CPCS at the Battle of Ideas

CPCS has partnered with the Institute of Ideas in recent years, and convened panel-based discussions at the annual Battle of Ideas Festival held at the Barbican London. These discussions have taken ideas central to Parenting Culture Studies to a large and diverse audience. Thanks are due to Worldwrite Worldbytes for their work filming and editing these discussions.

Battle of Ideas 2023

We were delighted to be event partners again at this annual event, this time for the strand of discussions ‘Family Matters’. Films of the debates are now available below:

The Morality of Surrogacy

Feeding Babies: Is Breast Always Best? 

The Crisis of Childcare: Who’s Holding the Baby?

Square Eyed Screenagers: Are Screens Corrupting Our Kids?

Battle of Ideas 2022

The trans-teen trend: a case of social contagion? 

Claire Fox (Chair), Jennie Bristow, James Esses. Katy Jon Went and Helen Joyce

Watch You Tube video 

Battle of Ideas 2019

The Battle Over Birth
Ellie Lee (Chair), Blythe Pepino, Ann Furedi, Alistair Currie and Ashley Frawley
Watch You Tube video

Health vs choice? The vaccination debate
Ellie Lee (Chair), Dr Michael Fitzpatrick, Dr Alberto Giubilini, Emilie Karafillakis and Nancy McDermott
Watch YouTube video

Battle of Ideas 2018

Contraception: A Hard Pill to Swallow?’
Ellie Lee (Chair), Lesley Hall, Ann Furedi, Jane Dickson and Ella Whelan
Watch YouTube video

Battle of Ideas 2016

‘Can neuroparenting save the family?’
Ellie Lee, Jan Macarvish (Kent), Tim Loughton MP, Carey Oppenheim (CEO, Early Intervention Foundation) and Prof. Sue White (University of Sheffield)
Watch YouTube video

‘The Moral Case for Abortion’
Ellie Lee (Kent), Ann Furedi (CEO bpas), Mary Kenny (journalist and writer) and Jon O’Brien (President, Catholics for Choice)
Watch YouTube video

Battle of Ideas 2015

‘Does Pink Really Stink: the gender-neutral parenting debate’
Jan Macvarish (Kent), Nancy Mcdermott (Park Slope Parents), Bea Appleby (journalist), Ros Ball (writer), Julie Bindel (political activist and journalist) and Chrissie Daz (teacher)
Watch YouTube video

‘The Battle Over Breasts’
Ellie Lee, Jan Macvarish (Kent), Prof Linda Blum (Northeastern University), Dr Amy Brown (Swansea University) and Laura Dodsworth (photographer)
Watch YouTube video

‘Free Range Parenting: reckless or responsible’
Ellie Lee (Kent), Lenore Skenazy (Free Range Kids, US), Lisa Harker (NSPCC), Alice Ferguson (Playing Out) and Dr Helene Guldberg (author)
Watch YouTube video

These discussions with Ellie Lee, Director of CPCS on the Panel, have also taken place at the Battle of Ideas

‘Eugenics: Myth and Reality’ (2015)
Watch YouTube video

‘Can you be a perfect parent? (2013)
Watch Youtube video

‘Free Will: Just an Illusion?’ (2012)
Watch YouTube video

‘Sex in the Brain: Do men and women think differently?’ (2011)
Watch YouTube video

‘What’s the Point of the Social Sciences?’ (2011)
Watch YouTube video

‘Three’s a Crowd? The Battle over Population and Reproduction’ (2010)
Watch YouTube video