A rise in misogyny and sexism is sweeping schools as pupils mimic the behavior and views espoused by figures like Andrew Tate and Donald Trump, teachers have warned. Nearly three in five of the 5,800 polled by the NASUWT teaching union said they believe social media use has contributed to a deterioration in pupils’ behavior in schools. Many named self-proclaimed misogynist Tate as having a negative influence on male pupils.
One teacher recounted a troubling incident, stating, “I have had boys refuse to speak to me and speak to a male teaching assistant instead because I am a woman, and they follow Andrew Tate and think he is amazing with all his cars and women and how women should be treated. These were 10-year-olds.” Another teacher noted, “We had some incidents in school with derogatory language towards female staff (e.g., boys barking at female staff and blocking doorways so they couldn’t leave the classroom), as a direct result of Andrew Tate videos.”
In an all-boys school located in a low socio-economic area, one educator observed, “The ‘Andrew Tate’ phenomena had a huge impact on how they interacted with females and males they did not see as ‘masculine.’” The influence of Tate and Trump extends beyond the classroom, as students reportedly spout racist, homophobic, transphobic, and sexist comments in their conversations.
Last month, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer addressed the issue of boys being drawn into a “whirlpool” of misogyny during a meeting at Downing Street with creators of the Netflix drama Adolescence, which tackles sensitive themes related to youth and violence. Starmer acknowledged that there is no “simple solution” to combat this troubling trend.
Adding to the discourse, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch revealed that her young cousin tragically ended their life after going down an “internet rabbit hole.” In an interview with the Daily Mail, she expressed concern, stating, “I worry a lot about social media. It’s heartbreaking. My views about the dangers of social media are not just about children. I know even as adults we can get dangerously addicted.”
Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, emphasized the urgent need for a multi-agency response to tackle the influence of far-right populists and extremists on young people. He stated, “Misogyny, racism, and other forms of prejudice and hatred may have attracted greater media attention of late, but it is clear from our data that these behaviors are not a recent phenomenon. There is an urgent need for concerted action involving schools, colleges, and other agencies to safeguard all children and young people from the dangerous influence of far-right populists and extremists and to ensure that our schools and colleges are safe places for learners and for staff.”
Roach further urged that teachers cannot be left alone to deal with these problems, advocating for a national effort to improve social media literacy, critical thinking skills, and to expose disinformation and false narratives. “We are urging the Government to lead a national effort to tackle the root causes of poverty and deprivation and keep children safe online,” he added.
In response to the NASUWT poll, a spokesperson for the Department for Education (DfE) acknowledged the damaging impact of dangerous influencers on children. “We know the rise of dangerous influencers is having a damaging impact on our children, which is why we are supporting the sector in their crucial role building young people’s resilience to extremism as part of our Plan for Change,” the spokesperson said. “Education can be the antidote to hate, and the classroom should be a safe environment for sensitive topics to be discussed and where critical thinking is encouraged.”
The DfE also noted that it provides a range of resources to support teachers in navigating these challenging issues, and that its curriculum review will focus on the skills children need to thrive in a fast-changing online world. This initiative is part of broader protections being implemented for children under the Online Safety Act, ensuring that they have an age-appropriate experience online.
As the NASUWT prepares for its annual conference in Liverpool this weekend, union members are set to debate motions addressing the shift of far-right and populist movements onto social media and online platforms. The conference comes at a time when a recent survey commissioned by BBC News revealed that more than a third of secondary teachers reported misogynistic behavior from pupils in their schools within the last week. Alarmingly, about 40% of these teachers felt ill-equipped to handle such conduct.
One teacher shared a particularly distressing experience, recounting how a group of boys in a secondary English class opted, despite discouragement, to write a persuasive essay on why Andrew Tate is the GOAT (greatest of all time), which included praise for his view that women are a man's property. All of the parents were contacted and were appalled by the assignment.
As the influence of social media continues to permeate the lives of young people, educators and policymakers are grappling with the challenge of fostering a safe and respectful environment in schools. The ongoing discussions highlight the pressing need for effective strategies to combat the rise of misogyny and sexism among students, ensuring that future generations are not led astray by harmful ideologies.
