A new film featuring placards detailing graphic sexist comments endured by teenage girls in Tyneside schools has sparked widespread concern, with one 15-year-old revealing that boys in her class created a 'rape list' ranking female students. The video, shared with the Department for Education and Prime Minister Andy Burnham, has reached over 190,000 people on social media in three days.
The 15-year-old told the BBC the list made her feel 'worthless', adding: 'It is frightening because you don’t know people’s real intentions.' The film, created with the help of mental health charity This Life Collective, has drawn hundreds of supportive comments, including from Carolyne Jeffries who called it 'Unfortunately accurate and shocking', and Mandy Hobson who said: 'I thought those days were over. Clearly it’s worse.'
Rising Harassment in Schools
According to a survey, 60% of UK secondary school teachers say gender-based harassment is on the increase, with most witnessing misogynistic comments directed at female pupils at least once a week. Sue Davison, director of This Life Collective, blamed social media for the rise of toxic masculinity among 'disenfranchised boys', explaining: 'I think the language is getting more violent and aggressive.'
The film comes over a year after Netflix's Adolescence, aiming to expose real-life misogyny. It highlights how extreme ideologies are increasingly accessible, making early intervention crucial to prevent harmful stereotypes that fuel violence against women.
How Boys Are Drawn into the 'Manosphere'
Amelia Whitworth, head of policy, campaigns and youth at Plan International UK, told Metro: 'Harmful manosphere content doesn’t always look extreme or obvious. Misogynistic messages are often wrapped up in memes, humour, self-improvement advice and motivational content, making them much harder to spot.'
She added: 'Manosphere content taps into the very real fears and anxieties that boys may experience, then twists them to push misogynistic ideas that ignore – or outright dismiss – the challenges women and girls face.' This aligns with Action Counters Terrorism's description of radicalisation, which typically progresses through four stages: pre-radical, self-identify, indoctrination, and terrorism.
While most individuals with extreme views never reach the final stage, the counter-terrorism reporting service notes that small changes can escalate quickly. 'Because it is a process, it means there can be “entry points” or times where it’s possible to intervene and support the person to choose a more positive pathway,' it explains. 'The earlier this happens the better.'
Signs of Misogynist Radicalisation
Educate Against Hate advises parents to look for potential indicators that a child is involved in online misogynist subcultures. Key signs include using manosphere jargon like 'alpha male', 'red pill', or 'looksmaxxing'; making generalisations about women being manipulative or shallow; adopting strict gender roles; spending more time online or becoming isolated; increased frustration or anger, especially around dating; a victim mentality; and changing role models to idolise figures promoting extreme views.
Amelia Whitworth explains victim mentality as 'a mistaken belief that gender equality has somehow come at boys’ expense.' She emphasises the importance of keeping conversations open, as 'when a child feels judged or lectured, they’re less likely to share what they’re seeing online.'
What Parents Can Do
Whitworth advises parents to be curious and weave conversations on gender equality into everyday moments. 'Ask what content they’re watching, who they follow and what they think about it. Helping young people question what they’re seeing online and understand that algorithms don’t show an objective view of the world is a great place to start.'
The film's creators hope it will prompt action from authorities and parents to address the root causes of misogyny and radicalisation among young boys.
