Tackling Misogyny in Schools

Opened the debate

The MP thanked Mr Speaker for the debate, noting her previous discussion on misogyny in sport. She expressed concern about the rapid growth of misogynistic attitudes online and in classrooms, citing examples from social media influencers like Andrew Tate who spread harmful messages to young people. The speaker highlighted the challenges faced by teachers in tackling these issues due to lack of direction and support. She emphasised the need for educational tools and training programmes to combat misogyny and promote positive male role models. Davies-Jones also presented statistics on the prevalence of sexual harassment and violence in schools, as well as the inadequacies in current relationships and sex education curricula.

Government Response

The Minister congratulated Alex Davies-Jones on her debate and acknowledged the growing prominence of inflammatory social media influencers. He emphasised that education is key to addressing societal issues like misogyny, but schools cannot bear all the burden alone. The Government has taken concerted actions through the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, including the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and new criminal offences such as upskirting and revenge porn. Relationships and sex education are now compulsory in England, with updated guidance on addressing issues like everyday sexism and misogyny. The Minister detailed £3 million investment for RSHE training and non-statutory guidance focused on sexual harassment and violence. He highlighted Ofsted’s review of sexual abuse in schools, which revealed concerning statistics about the prevalence of sexist name-calling and sexual assault among young people. The Department has produced webinars and new guidance to support teachers in addressing key topics related to VAWG, promoting a whole-school approach with preventive education and zero-tolerance policies for abusive behaviour. The Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to protecting children online through the Online Safety Bill, ensuring robust measures against harmful content and behaviours. He concluded by reiterating their dedication to supporting schools in fostering respectful environments.