DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - COMMUNITY & CULTURE

RESPECTFUL RELATIONS & THE MISOGYNISTIC INFLUENCE ON OUR YOUNG PEOPLE

Over the last 6 months you may have noticed on the news many references of the rise of incidents related to domestic violence towards women. Many schools including ours are discussing the underlying current of misogynist attitudes and negative behaviour of our male students and the devastating effects that these are having on our female students. In an article in the ‘Guardian,’ Jess Hill writes - 

“While sexual harassment in schools isn’t a new problem,” they observe, teachers are now describing something different: an escalating culture not only of sexual harassment, but of language and behaviours expressing belief in male superiority and other misogynistic views.” In one national survey, teachers say they’re being propositioned, threatened with rape, asked for nude photos, physically intimidated, and having their classes disturbed by young male students moaning sexually during class – even in primary school.”

Over the next 6 months, St Mary MacKillop College Swan Hill will be organising educational strategic events, not only for teachers and students here at our school but also the wider community of Swan Hill especially the parents/guardians of our students. 

Understanding Misogyny in Schools

Misogyny in schools can take many forms, from sexist jokes and stereotypes to exclusionary behavior and even harassment. It can be seen in:

• Language and Jokes – Dismissing girls' achievements or making degrading comments about their abilities.
• Unequal Opportunities – Reinforcing traditional gender roles in subject choices, leadership positions, or sports.
• Online Harassment – Cyber bullying and the spread of sexist content on social media.
• Classroom Dynamics – Boys dominating discussions while girls are interrupted or ignored.

These behaviours may seem minor in isolation, but together, they create an environment where girls feel undervalued and disrespected.

Over the weekend I watched a limited series entitled ‘Adolescence,’ on Netflix. The story follows a young 13 year old boy who is arrested by police for the murder of a female student. It gives the viewers an understanding of the influence that people like Andrew Tate are having. Tate is a Tik Tok influencer who states that women belong in the home, can’t drive and are a man’s property. Tate states on some of his videos that he thinks rape victims must bear the responsibility for their attacks, and dates women aged between 18-19 because he can ‘make an imprint’ on them. This is just the tip of the iceberg of his beliefs, he influences the current manosphere movement with Tate openly stating that he is  an absolute misogynist, teaching his followers that women are inferior and morally deficient beings who are good only for sex and status building, and who deserve to be physically, sexually and emotionally abused. This has led to teenagers developing a code on social media platforms to chat with each other in demeaning ways, parents are simply not aware of it, and  the depth of influence it has on young people. 

Tate and other leading males of the manosphere hugely influence our young people and we need to proactively come together as a community to develop respectful relationships not only in our school but also in the wider community of Swan Hill. 

Misogyny has no place in our school. By fostering a culture of respect, educating students and staff, and taking a firm stance against sexism, we can ensure that our school is a place where all students—regardless of gender—feel valued, safe, and empowered to succeed.

As educators, we must lead by example, making it clear that respect and equality are non-negotiable values in our school community.

I will be continuing to discuss this topic in the next newsletter.

Kath Jones

Deputy Principal Community & Culture