Influential figures within the ‘Manosphere’ are contributing to a concerning increase in misogyny within educational settings, leading government officials to label it as a looming crisis. Recent research by the NASUWT union revealed a disturbing trend where almost a quarter of female teachers have experienced harassment from students, marking a 6% rise over the past four years. The study also exposed heightened levels of aggression, disrespect towards females, and extremist viewpoints, with nearly 60% of respondents attributing social media as a contributing factor.
Matt Wrack, the general secretary, raised alarm over what he described as a growing masculinity crisis in schools. He emphasized the urgent need for enhanced support for teachers to address this challenging behavior landscape, which impacts the overall classroom environment. The union’s survey indicated a significant increase in the number of female teachers facing misogyny from students, with 23.4% reporting incidents in the past year compared to 17.4% in 2023. Additionally, more than a fifth reported being subjected to discriminatory language based on gender, race, or sexual orientation.
NASUWT highlighted the detrimental effects of the misogyny faced by teachers, leaving them feeling degraded, violated, and disempowered. One teacher shared her distressing experience of encountering misogyny on a daily basis, including students making inappropriate remarks about violence against women. Wrack called on government intervention to address the disturbing trend, stressing the need for immediate action from policymakers to support teachers in managing such toxic behavior effectively.
He emphasized the importance of empowering teachers to address and de-escalate harmful conduct, while also urging the government to take a stand against platforms that propagate hate and misogyny on social media, especially among young audiences. Wrack underscored the exploitation of young people by tech giants for profit and power, highlighting the threat to the education system.
The Department for Education responded by acknowledging that misogynistic views are learned rather than inherent, affirming their commitment to combatting violence against women and girls. The department expressed its dedication to equipping teachers with the tools to identify dangerous ideologies and promoting positive role models for young people. Furthermore, efforts are being made to reinforce guidelines on mobile phone usage in schools and gather insights from experts, parents, and youth on fostering a healthy relationship with technology and social media.
