Teachers Warn of Rising Misogyny Among Pupils

More than a third of secondary school teachers have reported misogynistic behaviour from pupils in the past week, according to a BBC-commissioned survey.

The poll of more than 6,000 teachers, carried out through the Teacher Tapp platform, paints a worrying picture.

Almost 40% of respondents said they felt unprepared to handle such behaviour. Nearly half want more government guidance.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many teachers say misogyny in schools has increased. Among staff with five or more years’ experience, 61% reported a rise in such behaviour since they began teaching.

Misogyny, defined as prejudice against or objectification of women, is often fuelled by content seen online. Teachers and parents say boys are especially exposed to harmful material.

The government says it has published guidance to help teachers deal with extreme ideologies. A spokesperson added that new online protections are coming through the Online Safety Act.

However, nearly 40% of teachers said they were unaware of any current government guidance on tackling misogyny.

Many believe more should be done within the existing relationships, health and sex education (RHSE) curriculum.

Beacon Hill Academy in Dudley takes a “zero tolerance” approach to derogatory language.

The school monitors pupil behaviour closely and acts quickly when safeguarding concerns arise.

Headteacher Sukhjot Dhami said: “We’ve always combated those views, and we’ve always worked with young people and that’s the same for racist views and homophobic views.

“We’re emphasising to parents that they really have to get control of what their child is seeing and doing at home.”

After the release of Adolescence, which explores themes of misogyny, Mr Dhami sent a letter to parents explaining some of the emojis used by incels (involuntary celibates), a type of misogynistic subculture and a guide to some of the language to look out for.

Mr Dhami said he is “extremely worried” about how easily hate is normalised for young people.

Year 10 pupil Adam said he was affected by online videos promoting toxic masculinity.

He said: “You’ll see videos saying, ‘You have to be a man’, and that if you talk about how you feel then you’re not a man at all.

“That’s how manipulative it is, it indoctrinates you.”

He says counselling at school helped him realise “it’s not wrong to speak about how you feel”.

While the focus is often on boys, girls are frequently the ones most affected by misogyny.

A study by researchers at University College London (UCL) found teenage girls in England are significantly less likely to feel safe in school than their male peers since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Theresa said: “Outside of school some boys will be like, ‘Oh it’s the chuzz group, it’s the ugly girls’ and this and that.

“They did do an assembly about how to treat women and not to objectify them.”

Teachers say RHSE lessons need clearer guidance on misogyny and online hate.

The government says its curriculum is under review and will prioritise consent, boundaries and healthy relationships.

Beacon Hill PE teacher Karl Quiney said: “There are certain signs of vulnerability, that feeling of self-worth, needing that feeling of belonging.”

He warned that some boys are drawn to influencers who push toxic ideals.

Mr Quiney added: “If they’re shown celebrity status with lots of money and fast cars, that’s a really powerful message for young men who look around them and haven’t got those material things.

“Our role as teachers is to provide them with positive role models.”