If we want women to feel safe, respected, and empowered within the workplace — we need to start young. Very young.
The Fawcett Society’s recent article, Sex Ed Reform Must Tackle Misogyny Head-On, makes one thing crystal clear: the classroom is where the fight against misogyny must begin. Because right now, we’re failing girls. And we’re failing boys too.
According to Fawcett’s research, 1 in 5 teenage girls have been subjected to unwanted sexual contact in school. And 1 in 10 teachers say they’ve seen boys sharing Andrew Tate videos in the classroom. Let that sink in. Harmful gender stereotypes, sexist behaviours, and rape myths are thriving in the corridors and classrooms of our schools. And we’re expecting young people to “just know better” — without giving them the tools, language, or safe spaces to learn.
Education is prevention
Misogyny doesn’t start in the workplace. It starts in the playground, on social media, in group chats, and in subtle everyday interactions that often go unchecked. And unless we teach children and teens how to recognise harmful behaviour and challenge it, we’re laying the groundwork for discrimination, harassment, and violence later in life.
We can’t just teach the biology of sex and call it a day. RSHE must evolve. It must include:
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Explicit discussion of misogyny, rape culture, and online abuse.
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A curriculum shaped with input from girls and young people, not just policymakers.
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A focus on consent, respect, empathy, and challenging the narratives boys are bombarded with online.
The cost of inaction
When we fail to address these issues early, we all pay the price. Girls grow up believing they must shrink themselves to stay safe. Boys are left confused or misinformed about what healthy relationships look like. And employers are then left wondering why harassment still persists in the workplace.
Workplace equality doesn’t begin in the boardroom — it begins in year 7.
A call to action for educators, parents, and policymakers
It’s not enough to hope young people “learn it at home” or “figure it out.” We need a curriculum that reflects the reality of growing up in 2025. One that’s inclusive, trauma-informed, and unafraid to tackle difficult truths.
And we need training for teachers too. You can’t teach what you’ve never been taught — especially when it comes to unpacking things like unconscious bias, misogyny, and harmful gender norms.
At Jobs for Women, we’re committed to building a fairer world for women in the workplace. But if we really want to close the gender gap, we must look upstream. The culture we tolerate in schools today shapes the workplaces of tomorrow.
Women Work Wellbeing Podcast
On the Women Work Wellbeing podcast we have spoken many times about misogny at work. It is quit frightening how many women have been affected by direct misogny whether it related to a promotion, sexual conduct, ‘mainsplaining’ or treatment at work it is true that many women in the Jobs for Women community have been affected.
Our podcast is available on all podcast players. Listen on Spotify here. Listen on Amazon Music here. Listen on Apple here.
Credit: This post is based on insights from the Fawcett Society’s article, Sex Ed Reform Must Tackle Misogyny Head-On, published July 2025.