Misogyny Is Rising in U.S. Classrooms. Where Is the National Response?

As countries across Europe roll out national programs to confront misogyny in schools, the United States still lacks a coordinated response.

Educators and students are witnessing an alarming rise in gender-based harassment and hostile sexism. Among participants in the 2025 American Federation of Teachers Virtual Conference session “Addressing the Rise and Impact of Misogyny Among Students in Grades 6-12,” 96 percent reported either seeing or hearing examples of misogyny in their classrooms or schools. These include rape “jokes,” degrading language toward female and LGBTQ+ students, and aggressive behavior that undermines school safety. 

Online platforms and social media influencers create echo chambers producing a cultural shift in which women and girls are devalued, and gender equality is portrayed as a threat. As a result, girls may limit their classroom participation, avoid enrolling in certain courses, or feel discouraged from pursuing their career choices. Navigating hostile school environments can lead to self-censorship, reduced ambitions and damaging self-perceptions that constrain potential.

The Role of Online Influencers

Online influencers such as Andrew Tate and others in the so-called manosphere promote misogynistic themes that frame women as inferior, deceptive or valuable solely for their appearance. These messages are delivered with charisma, humor and rebelliousness, which appeal to adolescent boys seeking identity and peer acceptance.

Dr. Pasha Dashtgard, a social psychologist and expert on online radicalization, says impressionable boys often find a sense of belonging in these online spaces—until they are pulled deeper into harmful ideologies that reinforce grievance, resentment and control.

Equally or more disturbing is how social media amplifies and disseminates mysoginist beliefs. Algorithms reward engagement and feed increasingly extreme material to young men, who absorb messages that equate masculinity with dominance over women and frame seeking help or showing emotion as weakness. This ideology feeds resentment among some boys, who feel that efforts to support girls socially and academically come at their expense.

U.K. Mounts a National Response

European countries are responding to these challenges with national prevention initiatives. In the wake of the popular Netflix series Adolescence, which follows a 13‑year‑old boy radicalized online into perpetrating extreme violence against a classmate, the U.K. announced last fall that schools will introduce anti-misogyny education.

The policy is a direct response to the culture shock generated by the series and polls showing pervasive misogyny in schools. The government program aims to equip students with an understanding of online influences, healthy relationships, and emotional well-being. France, the Netherlands and Belgium are adopting similar awareness and prevention programs.

The common goal is to encourage critical consumption of social media and counter harmful online narratives without stigmatizing masculinity. Boys are encouraged to express emotions without shame, question harmful stereotypes, and recognize the humanity and equality of all genders.

Early pilots in U.K. schools have shown promise. Students reported improved attitudes toward gender equality, increased confidence to call out harassment, and a greater understanding of healthy relationships. 

The Case for U.S. Action

U.S. schools are seeing similar trends but without a coordinated national response. Responding to school-based gender harassment, the politicization of gender issues, and the mental health crisis among youth requires an organized, collective effort. 

Initiatives like the #MisogynyFreeSchools campaign launched by the nonprofit Stop Sexual Assault in Schools are advocating for a comprehensive effort to combat gender-based harm in K–12 schools. The campaign provides resources, lesson plans, and strategies to help schools confront misogyny head-on. 

#MisogynyFreeSchools offers practical guidance to identify and disrupt misogynistic attitudes and behaviors, specifically recommending that educators:

• Recognize and respond to misogyny and gender bias in the classroom.
• Encourage student-led peer education through SASH Clubs (Students Against Sexual Harassment), which offer a safe space for students to discuss misogyny, gender bias, sexual harassment, online influences, and other topics while improving school climate.
• Introduce digital literacy and critical social media analysis into classroom instruction.
• Create supportive school policies that protect both students and staff from harassment.

Designing an Effective U.S. Response

Implementing anti-misogyny curricula in U.S. schools should draw on several best practices:

1. Start early: Even young children absorb gendered messaging from media, family, and peers. Early education can foster empathy, respect, and fairness before harmful norms take hold. For example, The Developing & Using Critical Comprehension curriculum teaches K-5 students digital literacy through a combination of critical thinking and social-emotional learning.
2. Engage boys: Invite boys into non-judgmental conversations about the consequences of gender bias and misogynistic rhetoric. When boys are invited instead of accused, they can learn to take active roles in promoting gender equity, intervene among peers appropriately, and help shift the school reward structure towards positive masculinity.  
3. Use media critically: Teach students to deconstruct the social media content they consume: Why do certain messages go viral? What beliefs do influencers promote and who benefits from them? How are gender stereotypes reinforced and normalized?
4. Create safe spaces for dialogue: Through advisory periods, student clubs (such as SASH Club), or peer-led discussions, schools can provide structured opportunities to reflect on gender dynamics and personal experiences.
5. Adopt a whole school approach: Administrators and staff can create support systems through reviewing and strengthening school policies, aligning disciplinary practices with educational values, and supporting staff who face harassment. A thoughtful school-wide coordination fosters a climate of respect, safety, and inclusion—not just compliance.
6. Build legal and community-based support: Forge community partnerships—with PTAs, school boards, and local advocacy groups—to bolster support and expand impact, especially in politically charged times and where legal recourses are uncertain.

Schools should follow the example of other nations that are rolling out policies and programs to counter rampant gender bias and misogyny. Districts should not only implement clear, protective policies but also support prevention curricula and student-led initiatives that foster peer education and accountability.

National support for campaigns like #MisogynyFreeSchools can drive this shift in school culture. Districts should embrace a whole community approach—where families, educators and administrators work together to challenge misogyny at its roots, advancing a culture of respect and equity.