Navigating the Manosphere in Schools
Educators are increasingly facing ‘baiting’ questions, classroom disruptions and a rise in disrespectful behaviour linked to viral ‘manfluencer’ social media content.
One Australian study found that 1 in 4 girls felt unsafe at school due to the behaviours of boys. And women teachers have reported a spectrum of harassment - from verbal harassment designed to belittle them to physical intimidation in the schoolyard.
So, a practical guide to the manosphere has been released to help the country’s teachers and school staff respond to growing challenges around sexist and misogynistic views being promoted in Australian classrooms.
An introductory guide to the Manosphere and the impacts for young people, teachers and schools, gives teachers the tools to turn ‘confrontational moments’ into ‘teachable moments’.
It was written by Monash University researchers in partnership with Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) and includes information on key beliefs, links to violence, recruitment pathways for boys and men, insights into the role of social media and practical information to support teachers and school staff to recognise, understand and respond.
ANROWS CEO Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine said teachers were on the frontline of this issue, often facing coordinated attempts to undermine their authority, disrupt lessons and impact on other students’ sense of safety.
“We know there are girls and young women who feel unsafe at school due to boys' behaviours. These feelings can impact their schooling, fuelling anxiety, reducing their class participation or even leading them to skip class or school,” Dr Boyd-Caine said.
“At the same time, many boys and young men feel uncomfortable with the misogyny they witness online and the behaviour of their peers at school, but feel unsafe or unable to challenge it.
“We aren't just providing a report on the problem; we are providing a roadmap for school communities to recognise these tactics and reclaim the classroom as a safe space for everyone.”
The guide gives practical advice, including:
● Guidance on recognising 'baiting' tactics intended to humiliate teachers or derail lessons;
● Practical advice on how to respond when groups of students use coordinated behaviour to intimidate peers or staff; and
● Explaining how social media feeds and algorithms can quickly move a student from harmless fitness tips to extreme, hateful content.
The lead researcher on the project and Director of the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Hub, Dr Naomi Pfitzner, said the guide explains how the manosphere normalises harmful gender narratives that support gender inequality and contribute to gender-based violence, but also equips teachers with information to have critical conversations.
“Students and teachers are telling us they are seeing these harmful ideologies and behaviours show up in classrooms every day. This guide gives schools a clear, evidence-based starting point to understand what the manosphere is, why it matters, and how to help their students navigate these harmful narratives.”
Co-author Dr Stephanie Wescott, from the Faculty of Education at Monash University, said the influence of the manosphere was now firmly embedded in the everyday experiences of schools.
“The manosphere is not a fringe phenomenon - it is shaping the attitudes and behaviours of young people in very real ways. Our work shows that educators are seeking practical resources that help them navigate these conversations safely and constructively. This guide is designed to meet that need and to support schools to foster respectful, inclusive learning environments.”
While this guide is a vital tool for educators, it is part of a broader need for partnership between parents, carers, whole communities and social media platforms.
The guide is being distributed to schools now and is available to all Australian secondary schools and education departments via the ANROWS and Monash University websites. Download the guide here.