“I don’t want another kid stuck in this right-wing loop”: how transgender and gender-diverse educators challenge online misogyny in schools

Building on Wescott and colleagues’ research on the manosphere’s influence in Australian schools, this study explores English transgender and gender-diverse educators’ experiences confronting manosphere-inspired rhetoric in schools. Methodologically informed by Elliott and Roberts’ “in-depth case studies approach”, this study employs in-depth narrative participant interviews. Our findings reveal that transgender and gender-diverse educators, are uniquely positioned to challenge misogyny and extremism propagated by ‘manfluencers’ and online communities. By navigating and defying binary notions of gender, they offer transformative perspectives countering restrictive misogynistic narratives and offer diverse perspectives for their students. This article contributes to discourse on masculinities and misogyny in educational settings by demonstrating the transformative potential of transgender and gender-diverse educators in promoting a more inclusive understanding of
gender. It underscores the importance of diverse educator representation in combatting the manosphere’s growing influence on boys and young men and thereby fostering a safer and more equitable learning environment for all.