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Students given the 'tools' to challenge misogyny

Olivia FraserGuernsey
BBC Photo of teachers and students standing in two rows. There are four female teachers wearing pink T-shirts with slogans on including as 'this girl can and 'it's just banter...?'. There are two male teachers with ink T-shits on and one male teacher with a brown blazer and pink tie. There are three female students in black blazers, white shirts and black skirts with a blue striped tie. There are two male students also in a black blazer, white shirt and blue tie.BBC
Teachers have been wearing T-shirts with slogans on to spread the message

Students in Guernsey are taking part in an initiative to help them identify and challenge misogynistic behaviour.

The young people aged 11 to 15 at Les Varendes High School were in workshops and would continue to learn about the issue in their tutor times, staff said.

Assistant principal Emma Hughes said it was a prominent time to talk about the issue, saying: "Following on from the Manosphere documentary on Netflix, I think it is everywhere and I think we're becoming more aware of it."

She highlighted it was not about "shaming" boys about comments they made to girls, but instead how anyone could "change the dynamics that we see in society, just by standing up for what they know is right".

'Change deep-seated opinions'

"I think what we are looking at our level is where it begins, so the idea of banter and the comments where they can lead," Hughes added.

Chris Taylor is a teacher at the secondary school and said they wanted to equip students with the knowledge "to build their opinion or maybe change deep-seated opinions that are in the culture around us".

He agreed that the push was down to the prominence of "toxic masculinity" on social media.

He said: "I think that we are driving a generation of young men towards some very bad influencers who are making money out of them on the internet."

Etienne pictured with light brunette hair, short on the sides and long on the top. He is smiling with a closed mouth at the camera. Etienne is wearing a white shirt with a black blazer and navy striped tie.
Etienne said it was useful to learn about both misogyny and misandry

Etienne, 15, said the training had been worthwhile.

He said: "Misogyny has been embedded in our community for years, and slowly breaking down the misogyny to lessen it is a good start to completely get rid of it."

The students have also been learning about misandry - hatred of males - which Evita, 14, said had helped give "a wider understanding of what it is and how it can affect both men and women".

She added that being shown how to call out behaviour had given her a "confidence boost to call it out".

Kytenda, also 15, agreed, saying: "Instead of being a bystander, you can stand up to help those you see in the streets. Even on social media, if you see it, then report it."

Kytenda pictured with long dark braided hair smiling at the camera with closed lips. She is wearing a white shirt with a black blazer and navy striped tie.
Kytenda said she would like other students outside her school take part too

Emil, 15, said he could now "look out for the subtleties in day-to-day life of traits of toxic masculinity and misogyny".

He said that, with the rise of that content in social media, "it's become a lot more relevant" to have those skills.

Seeing conversations around misogynistic content on social media was something Josie, 14, said was difficult to escape from.

She said that, even though she had built her social media to be against that content, "it still somehow finds its way" to her.

Emma Hughes said she had been "blown away" by how the students had taken on the scheme and she hoped it could continue into the future.

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