Why are we talking about misogyny? What about violence against men?

Misogyny (hatred, bias or prejudice toward women) does not begin with violence - it begins with attitudes, beliefs and behaviours that shape how children and young people see themselves and each other. Challenging harmful gender norms is central to the work of both Misogyny-Free Schools UK and Voicebox.

We know that the ideas children absorb about gender, power, relationships and identity can have a profound impact on their lives, affecting wellbeing, educational experiences, relationships and, in some cases, contributing to harmful behaviours and violence. That is why both organisations focus on early intervention: not because these issues are small, but because addressing them early is one of the most effective ways to build safer, healthier environments for everyone.

In our work, sometimes this question comes up: “Aren’t men and boys also victims of violence?”

It is an important question, and one that deserves a thoughtful answer. Men and boys also experience violence, harm and unfair gender expectations. Recognising these experiences is essential. Acknowledging the harms experienced by men and boys does not mean we should ignore the specific ways misogyny contributes to violence and inequality affecting women and girls. It is important to recognise that many boys and young men today say they feel blamed, overlooked or unfairly criticised just because they are male. These feelings deserve to be taken seriously.

This blog explores why schools, public health organisations and policing strategies focus specifically on misogyny, and how misogyny-targeted work such as that of Voicebox is also supporting boys to develop healthy identities, relationships and futures.

1. Who experiences violence?

Globally, men are more likely than women to experience many forms of public violence, particularly assaults and homicide (WHO, 2024).

Women are disproportionately affected by intimate partner violence, sexual violence, coercive and controlling behaviours, and other forms of gender-based violence (WHO, 2026) Both realities are true.

2. Who commits the violence?

Men are disproportionately represented among perpetrators of serious interpersonal violence, including violence against both women and men.

This isn't about saying men are inherently violent. Most men are not violent. Rather, it tells us that if we want to reduce violence overall, we need to understand what social factors increase the risk that some boys and men will use violence.

3. What drives that violence?

This is where misogyny enters the conversation. Research from organisations including the World Health Organization shows that harmful gender norms - ideas about power, dominance, entitlement and rigid expectations of masculinity - is one of the factors associated with higher levels of violence.

Those same norms can contribute to:

●      violence against women and girls

●      violence between men

●      bullying

●      homophobia

●      sexual harassment, abuse and controlling behaviours in relationships.

In other words, challenging misogyny isn't only about protecting girls. It's also about helping boys grow up free from harmful expectations that can damage their own and other men's wellbeing and relationships.

So why don't we talk about misandry?

Misandry refers to prejudice or hostility towards men and boys.

Both can be harmful, and schools should challenge all forms of gender-based stereotyping or discrimination. However, misogyny has a distinct relationship with wider patterns of gender inequality and is recognised in research and policy as a driver of violence and discrimination against women and girls.

That is why government guidance (including the Department of Education), policing strategies and public health organisations specifically refer to misogyny. This isn't because boys' experiences don't matter, but rather, policy is designed to respond to where the strongest evidence points are.

At the same time, anti-male prejudice can and does exist. Sweeping statements that portray all men or boys as dangerous, stupid or inherently bad should always be challenged.

In his book Mask Off: Masculinity Redefined, writer and poet JJ Bola talks about the phrase “Men are trash”, which became popular towards the end of the 2010s:

“I was also taken aback when I first heard this phrase: it came across as bitter and even angry, but when I listened beyond the initial reaction or visceral emotion that it provoked, I understood that it told us more about societal issues around gender than it did about a particular man."

It is important to recognise that this phrase emerged as an expression of hurt, frustration and anger in response to many women's experiences of sexism and violence. However, not every listener will interpret it in the same way. While Bola is able to look beyond the phrase to understand the wider context, many boys and young men may instead hear it as a message about them personally. Some young, impressionable men hear things like “all men are trash / toxic / bad / stupid etc.” and feel the anger is 'against' them personally, that they are targeted or even penalised for existing.

Ultimately, anything that is discriminatory due to gender, or any characteristic, should be discouraged so that no one is feeling targeted because of who they are, especially amongst teenagers and children who are trying to figure themselves out.

This is one reason why conversations about "misandry" have become more common online. Research into the manosphere has found that legitimate concerns about boys' mental health, education or identity are often reframed as evidence that feminism or women are to blame, turning genuine frustrations into resentment.

Research from King's College London and Ipsos has found that over generations, the number of men who think that efforts to improve women's equality have begun to disadvantage men is rising. Rather than dismissing these concerns, they provide an opportunity for meaningful conversations about boys' wellbeing, identity and belonging.

Does focusing on misogyny ignore boys?

Quite the opposite. Healthy discussions about misogyny should include boys. Teaching children about empathy, respect, equality, consent and healthy relationships benefits everyone.

Boys can also be affected by the gender norms that underpin misogyny. Many experience pressure to be “tough”, suppress emotions, dominate others or conform to narrow ideas of masculinity. These expectations can affect their wellbeing, relationships and behaviour.

This is why boys should not be approached simply as potential perpetrators, but as active participants in challenging harmful gender norms. Helping all children question stereotypes and understand how gender expectations affect themselves and others can create healthier, more equal relationships for everyone.

Many schools are already exploring this through partnerships with organisations like Voicebox, who’ve worked with over 320 schools & organisations, working directly with boys to unpack masculinity, challenge harmful expectations and build healthier peer cultures.

Voicebox aims to meet boys where they’re at, meaning that when challenging or shocking statements are shared by young people in their workshops (which they often are), what’s said is listened to, explored and debated, rather than being immediately shot down.

A question Voicebox increasingly hears from young people is whether society has become "anti-men". Some boys genuinely feel that conversations about gender equality overlook the challenges they face around mental health, education or identity. These are important conversations to have and shouldn’t be dismissed.

At the same time, researchers studying the online "manosphere" have identified a recurring narrative built around what they describe as "male victimhood" or "aggrieved manhood". Rather than encouraging boys to seek support or address challenges constructively, these communities often argue that feminism and gender equality are responsible for men's problems, framing society as fundamentally hostile to men.

Therefore we can understand that the message often begins with genuine concerns that feel familiar or legitimate - such as boys struggling in school, loneliness or poor mental health - before presenting women or feminism as the cause. Supporting boys therefore means taking their experiences seriously while helping them think critically about the explanations they encounter online.

Recent research by Movember found that most masculinity-related content young men see online is completely ordinary - covering topics such as sport, fitness, gaming and self-improvement. However, the study also found that more harmful messages about dominance, gender and relationships are often woven into this broader content ecosystem.

Young men do not necessarily seek out extremist material; recommendation algorithms can gradually expose them to increasingly rigid ideas about masculinity through subjects they already enjoy.

This reinforces why media literacy is so important. A social media feed is not a representative picture of society, and repeated exposure to divisive content can make extreme views appear far more common than they really are.

A helpful way to think about it

When someone says "But men experience violence too" the most helpful response isn't to disagree, it's to say:

“You're right - they do, and their experiences matter. That's exactly why we talk about harmful gender norms. The same ideas that contribute to violence against women also contribute to violence between men, discourage boys from seeking help and place unhealthy expectations on everyone. We don't have to choose between supporting boys and tackling misogyny; in fact, doing one well helps us achieve the other."

For the parent community that powers Misogyny-Free Schools, we hope this helps provide a clearer way to have these conversations - with other parents, with schools and within our wider communities.

Supporting boys and challenging misogyny are not opposing goals. We can care deeply about boys' mental health, educational outcomes and wellbeing while also challenging the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to gender inequality and violence. Helping children question harmful stereotypes, build empathy and develop healthy relationships creates safer, happier futures for everyone.

If you want to see more support for children and young people to develop healthy relationships, challenge harmful stereotypes and build positive identities, encourage your child's school or local council to explore evidence-informed approaches and specialist support, such as the work provided by Voicebox.

Find out more about Voicebox

And if you haven’t already, join our Misogyny-Free Schools, UK WhatsApp parent and carer community to learn more and how you can support your child and their school to tackle these issues.