Reports of violence in Scotland’s schools have repeatedly made headlines, but an often-overlooked aspect is the gendered nature of this violence. NASUWT Scotland reported last year that female teachers experience violence at more than six times the rate of their male counterparts.

Mike Corbett, NASUWT National Official for Scotland, described the situation starkly: “Sexist and misogynistic abuse and harassment of female teachers and pupils in our schools is a daily occurrence.”

The lack of government action on this issue is alarming. Girls are growing up in a world where violence against women is normalised. Last week, a man found legally liable for sexual abuse in a high-profile civil case was elected as President of the United States, sending a chilling message about how society values women.

The scale of the problem is clear. In October, the Girl Guides published heart-breaking data showing that 75% of girls aged 11–16 see or experience sexism, a figure that rises to 95% for young women aged 17–21. The online world is no safer, with 77% of girls reporting online harm in the past year. Figures like Andrew Tate, widely criticised for promoting misogynistic views, have made a rapid return to prominence due largely to Twitter/X. The UK’s anti-fascist organisation, Hope Not Hate, had previously succeeded in having Tate banned from most platforms. His influence on young people is not abstract; teachers see it playing out in schools.

As a teacher who manages an online forum with over 4,000 colleagues, I see daily accounts of the impact misogyny has on staff and students. One teacher shared how a pupil hospitalised her; another missed........

© Herald Scotland