PEOPLE WHO USE VIOLENCE (NPRF 24.12)
Supporting secondary school teachers to address online spaces as pathways to gender-based violence for boys and men: Interventions to tackle the influence of the manosphere
2 years
Growing evidence shows that misogynistic discourses expressed in the manosphere, a loosely incorporated group of websites and online communities, are gaining traction in Australian schools.
Popular masculinity influencers, like Andrew Tate and Jordan Peterson, promote content that challenges feminism’s gender equality gains, reasserts patriarchal and traditional gender roles and promotes men’s rights and superiority.
These discourses are filtering through to boys and young men and having harmful impacts in Australian schools.
Research aims
This project brings together scholars, practitioners and educators to critically examine and address the influence and impact of the manosphere upon young boys’ and men’s practices of masculinity that are harmful to women, girls and gender diverse people.
The project aims to develop an understanding of the interconnections between online and offline spaces and how misogynistic discourses and gender narratives expressed in the manosphere influence young boys and men in Australia.
It takes a solutions-focused approach by piloting and evaluating a professional learning program for secondary school teachers to address the influence of the manosphere in classrooms.
Methods
This project has a mixed methods approach comprising of:
-
- an evidence review and virtual focus groups with young Australians to understand the links between the manosphere, gender-based violence and the impacts for young people in Australia
- co-production workshops with school stakeholders (teachers and school staff such as student wellbeing coordinators) to develop a professional learning program to support secondary school teachers to address the harmful impacts of online misogyny and the manosphere on boys and young men in Australian schools
- a pilot and evaluation of a train-the-trainer workforce capacity building program for secondary school teachers.
Significance
This research will build understandings of how young people engage with and negotiate the content of the manosphere in both online and offline social interactions and the links to gender-based violence. It will provide much needed evidence for effective interventions to address the harmful impacts of misogynistic discourse and gender narratives in Australian schools.
Researchers
Project lead
Dr Naomi Pfitzner, Deputy Director, Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre, Monash University
Research team
Dr Sarah McCook, Research Fellow, Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre, Monash University
Dr Stephanie Westcott, Lecturer, School of Education, Culture and Society, Monash University
Professor Steven Roberts, Professor of Education & Social Justice and Head of the School of Education, Culture and Society, Monash University
Dr Alexandra Phelan, Lecturer, Politics & International Relations, Monash University
Budget
$226,188 (excluding GST)
This project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.