discrimination against women. Farrell wrote that men chose to earn more money, while each of women's choices prioritized having a more fulfilling and balanced life. He suggested that men could learn from women the benefits of more balanced lives, and not just considering careers with high incomes, given that "the road to high pay is a toll road." It was critiqued by others who commented on the inaccuracies and omissions in the use and interpretation of statistics and the societal and psychological claims made. In the book, Farrell and Sterba debated 13 topics, including criminal justice, power, work and pay, the military, health, marriage and divorce, domestic violence, rape and media bias against men. or end a pregnancy without input from the father. as well as whether the book would be useful as a text at universities, The book discussed contributing factors such as educational under-performance and mental/emotional health challenges, particularly in father-absent households. They proposed that boys to be taught "health intelligence" to keep them happy and safe, not just the traditional "heroic intelligence" in which men rescue, protect and provide for others. They argued for fathers (and mothers) to be deeply involved with their children, and proposed a range of solutions for reclaiming the relationship. == Couples coaching ==

In recent years, Farrell has become known for his work coaching couples. In 2024, Farrell published Role Mate to Soul Mate, which is based on his decades of experience teaching couples workshops. The book offers practical tips and suggestions about how to transform relationship challenges into opportunities for intimacy, and extends these methods beyond romantic relationships to communication with family, co-workers and across political divides. == Reception and influence ==

Farrell's books are known for their popular style, including short chapters with bold headings and slogans. and incel movements,'' Farrell has regularly appeared at their events. In November 2012, he spoke on men's issues at a talk the University of Toronto organized by the Canadian Association for Equality. About a hundred students protested his talk, barricading the entrance and loudly heckling attendees: a protestor was arrested. The protest was featured by the men's rights website A Voice for Men, He appeared in Cassie Jaye's 2016 documentary film about the men's rights movement, The Red Pill. The same year, Farrell gave a keynote speech at the Male Psychology Conference at University College London. Farrell has been cited as an influence by psychologist Jordan Peterson; and teaches at the Jordan Peterson Academy. event at the University of Toronto, November 16, 2012Farrell's gentle, thoughtful, softly-spoken demeanor and non-confrontational personal style are often contrasted with those of his men's rights admirers. This led to Farrell starting a commission to create a similar one for boys and men. and the Children's Rights Council. The documentary "Warren Farrell Interrupted: The Boy Crisis", covering his life, career and ideas, won the humanitarian documentary award at the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema in 2025. == Personal life ==

After his divorce in 1977, Farrell had, by his own account "twenty years of adventuresome singlehood". During this time, he had several serious live-in relationships, During the 2003 California gubernatorial recall election, Farrell ran as a Democratic candidate, on a platform of fathers' rights, and received 626 votes.'' Farrell backed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 US presidential election. == Bibliography ==