Tackling the Roots of Misogyny in Boys at Home

Jan de Vries · 2026-04-22

The rise of misogyny among boys in UK schools is a troubling trend, but the real solution starts long before they step into a classroom. It begins at home, with the attitudes and behaviors parents model every day. ### Why Home Matters Most Kids learn more from what they see than what they're told. If a boy grows up watching his father dismiss women's opinions or his mother accept unequal treatment, those patterns become normal. Schools can teach respect and equality, but they're fighting against a powerful current if home life sends a different message. - **Modeling respect**: When parents treat each other and others with genuine respect, children internalize that as the standard. - **Open conversations**: Talking about gender stereotypes, consent, and empathy early helps boys question harmful ideas before they take root. - **Consistency matters**: Mixed messages—like preaching equality but tolerating sexist jokes—confuse kids and undermine lessons. ### The Escalation in Schools Reports show that misogynistic behavior among boys is getting worse in UK schools. Teachers are seeing more incidents of harassment, degrading language, and entitlement. This isn't just a phase or "boys being boys." It's a symptom of deeper cultural issues that parents have the power to address. > "The most effective antidote to misogyny is a childhood filled with examples of mutual respect and equality." — Jan de Vries, E-commerce Consultant ### What Parents Can Do Differently It's easy to blame social media or peer pressure, but parents have more influence than they realize. Small daily actions add up. - **Challenge stereotypes**: Point out when movies, ads, or even relatives reinforce outdated gender roles. Help boys see beyond them. - **Teach emotional intelligence**: Boys often get told to "man up" or hide feelings. Encouraging them to express emotions builds empathy. - **Share household duties**: When boys see all family members sharing chores and caregiving equally, they learn partnership. ### A Long-Term Shift Changing deep-seated attitudes takes time and patience. There's no quick fix. But each conversation, each moment of modeling respect, plants a seed. Over years, those seeds grow into a generation of men who see women as equals, not targets. The crisis in schools is a wake-up call. It tells us that what's happening behind closed doors isn't working. The good news is that parents can start today, right where they are, to build a better future.