- A new report by the Family Education Trust (FET) finds that 3 in 10 schools are covering the concept of ‘toxic masculinity’ in RSHE lessons, and argues that contested beliefs surrounding masculinity have crept into the school curriculum in the same manner as gender ideology.
- The Family Education Trust sent Freedom of Information requests to a sample of over 300 schools, finding also that 5% of those who responded are teaching that boys and men possess traits that are inherently negative for society.
- Toxic masculinity refers to the idea that masculinity is naturally ‘toxic’ or socially destructive.
A new report published today by FET reveals a problematic new ideology is emerging within the Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RSHE) in schools. RSHE has been the subject of intense public debate in recent years, mainly due to gender ideology. This report reveals that contested ideas around masculinity are also entering the classroom.
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Former MP for Don Valley and Chair of APPG on Issues Affecting Men and Boys Nick Fletcher has endorsed the report, commenting:
‘The phrase ‘toxic masculinity’ appears to capture all that is bad in the world and place it firmly on the shoulders of those with an XY chromosome. What is worse, so many boys and young men are told that they are inherently toxic and that it is society’s job to cure them.
The two halves of humanity exist as part of an organic whole, and cannot flourish one without the other. It can therefore surely only be a good thing that we critique regressive ideologies that seek to divide us, as part of the alternative effort to promote the restoration of a unifying and universally caring balance in our social and political discourse.’
Lottie Moore, who wrote the report for FET, says
“RSHE is unique as a subject at school because of its nature as containing highly personal material which deals with contemporary issues that bear societal significance far beyond the remit of the schools in charge of teaching it.
Over the past decade, an ideology that frames masculinity as destructive or ‘toxic’ has crept into mainstream thinking. Rather than addressing the challenges boys are facing today, ‘toxic masculinity’ blames boys themselves. This paper from the Family Education Trust has sought to understand the extent to which this approach to masculinity is emerging within the classroom.
There is a risk associated with any effort to talk about policies relating to boys and men on their own terms – that is, without reference to women and girls. Accordingly, there is a sense that any focus on men and boys is acceptable only when it positively impacts the lives of the opposite sex.
Children and young people should be encouraged to view themselves beyond the narrow confines of their protected characteristics. Equality of opportunity for every child should be prioritised, without imposing on them partisan ideas that atomise people into separate groups.’
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- In July 2024, the Family Education Trust sent out over 300 Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to schools in England to assess the prevalence of schools teaching ‘toxic masculinity’. The report discloses those results and highlights a number of notable trends.
- It offers a number of recommendations to policymakers on how they should deal with the subject of masculinity within RSHE going forward.
Please contact FET Communications Officer Lucy Marsh on 07825 648600 or lucy.marsh@familyeducationtrust.org.uk if you require any further information.
