Over the past few years, UK schools have faced an unsettling increase in misogyny, sexist language, and rigid gender stereotypes affecting students’ development and wellbeing both in and outside of school.
A 2024 survey by UK Feminista and Unison found that a third (34%) of school staff reported hearing sexist language in schools over the past five years, and 7% said they witness it daily. 10% of female support staff in secondary schools had been sexually harassed, mostly by male pupils but sometimes by male colleagues, while 15% had been directly targeted by sexist language. The study also reported that boys are frequently told to “man up” or called “girls” when they express emotion, perpetuating a culture where sensitivity and vulnerability are suppressed.
In response to the worrying rise of these issues, we've partnered with Safer Merton - a partnership between Merton Council and the police focused on reducing crime and antisocial behaviour in its borough - to explore and promote “Healthy Masculinity” across schools and youth centres in Merton, London. Since the project launched in September this year, we've worked with over 900 students and 26 teachers, with one more school and one youth centre still to visit in early 2025.
But what does “healthy masculinity” mean? At its core, healthy masculinity encourages boys and young men to break free from rigid expectations that discourage emotional expression, compassion, and empathy. It challenges damaging stereotypes that equate masculinity solely with toughness or dominance, instead of fostering values like kindness, respect, authenticity, and allyship. Teaching boys these values from a young age helps them see their identity as flexible and inclusive, which can prevent issues like aggression, isolation, and misogynistic attitudes from taking root.
Addressing healthy masculinity from childhood is essential. Starting early allows both children and teenagers to question stereotypes before they become ingrained, creating an environment where boys and girls feel safe expressing themselves freely. It’s never too early to start learning about these issues which are shaping our young men so rapidly.
Healthy masculinity with KS2
Our journey started in primary schools, where we introduced our “Healthy Masculinity: Rethinking Strength and Being an Ally” workshops to six schools across Merton.
Designed specifically for Year 5 and 6 students, these workshops guide children through reflections on common gender stereotypes, encouraging them to see how societal expectations impact wellbeing and friendships. Through a series of games, drama activities, and guided discussion, students explore the concept of strength, allyship, and the importance of standing up for inclusivity and fairness. By the end, each student commits to an action that promotes allyship and positive support for others.
A key aim of the workshop was helping students rethink their ideas about strength, especially in relation to emotional expression. Before the workshop, when students at one school were asked to reflect on the statement “Crying shows that you’re not strong,” 15% agreed or strongly agreed, 11% neither agreed nor disagreed, and 74% either disagreed or strongly disagreed. By the end of the session, 93% of students disagreed or strongly disagreed with this statement, demonstrating a significant shift in their understanding of what it means to show strength.
After the workshop, a Year 6 boy promised to “make sure nobody is judging others and stick up for them if I know them,” while another noted that he would “stop thinking that girls wear makeup and paint their nails because boys can do that too.”
Girls in the workshop also shared their feelings of empowerment. After the session, a Year 5 girl resolved to “play sports even if boys stare,” and a Year 6 girl noted her determination to “prove that girls can do things that seem ‘manly’ and that boys can do things that seem ‘girly.’”
These reflections reveal a new confidence in pursuing their interests, free from restrictive norms, and demonstrate the significance of early intervention in shaping students' self-perception and understanding of gender.
Young children are receptive to these types of conversations, and we’ve found that the KS2 students we've worked with take the topic seriously and engage thoughtfully. By planting these seeds early, we help set a foundation for healthier relationships, greater empathy, and more inclusive attitudes as they grow into young adults.
Unpacking societal pressures with KS4
With older students, we tailored our approach to address the specific challenges faced by adolescent boys and young men as they navigate identity and self-worth.
So far, we’ve worked with 350 KS4 students, facilitating workshops that focus on recognising and analysing the societal pressures young men face. Our sessions guide students in redefining concepts like resilience, encouraging them to see it as the ability to navigate emotions rather than suppress them. This is especially important, as traditional notions of masculinity can often discourage young men from expressing vulnerability or compassion.
To support students beyond the workshop, we provided two digital resource packs - one focused on healthy masculinity and another on healthy relationships. These packs cover practical guidance on emotional wellbeing, calling out misogyny, and understanding the dynamics of respectful relationships. Schools were given QR codes, allowing students to quickly access these resources on their phones whenever needed. This convenient format enables students to revisit key ideas and empowers them to apply what they’ve learned, fostering a sense of responsibility in their behavior and interactions both inside and outside of school.
Through collaborative discussion, students are encouraged to create new, inclusive definitions of masculinity that are healthier and more compassionate. One Year 10 student shared that "masculinity is about being open minded [...]. You can express it in any way you want, even [with] things that may appear feminine", while another said “gender norms are not the same for everyone; everyone is different", indicating a shift in perspective as students recognise the diversity and multifaceted-ness of masculinity.
Teacher training programme: building capacity for change
A critical element of our project has been the development of our teacher training programme, aimed at equipping educators with the tools to facilitate meaningful discussions around masculinity and gender in the classroom. The online training sessions have engaged teaching staff across our partner schools, providing insights on interpreting boys’ behaviour and understanding the pressures they face.
In addition to the interactive training, teachers were also provided with tailored digital resources to help them continue these important conversations with students. These resources, designed to align with the workshop content, allow teachers to reinforce key concepts and introduce new ideas around healthy masculinity in a structured, productive and accessible way.
Will Hudson, our lead facilitator on the Merton project, reflects on the experience: “It has been fascinating and enriching to share knowledge across the borough about masculinity and gender, particularly in terms of challenging assumptions about young men and discussing strategies to support them to embrace their authenticity, values, and capacity for care.”
After completing the programme, 91% of teachers reported feeling more confident in discussing masculinity with boys, and 100% said they have a better understanding of the gendered expectations facing young men today.
One teacher shared that “an educator at their core is just trying to do what's best for their student. Everything we learn ourselves makes us better educators, and it gives us the skills to help the students grow into healthy individuals. What we've learnt today is going to be the stepping stone to help our students who need to learn about healthy masculinity the most.”
Empowering youth workers and their young people
Set to take place in early 2025, our collaboration with a local youth centre will offer valuable insights into the unique context of young people’s lives outside of school.
By running sessions with both youth workers and young people, we will be able to develop a specialised training programme for youth workers that equips them with the skills to engage boys and young men in discussions on healthy masculinity. This relationship-building is crucial for young people who often see youth workers as mentors and role models.
Our aim is to help youth workers feel more confident in addressing topics like emotional resilience, vulnerability, and inclusivity with the young men they mentor.
Next steps
Our work with Safer Merton to explore healthy masculinity will culminate in a Knowledge Dissemination event on Thursday 13th March 2025, at the Merton Council Chambers. This event will showcase the insights gathered over the course of the project, reflecting on its impact on students, staff, and the wider Merton community. We’ll share testimonials from students, teachers, and youth workers, illustrating how the workshops and training programmes have encouraged a deeper, more compassionate view of masculinity. This event will also be an opportunity to discuss next steps and explore ways to continue promoting healthy masculinity for the young people of Merton.
Save the Date!
Be sure to mark your calendars for the Knowledge Dissemination event on 13th March 2025 which you can attend either in-person at the Merton Council Chambers or online via Zoom.
Join us as we celebrate the progress made in fostering healthy masculinity with the young people of Merton. This is only the beginning, and together we can continue building a more inclusive, supportive environment for all young people in London and beyond.
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