Misogynistic abuse of female staff is increasing, leaving teachers feeling ‘traumatised’ and ‘humiliated’
Teachers’ leaders have said a “masculinity crisis” is fermenting in schools across the UK, with misogynistic abuse of female staff on the increase, leaving victims “traumatised”, “demeaned” and “humiliated”.
Almost a quarter of female teachers who took part in a union survey said they have been the target of misogyny from a pupil over the past 12 months – the highest proportion in the last four years of surveys.
One teacher said she was called a “fucking slag” by a pupil. Another said a student had made nude AI images of her, while other boys joked about raping girls, then laughed when challenged.
The 5,000-strong poll by the NASUWT teachers’ union tracked a rising trend in misogyny directed at female teachers in recent years, from 17.4% in 2023, climbing to 19.5% in 2024, 22.2% in 2025, rising to 23.4% this year.
