Addressing the influence of online misogyny and the manosphere through RSHE/PSHE

PSHE Association Guidance

You may have noticed that misogyny, toxic influences and other related issues have seen increasing media coverage recently.

This is partly due to the TV show ‘Adolescence’, which has garnered a lot of media attention and concern amongst those who may not otherwise have been aware of the extent of the issue.

While we have heard some suggestions that the series itself might be worth showing in class, we would be very wary of doing so given the issues it covers would need careful unpacking.

Aside from the fact that it carries a BBFC Age-15 rating (and therefore wouldn’t be appropriate for viewers under that age in schools), the practicalities of showing a four hour series in class without sufficient time to explore these themes would leave a lot of questions and concerns unresolved.

For some it may also prove shocking or triggering, although the issues it explores will be all too familiar to many young people already.

Instead, we would recommend addressing the underlying issues (including misogyny and toxic influences) via your planned PSHE/RSHE curriculum. And we’ve highlighted some of our most relevant guidance and resources below.

Firstly, we’ve made our ‘Addressing misogyny, toxic masculinity and social media influence through PSHE education’ guide free to all, as it includes practical advice on how to approach this difficult topic.

It also includes links to useful teaching resources and relevant guidance you can draw upon, as well as key considerations of what to cover, and what to avoid. 

It’s also important to consider the complementary factors and related issues in your approach — not covering misogyny in isolation, but as part of a planned programme that may cover factors such as consent, harmful sexual behaviours and the impact of pornography.

The Talk Relationships' lesson pack is a schools resource that has been developed through the PSHE association and the NSPCC. This resource explores harmful sexual behaviour and other relevant topics.

The PSHE association also offer the following costed resource -

The PSHE association Programme Builder tools will support you to deliver a well planned and balanced curriculum.

on-demand training course on effectively teaching about the harms of pornography,  lesson packs on consent for KS1-5.

We’d also encourage you to listen to (or read) 'Manosphere in the Mirror', a podcast episode from Fully Human, PSHE Association research and development arm, which investigates what’s actually happening in the manosphere; how it’s affecting children and young people; and how we might respond.

The government’s Educate Against Hate initiative also has useful guidance on incels and online misogyny, which links to the PSHE Association guidance on supporting mental health and emotional wellbeing, as this too is an important factor to consider when supporting young people to resist the attraction of these destructive online cultures.

Incel guidance (designed for year 10 and above) 

Incel ideologies can significantly affect the mental health and social development of young people, leading to harmful behaviours and attitudes. 

The DfE has created a guide to understanding Incel ideologies hosted on the Educate Against Hate website.

It is designed to equip teachers with the knowledge and tools needed to identify and address the risk of Incel ideology and extreme misogyny in their students. It explains what the online subculture is and the signs that a young person may be engaging with it. 

The guide is for teachers of key stage 4 and older students, school leaders, designated safeguarding leads and those working in education settings with a Prevent Duty.

This guide will help you to understand:  

• what Incels are, the terms and concepts they use 
• the potential harms of engaging with Incel subculture(s)  
• what to do if you are concerned a student or learner is engaging with the Incel online subculture

Factsheet: Incels and Misogyny

Additional Resources

SSCP resources about a range of elements covered in our themed Forum Weeks, including videos and presentations from our events.

The forum week December 2024 focused on Online Safety - Forum Week - Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership

Free resources, designed and developed to empower professionals, educators, and caregivers with practical strategies and guidance -  Shareables - KIDSONLINEWORLD.COM