Gloucestershire Charity calls for more education to combat misogyny
The conversation has been sparked after the release of TV drama Adolescence.
The recent hit drama Adolescence has sparked conversation amongst viewers about knife crime, harmful content online and violence against women and girls, three issues that are very prevalent in today’s society.
The series follows a 13-year-old boy who had stabbed a female classmate to death and explores the motive behind it.
The series makes a number of references to the ‘manosphere’ which is a collection of websites, blogs, and online forums promoting masculinity, misogyny, and opposition to feminism.
Many discussions in these online communities have promoted the harm of women and suggested that women can be to blame if they are the victims of serious crimes such as sexual assault and murder.
This dangerous online culture has been seen to radicalise young minds and this is depicted throughout the series.
Gloucestershire charity The Hollie Gazzard Trust say they provide ‘rethinking masculinity’ training to young boys to help combat the toxic culture and ideologies.
The founder, Nick Gazzard, says there needs to be more education on the subject in schools to help educate young people and reduce the number of incidents of violence against women and girls.
Nick Gazzard told Greatest Hits Radio: “The influence of media, social media, society and cultural expectations are all causing untold damage to many boys theses days.
“The gender expectations, power, cultural norms and harassment are being discussed openly in unprecedented ways like they’ve not been done before.”
He added “Working with groups of young boys unpicking what it is to be a man, exploring their attitudes and beliefs, and discussing areas such as respect, treating people as people and not objects, how to handle rejection, being safe and safe to be around, taking no for an answer and saying that it’s okay to ask for help.
“It’s things that young boys needs and more work needs to be done in schools around these particular areas.”
The Prime Minister backed calls in parliament yesterday to air the series in schools as an education tool.