A new resource designed to help teachers respond to the growing influence of the “manosphere” in Australian classrooms has been released by researchers at Monash University in partnership with Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety.
The practical guide, An introductory guide to the Manosphere and the impacts for young people, teachers and schools, aims to support secondary school educators in recognising and responding to sexist and misogynistic views increasingly appearing in classrooms.
Developed by researchers at Monash in collaboration with the national research organisation, the resource outlines key beliefs associated with the manosphere, links to violence, recruitment pathways for boys and young men, and the role of social media in amplifying harmful content. It also provides practical strategies for teachers and school staff to recognise and respond to these influences.
According to the organisations behind the guide, it was developed in response to reports from educators who are encountering classroom disruptions, “baiting” questions and disrespectful behaviour linked to viral “manfluencer” content circulating on social media.
CEO of Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine, said teachers were often dealing with coordinated attempts by students to challenge their authority and disrupt learning.
“We know there are girls and young women who feel unsafe at school due to boys’ behaviours. These feelings can impact their schooling, fuelling anxiety, reducing their class participation or even leading them to skip class or school,” Dr Boyd-Caine said.
“At the same time, many boys and young men feel uncomfortable with the misogyny they witness online and the behaviour of their peers at school, but feel unsafe or unable to challenge it.
“We aren’t just providing a report on the problem; we are providing a roadmap for school communities to recognise these tactics and reclaim the classroom as a safe space for everyone.”
The guide includes advice for educators on identifying tactics used to derail lessons or embarrass teachers, responding to coordinated behaviour intended to intimidate peers or staff, and understanding how social media algorithms can lead students from seemingly harmless content to more extreme material.
Research cited in the guide highlights the scale of the issue. One Australian study found that one in four girls reported feeling unsafe at school due to the behaviour of boys. Women teachers have also reported harassment ranging from verbal abuse designed to belittle them to physical intimidation in schoolyards.
Lead researcher Dr Naomi Pfitzner, Director of the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Hub at Monash University, said the guide was designed to help educators better understand and address harmful online narratives.
“Students and teachers are telling us they are seeing these harmful ideologies and behaviours show up in classrooms every day,” Dr Pfitzner said.
“This guide gives schools a clear, evidence-based starting point to understand what the manosphere is, why it matters, and how to help their students navigate these harmful narratives.”
Co-author Dr Stephanie Wescott, from the Faculty of Education at Monash, said the influence of the manosphere was increasingly evident in school settings.
“The manosphere is not a fringe phenomenon – it is shaping the attitudes and behaviours of young people in very real ways,” Dr Wescott said.
“Our work shows that educators are seeking practical resources that help them navigate these conversations safely and constructively. This guide is designed to meet that need and to support schools to foster respectful, inclusive learning environments.”
Dr Boyd-Caine said the resource was an important step in addressing harmful online content affecting young people.
“The manosphere is contributing to attitudes and behaviours that undermine gender equality and can escalate to violence. Educators are on the frontline of this challenge,” she said.
The guide forms part of the Supporting Schools project, an initiative designed to develop and evaluate professional learning programs that equip teachers and school staff to address sexist and misogynistic content circulating online.
It will also be featured at the No to Violence Conference, where Dr Wescott is speaking on a panel examining young people’s online worlds and how sectors can respond to the influence of the manosphere.
The guide is now being distributed to schools and is available to all Australian secondary schools and education departments via the ANROWS website.
