Proposed lessons for young boys about how to respect women could backfire and ‘push them towards more misogynistic behaviours’, a member of the public has warned.
Teachers in England are to be given specialist training on how to teach lessons on consent, the dangers of sharing intimate images and unhealthy myths about women.
The idea is to combat the perception that a new generation of boys are being radicalised by misogynistic online influencers.
Should such lessons be introduced in Ireland?
On Lunchtime Live, listener James from Donegal said he has his doubts.
“If you have a female teacher at the top of a classroom waving her finger in a condescending way at boys, saying, ‘You’re wrong for feeling this way’ or, ‘You’re guilty by association’, that is going to push young men towards more misogynistic behaviours,” he said.
“I think you need good male role models; I had one, which was my father.
“He taught me responsibility, accountability and duty serving the community but not all young men have that.
“They have fathers who are absent, abusive or simply not competent people.”
James added that any lessons will have to be “done properly” or the consequences will be severe.
“If it’s done in the wrong way, it will make the problem worse [by] driving them towards [misogyny].
“‘Well, I’m not going to listen and respect women and I’m going to be more misogynistic.’”
Positive role models
James suggested that society focuses on instead simply on extolling the virtues of men young boys should aspire to be like.
“I think you need to prop up men and give good male role models, men who are serving the community well, who volunteer well, who do various jobs that help people,” he said.
“Whether it’s a plumber who goes out every day and provides for his family and helps out.
“Whether it’s a local football coach, a soccer coach, you need to bring these people in and teach young boys lessons about the proper and healthy level of masculinity.”
Main image: A schoolboy with his hand raised. Picture by: Alamy.com.
