Misogyny and Gender Bias Are on the Rise: What Can Educators Do?

By Joel Levin

Increasing misogynistic attitudes and behavior among preteen and teenage boys present a critical challenge for educators. In schools, this can translate into boys’ verbal, physical, and cyber harassment of girls, LGBTQIA+ peers and teachers. School administrators, teachers and parents can be blindsided by unexpected expressions of misogyny that students absorb from the internet. Understanding the online and social influences at work enables educators to recognize concerning behavior, intervene effectively and foster healthy attitudes. Early recognition and response are vital because these formative years significantly shape students' future relationships and worldviews.

The roots of misogyny

Misogyny, which is prejudice, contempt or hatred toward women and girls, is driven by several societal and cultural forces:

• Online influence and echo chambers. Social media, online gaming communities, online forums and other components of the “manosphere” are breeding grounds for misogynistic beliefs. Influencers, such as Andrew Tate, promote harmful gender stereotypes, which are consumed by young men and reinforced among peer groups.
• Backlash against social movements. As gender equity gains acceptance, some young men may feel girls and LGBTQIA+ students are taking opportunities and privileges away from them, leading to resentment and aggressive behavior.
• Lack of positive masculinity models. Some boys lack positive examples of masculinity that emphasize respect, emotional intelligence and equality.
• Misinformation and polarization. Some online platforms spread misinformation and distorted views of gender relationships, reinforcing hostile behaviors.

Impressionable teenage boys are particularly susceptible to these messages. Dr. Pasha Dashtgard, director of research at the Polarization & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University, explains that “boys who are legitimately looking for help get pulled in by social media influencers and these hateful online communities because they are being told that there are simple solutions to their complex problems, that there is a defined group of people to blame for their frustrations and disappointments, and that all these boys need to do is listen to this influencer. These boys often are looking for a guiding philosophy for their lives and find the confidence and simplicity of these influencers’ ideas appealing. Unfortunately, these groups and beliefs ultimately leave them sadder, more isolated, angrier, and more hopeless than before.” 

How misogyny affects students

Misogynistic rhetoric and behavior harms all students, shaping their experiences, self-perceptions and opportunities. For girls, the impact can manifest as limiting classroom participation and course choices. They can experience decreased self-confidence, anxiety, depression and eating disorders; self-censorship and reduced ambitions; worry about physical and emotional safety; feelings of shame or inferiority; and avoidance of certain classes or activities. When internalized, misogyny can lead to unhealthy relationships.

Misogyny teaches boys that dominance and aggression toward women and girls are desirable traits and proof of masculinity, and that seeking help and showing feelings demonstrate weakness. Expectations that boys should adhere to this rigid gender ideal can lead to unhealthy ideas about relationships and intimacy, difficulty forming friendships with girls, avoiding perceived “feminine” academic subjects or activities, defaulting to hostility and aggression toward girls in all interactions, and adopting more extreme misogynistic beliefs. “Misogynistic attitudes,” says Dashtgard, “and the male supremacist ideology that underpins it, leave scars in the form of self-hatred, a profound lack of self-confidence, a diminished sense of self, and a worldview that leaves people feeling hopeless and angry.”

Different groups of women and LGBTQIA+ individuals experience the intersection of misogyny with their race, class, gender, disability or other identity. For example, LGBTQIA+ people experience misogyny combined with homophobia or transphobia when others dismiss their nonbinary and transgender identities.