Scots pupils to take part in new education programme to tackle 'rapid spread' of misogyny in the classroom
The EIS teaching union has developed the new theatre-based programme to tackle the spread of misogyny in the classroom
Scotland’s largest teaching union is to launch new resources using theatre to tackle misogyny in the classroom.
It comes in the wake of the announcement in England that teachers will be given training to spot and tackle misogyny while high-risk pupils could be sent on behavioural courses.
The EIS union said online spaces are creating a “rapid spread” of content that is harming pupils.
Its new education resource has been created with Civic Digits, which aims to provide teachers with tools to engage learners in a better understanding of, and how to challenge, misogyny.
EIS General Secretary, Andrea Bradley said: “Every young person deserves to be safe, to be themselves and to flourish.
“Unfortunately, their ability to do so can be negatively impacted by misogyny.
“The influence of online spaces and algorithms is enabling the rapid spread of content that aims to perpetuate rigid gender stereotypes and justify harmful attitudes.”
The new resource, ‘Many Good Men: Changing the Story about Online Misogyny’, will be the focus of an event at the Scottish Parliament on January 20, 2026.
The resource is based on a participatory theatre project, led by Civic Digits.
Between 2023 and 2024, the project culminated in two groups of young participants, co-creating two different plays that explored misogyny, mental health and masculinity.
Pupils then explore the lives of the fictional characters in these stories, which are aimed at upper Secondary and FE students.
Civic Digits also want to create more theatre projects with groups of young people across Scotland – empowering them to author their own solutions and make performances for their own communities.
EIS President Adam Sutcliffe said: “With rising violence and aggressive behaviours towards women workers, and with more and more women and girls feeling unsafe due to sexism, and boys and men under significant pressure to uphold misogynistic attitudes, a shift is urgently needed.
“These topics can be difficult to talk about, and learners can feel vulnerable, embarrassed or even withdrawn if asked to share their own experiences or opinions.
“Educational approaches that use fictional characters can open up the space for discussion and for exploring difficult topics and ideas, empowering learners to imagine how they might change the story.”
In March, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised the television drama Adolescence as he spoke to the writers and said there is no “simple solution” to stop boys from being dragged into a “whirlpool” of misogyny.
Sir Keir said he wanted to talk about “what can we do as a society to stop and prevent young boys being dragged into this whirlpool of hatred and misogyny”, as he hosted creators of the Netflix drama at Downing Street.
It was announced in December that teachers in England are to receive specialist training around issues such as consent and the dangers of sharing intimate images.
The £20 million package from Westminster will also see teachers get training around how to identify positive role models, and how to challenge unhealthy myths about women and relationships.
It will include a new helpline for teenagers to get support for concerns about abuse in their own relationships.
The plans have been criticised by the domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales, Dame Nicole Jacobs, as not going “far enough” and were dubbed “silly gimmicks” by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.
The Scottish resource is one part of the EIS’s wider work to address misogyny and gender-based violence in educational establishments and in society.
The EIS believes it is important that all educators are supported with designated time for professional learning and equipped with the confidence, skills and tools necessary to navigate these topics within their settings.
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