Speaking

Invited speaker

  1. October 2025. ‘How to make an invisible man.’ Bramhall Library, Stockport Libraries, Stockport UK
  2. March 2025. ‘How is a man supposed to be a man? With researcher Robin Hadley.’ Fertility Network UK, online.
  3. January 2025.  ‘How is a man supposed to be a man? Childlessness and why it matters’: The Headstrong Club, Lewes, UK
  4. September 2023. ‘Ageing without Children.’ Storyhouse Childless, Chester UK
  5. September 2023: ‘Male childlessness and infertility.’ Insta-Live with Helena Tubridy of Fertility+IVF Mindset
  6. September 2023: ‘Reclaiming our lives: the need for involuntarily childless researchers.’ World Childless Week, online.
  7. September 2023: ‘Male childlessness: Unpacking the elephant in the suitcase.’ World Childless Week, online.
  8. June 2023. ‘Childless Men.’ Northern Man Festival, Leeds Playhouse, Leeds, UK
  9. September 2022. ‘Childlessness in the Workplace.’ World Childless Week, PTC Therapeutics., online.
  10. September 2022. ‘Male childlessness.’ Storyhouse Childless, Chester UK
  11. May 2022. ‘Societal Impotence – Unheard Voices and Unnoticed Lives: Men and male childlessness’: British Infertility Counselling Association Annual Conference, online
  12. February 2021. ‘Me(n) and the MAWFIA: Men Ageing Without Family –Isolated and Alienated?‘ Online. School of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK
  13. September 2020. ‘We are worthy and So Are You!!’ World Childless Week Champions, online
  14. November 2019. ‘The rise of the new MAWFIA: Men Ageing Without Family – Invisible & Alienated.’ Storyhouse Childless, Chester UK
  15. October 2019. ‘Fractured fatherhood phantasies. Involuntarily childless men and mental health’. Ufrivillig barnløshet og helsemessige perspektiver (Involuntary childlessness and health prospects) conference, Arkivet, Skillingssalen,
    Vesterveien 4, Kristiansand, Norway
  16. September 2019. ‘Anxious Attachment Predicts Childlessness in Later life.’ ‘Flash’ presentation. Society of Reproductive and Infant Psychology 39th Conference, City University London, UK
  17. April, 2019. ‘How Men Ageing Without Family Become Invisible and Isolated: “Making of the MAWFIA”.’ Male Psychology Network, UCL, London, UK
  18. March, 2019. ‘Let’s Talk Male Fertility’ Discussion panel member. ‘Let’s Talk Fertility Stage,’ The Fertility Show, Manchester, UK
  19. October, 2018. ‘Male infertility and the “MAWFIA”: Men Ageing Without Family: Isolated and Alienated.” ‘We Need to Talk’ evening held by Life, Death. Whatever, Linden House, Hammersmith, London, UK
  20. September 2018. ‘ “I will never be a grandfather”: the effects of involuntary childlessness in the lives of older men.’ Japan Sociological Society Annual Conference. Konan University, Kobe, Japan International Bursary Winner.
  21. May, 2018. ‘The Unborn Child.’ Fertility Fest 2018, The Bush Theatre, London, UK
  22. February, 2018. ‘The real stories of men who wanted to be Dads.’ ‘Fritt Ord.’ “Untold stories: When the family dream does not materialize. ” Litteraturhuset, University of Oslo, Norway
  23. November 29th 2017. ‘What to do about the “MAWFIA”’: (Men ageing without family: isolated and alienated). The International Longevity Centre-United Kingdom: ‘Future of Ageing’ Conference, Amnesty International Human Rights Action Centre, London,  UK. Winner of the national ‘Open slot’ presentation competition.
  24. November, 28th 2017. ‘The Future of Aging’: an elite roundtable discussion. Ernest and Young LPP, Corinthia Hotel, London, UK
  25. February 2017. Presented to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Older People chaired by Lord Best
  26. September, 2015. ‘Life without fatherhood: a qualitative study of older involuntarily childless men.’ The Society of Reproductive and Infant Psychology 35th Annual Conference. Nottingham, UK.  Doctoral Prize Winner
  27. November 2017: ‘ “How is a man supposed to be a man?” Men’s experience of involuntary childlessness’. ESRC Festival of Social Science/15th year, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
  28. October 2017: ‘Men Ageing Without Children’. Invited discussion panel member: ‘Ageing without children’ public debate, York 50+ Festival: York, UK
  29. November 2016. ‘What is it about men? The experiences of involuntary childless men.’ We Are Many, NoMo’s Conference 2016. Village Conference Centre, Birmingham, UK
  30. September 2016: ‘Negotiating the physical and emotional ‘affects’ of social research.’ Supporting researchers: managing risk, discomfort, and vulnerability. Symposium: Leeds University, UK.
  31. April 2016: ‘Negotiating the physical and emotional ‘affects’ of social research.’ Supporting researchers: How others manage risk, discomfort, and vulnerability. New Initiatives Symposium: University of Glasgow, UK
  32. March 2016: ‘“Breaking Dad”: Narratives of older involuntarily childless men in the UK.’ The Institute for Health and Aging, the University of California San Francisco, USA
  33. November 2015: “My bloody PhD”: my research and how I managed my viva.” The School of Health and Social Work and the Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care (CRIPACC), The University of Hertfordshire, UK
  34. October 2015. ‘“I’d always imagined I’d have children”: the life experiences of involuntarily childless men.’ The School of Health and Social Work and the Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care (CRIPACC), The University of Hertfordshire, UK
  35. January 2015. ‘“Men ageing without children”: The experiences of older involuntarily childless men.’ Ageing without Children Conference, London, UK
  36. September, 2014. Discussant at Con/Tested: Sperm Science, Sterility and Masculinity Conference. Cambridge University, UK
  37. Hadley, R.A. (March, 2010). ‘Involuntarily Childless Men: Issues surrounding the Desire to be a Father’. Invited presentation to MA in Counselling course The University of Manchester, UK

Conference Presentations

  1. Hadley, R.A. (September 2025). ‘Invisible, Muted, Uncounted, Hidden Vulnerabilities: Exploring men’s experiences of circumstantial ‘Childlessness.’” Keynote lecture for the British Sociological Association conference, ‘The Politics of (Non)Reproduction: Choice, Challenges, and Change’, University of York, York, UK
  2. Hadley, R.A. (August 2025). ‘ART, Bourdieu and Reproductive Capital: “So, this is my investment”!’ Society of Reproductive and Infant Psychology 45th Conference, the University of Liverpool, Liverpool UK
  3. Hadley, R.A. (June 2025). ‘The Social Worlds of Older Childless People: Exploring Isolation & Connection (Focus on Men).’ Healthy Ageing Research Group seminar series, ‘Ageing Alone.’ University of Lincoln, UK
  4. Hadley, R.A. (January 2024). ‘Male broodiness: is it a thing? An exploration of men’s desire for fatherhood.’ Poster walk. Fertility 2024, Edinburgh, Scotland
  5. Hadley, R.A. (December 2023). ‘The Impact of Male Involuntary Childlessness on Men’s Health Across the Life Course: Implications for Individuals, Healthcare Providers and Practitioners.’ Men’s Health World Conference, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia DoI:10.13140/RG.2.2.23737.95848
  6. Hadley, R.A. (August 2023). ‘Men and the desire for fatherhood: the effects of male broodiness on involuntarily childless men.’ International Conference in Counselling, Psychology and Education, Cebu Institute of Technology University, Cebu, The Philippines.
  7. Hadley, R.A. (August 2023). ‘Anxious Attachment as a predictor of Adult Childlessness.’ International Conference in Counselling, Psychology and Education, Cebu Institute of Technology University, Cebu, The Philippines.
  8. Hadley, R.A. (December 2020). ‘“Kids is a way of producing a sense of continuity. Otherwise, death feels very final”: later life male involuntary childlessness.’  Online. BPS Male Section Mini-Conference. The British Psychological Society. London, UK
  9. Hadley, R.A. (June 2019). ‘The rise of the MAWFIA: Men Ageing Without Family: Invisible and Alienated.’ Thinking Age and Older Age Conference. Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing. The University of Manchester, UK
  10. Hadley, R.A. (July 2018). ‘Me(n) on Me(n): interviews between involuntarily childless men. The treats and threats and of working with ‘Auto/Biographical I’ in sociological research’. British Society of Gerontology 47th Annual Conference. Manchester, UK
  11. Hadley, R.A., Newby, C and Barry, J. (July 2018). ’Older people are ‘happier’ whether they have children or not, but ‘happiness’ is impacted by health and childhood attachment.’ British Society of Gerontology 47th Annual Conference. Manchester, UK
  12. Tetley, J; Koivunen, E; Davenport, D; Fisher, Hadley, R.A, Sullivan, M, Sathish, A, Etchells, C Hearns, J. (July, 2018). ‘”So yes, technology’s great,  but it has its drawbacks. Its not the panacea for everything.” The use of wearable trackers to support people living with dementia.’  British Society of Gerontology 47th Annual Conference. Manchester, UK
  13. Hadley, R.A. (February, 2018). ‘“I’m missing out on it all”: the lived experience of involuntarily childless older men.’ Centre for Family Research, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
  14. Hadley, R.A. (February, 2018). ‘That’s me(n) in the corner, that’s me(n) in the not right of reproduction.’ Contemporary Research Methods, Auto/Biography Event, University of Plymouth, UK
  15. Earle, S and Hadley, R.A. (September, 2017). ‘A systematic review of international qualitative research of men’s views and experiences of infant feeding.’ Society of Reproductive and Infant Psychology 36th Annual Conference. Hinsley Hall, York, UK
  16. Hadley, R.A. (July, 2017). ‘Cudda, wudda, shudda-be Dads: The lived experience of older involuntarily childless men.’ Auto/Biography Summer Residential Conference. Dartington Hall, Devon, UK
  17. Tetley, J; Koivunen, E; Holland, C; Kubiak, C; Fisher, J; and Hadley, R.A (July, 2017). ‘Engaging volunteers in community and home focused support for people living with dementia – the benefits and challenges.’ British Society of Gerontology 46th Annual Conference, The University of Swansea, Swansea, UK
  18. Hadley, R.A. (July, 2017). ‘The social networks of involuntarily childless older men.’ British Society of Gerontology 46th Annual Conference, The University of Swansea, Swansea, UK
  19. Hadley, R.A. (July, 2017). ‘“How is a man supposed to be…”: bio-narratives of older involuntarily childless men.’ Faculty of Health, Psychology & Social Care, 2017 Annual High-Summer Research Conference. Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
  20. Hadley, R.A. (September, 2016). ‘Life without fatherhood: the biographical narratives of older involuntarily childless men.’ Aging and Society Sixth Interdisciplinary Conference: Special Focus: Aging, Life-course and Social Change. Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden
  21. Hadley, R.A. (July, 2016). ‘Negotiating the fatherhood mandate: the experiences of older involuntarily childless men. ’ Parenthood: Perspectives on Family Lives Conference. Families and Relationships Study Group, European Sociological Association. University of Bristol, UK
  22. Hadley, R.A. (June, 2016). ‘“If you don’t have children…”: the life experience of older involuntarily childless men.’ Centre for Research on Families & Relationships International Conference: Unequal Families and Relationships. The University of Edinburgh, UK
  23. Hadley, R.A. (April, 2016). ‘The continuity of disruption: the lived experience of older involuntarily childless men.’ Gender and Generation Session, American Association of Geographers. San Francisco, USA
  24. Hadley, R.A. (March, 2016). ‘The experiences of older involuntarily childless men’. Eastern Sociological Society, Mini-Conference on Reproduction. Boston Park Plaza Hotel. Boston, USA
  25. Hadley, R.A. (February, 2016). ‘Fictive grandfatherhood: the experiences of older involuntarily childless men.’ British Sociological Association’s Ageing, Body and Society Study Group 7th Annual Conference. Manchester, UK
  26. Hadley, R.A. (September, 2015). ‘Life without fatherhood: a qualitative study of older involuntarily childless men.’ The Society of Reproductive and Infant Psychology 35th Annual Conference. Nottingham, UK. Awarded Doctoral Prize.
  27. Hadley, R.A. (July, 2015). ‘“There’s no social network”: the social networks of involuntary childless men.’ British Society of Gerontology 44th Annual Conference. Newcastle University and Northumbria University, UK
  28. Hadley, R.A. (June, 2015). ‘“How is a man supposed to be a man?” Life without fatherhood’. Male Psychologies Conference 26-27th June. London, UK. Awarded conference prize.
  29. Hadley, R.A. (June, 2015). ‘How to build an invisible man: the social networks of involuntarily childless older men.’ Social Science Postgraduate Symposium. Keele University, UK
  30. Hadley, R.A. (April, 2015). ‘The Media and Me’. Paper presented at British Sociological Association Annual Conference. Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
  31. Hadley, R.A. (April, 2015). ‘The social networks of involuntarily childless men.’ ‘British Sociological Association Annual Conference. Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
  32. Hadley, R.A. (September, 2014). “That’s what I’m missing”: The experiences of older involuntarily childless men.’ British Society of Gerontology 43rd Annual Conference. University of Southampton, UK
  33. Hadley, R.A. (September, 2014). ‘3 minute thesis’. Emerging Researchers in Ageing Conference, the British Society of Gerontology 43rd Annual Conference., University of Southampton, UK
  34. Hadley, R.A. (July, 2014). ‘I quite like people to know that we did want a family”: the experiences of older involuntarily childless men.’ Men, Health and Wellbeing Conference. Leeds Beckett University, UK
  35. Hadley, R.A. (April, 2014). ‘Navigating the unexpected lifescape: the invisible experiences of older childless men.’ The Ageing Forum. Keele University, UK
  36. Hadley, R.A. (March, 2014). ‘In-depth biographical interviews.’ PAUUD Research Unit research seminar series. The University of Manchester, UK
  37. Hadley, R.A. (December, 2013). ‘“It was something that was going to happen but then it didn’t”: the experiences of involuntarily childless men as they age.’ Centre for Social Gerontology: Emerging and Established Researchers in Ageing event. Keele University, UK
  38. Hadley, R.A. (October, 2013). ‘Impact: National media experience.’ Opening talk for the Showcase and Welcome event, Humanities and Social Sciences Research Day. Keele University, UK
  39. Hadley, R.A. (September, 2013). ‘“Point number one in your bloody PhD”: the experiences of involuntarily childless men as they age.’  British Society of Gerontology 42nd Annual Conference. University of Oxford, UK
    Hadley, R.A. (June, 2013). ‘Men who are involuntarily childless.’ Ageing Without Children Seminar. Keele University, UK
  40. Hadley, R.A. (February, 2013). ‘Trouble with accessing men for interview.’ The Centre for Ageing and Biographical Studies, Seminar series: The Representation of Older People in Ageing Research: Studies of ageing masculinities: still in their infancy? The Open University, Camden, London, UK
  41. Hadley, R.A. (January, 2013). ‘Locating the lacunae: Issues in recruiting participants for interview in a sensitive subject’. Social Science PGR ‘Work-in-Progress’ Seminar Series. Keele University, UK
  42. Hadley, R.A. (August, 2012). ‘Childlessness, and Older Involuntarily Childless Men.’ Presentation to the Rotary Club of Newcastle-under-Lyme. Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK
  43. Hadley, R.A. (March, 2012). ‘Man Talk.’ Social Science PGR Conference. Keele University, UK
  44. Hadley, R.A. (March, 2011). ‘Mining the Gap: A Literature Review of the Male Experience of Involuntary Childlessness’. Social Science PGR Conference. Keele University, UK
  45. Hadley, R.A. (April, 2010). ‘Involuntarily Childless Men: Issues surrounding the Desire to be a Father’. Counselling and Transformation Conference. Keele University, UK
  46. Hadley, R.A. (June, 2010). ‘Involuntarily Childless Men: Issues surrounding the Desire to be a Father’.  The Research Conference. The University of Manchester, UK
  47. Hadley, R.A. (June, 2009). ‘Involuntarily Childless Men: Issues surrounding the Desire to be a Father’. The New Researchers Conference, The Centre for Research on Families and Relationships. The University of Edinburgh, UK
  48. Hadley, R.A. (September, 2008). ‘Involuntarily Childless Men: Issues surrounding the Desire to be a Father’. The Society for Reproduction and Infant Psychology 25th Annual Conference. London, UK