{
  "id": 2664470,
  "title": "Nazi salutes, Epstein jokes: How the 'manosphere' is affecting classrooms",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/nazi-salutes-epstein-jokes-how-the-manosphere-is-affecting-classrooms",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-22T22:17:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-23/teachers-describe-rise-of-the-manosphere-in-classrooms/107062824"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Teachers are raising concerns over the influence of the online male movement known as the manosphere on classrooms. Some educators have reported a rise in misogynistic attitudes among students, accompanied by physical intimidation and verbal abuse. The Australian Secondary Principals Association acknowledges this as a worrying trend but stresses that the majority of students behave appropriately and most classrooms remain safe.\n\nJess, a high school teacher for 12 years, has observed an increase in misogynistic attitudes. She has witnessed comments like \"best way to keep your woman in line is with a whip\" and Nazi salutes, as well as jokes about Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. Jess also encountered students questioning teachers about their sexuality or making personal remarks. She believes some student behaviors may be influenced by the manosphere, a community of online influencers promoting traditional gender roles.\n\nMonash University has issued a guide to help teachers respond to the increasing misogynistic behavior in the classroom. Jess recounted instances of physical intimidation, such as standing too close or a group of boys surrounding a teacher on duty. She also noted blatant disregard for female authority, like saying \"I don't speak to angry women\" when being reprimanded. A popular game, Five Nights at Epstein's, allows 12-year-olds to escape an island, further normalizing such attitudes.\n\nWhile Jess attributes some of the misogynistic behavior to online influencers, she is also concerned that boys may be adopting views from their households. She mentioned situations where parents, often fathers, are resistant to female staff, requiring a male leadership team member to address the issue. Kirsty, a relief teacher, expressed her desire to quit teaching due to the sexualized behavior and boundary violations from students, which have affected her sense of safety and overall well-being.\n\nThe Australian National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS) has expressed concerns about the impact of misogynistic online content on boys and young men's attitudes towards women and girls. Kirsty believes that the constant sexual humor and profanity may desensitize girls to sexist language, negatively impacting their learning experience.\n\nThe Australian National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS) has raised concerns that misogynistic online content is shaping boys and young men's attitudes towards women and girls, potentially contributing to violence against women and girls. Kirsty supports the idea of having two teachers in the classroom or implementing streamed pathways for students who are disengaged, with a stronger emphasis on social and emotional development. In Melbourne, the youth-led organization Consent Labs is working to facilitate conversations about the manosphere, pornography, and gender stereotypes, with a focus on empowering students to be active bystanders and understand their identity. However, teachers have expressed feeling under-equipped to address the rhetoric arising from the manosphere, particularly regarding appropriate responses and school leadership support.",
  "summary": "Female teachers are speaking out about how the \"manosphere\" is affecting classrooms, with some saying they have noticed a rise in misogynistic attitudes among students.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}