Victorian teachers are being equipped with new tools to combat the influence of toxic masculinity, particularly online, in schools. The state government has announced an updated Respectful Relationships teaching program with new course content aimed at individuals like “manfluencers” Andrew Tate. This updated program will be expanded to include more Catholic and independent schools in addition to state schools. Students will be educated on how to identify online toxic masculinity, hate speech, coercive control, and will be equipped with skills to resist peer pressure and challenge “alpha male” arguments.
Deakin University Associate Professor Debbie Ollis, along with University of Melbourne’s Professor Helen Cahill, developed the new material for the Respectful Relationships program. Ollis notes that it is not uncommon for a significant percentage of students in a class to be influenced by figures like Andrew Tate, and the program aims to help young men recognize harmful behavior in themselves. There is a growing concern among educators, parents, and mental health experts about the radicalization of teenagers and young men into extreme misogynistic ideologies through online influencers such as Tate and other “alpha male” figures.
The Respectful Relationships program was initially rolled out in Victorian state schools in 2016 as a recommendation from the state Labor government’s Royal Commission into Family Violence. At that time, figures like Andrew Tate were relatively unknown, and the online “manosphere” was just emerging. However, the subsequent rise in the online presence of Tate and other influencers has raised alarms about the potential for real-world violence and abuse stemming from extreme misogynistic beliefs. Recent incidents in Victorian schools, including deepfake pornography and attacks on female students by male peers, have prompted the need to update the program to address the changing social environment.
The updated material in the Respectful Relationships program aims to educate students on recognizing and challenging harmful behavior, particularly online. Students will learn to resist peer pressure and arguments that reinforce toxic masculinity, as well as develop skills to counter alpha male rhetoric. The program also emphasizes the importance of teaching young men to reflect on their own behavior and attitudes, with the goal of preventing the perpetuation of harmful ideologies. By providing teachers with these tools, the program seeks to create a safer and more inclusive school environment for all students.
The influence of figures like Andrew Tate and other online “manfluencers” has raised concerns about the impact of toxic masculinity on young people. With the updated Respectful Relationships program, Victorian teachers are better equipped to address these issues in schools. By educating students on recognizing and resisting harmful behavior, as well as challenging misogynistic ideologies, the program aims to promote gender equality and create a more positive and respectful school culture. It is crucial for educators to be proactive in addressing toxic masculinity and promoting healthy relationships among students to prevent the perpetuation of harmful behaviors and attitudes.