Northern Ireland Women Share School Misogyny Experiences

Women in Northern Ireland have come forward to discuss the pervasive misogyny they encountered during their school years. This revelation follows the UK Government’s announcement on December 17, 2023, of a plan aimed at training teachers to identify early signs of inappropriate behaviour in boys. The initiative is part of a £20 million commitment to reduce the rate of Violence Against Women and Girls by half over the next decade, underscoring the critical need for educational reform regarding gender issues.

The Northern Ireland Strategy Framework has emphasized the importance of educating both boys and girls on topics such as misogyny and consent. According to a report by the Education and Training Inspectorate in 2023, nearly half of schools in Northern Ireland provide minimal or no education on sexual consent. This alarming statistic highlights a significant gap in the curriculum that many young women have experienced firsthand.

Caitlyn*, who left school over a decade ago, recalls her discomfort as a routine part of school life. She described boys touching female classmates as “completely normalized,” indicating a troubling culture where such actions were not seen as negative but rather as minor annoyances. “We were being groped in class,” she noted, adding, “Teachers and the curriculum need to improve on this situation.” Caitlyn highlighted that several male peers, who exhibited inappropriate behaviours during school, later faced convictions for various assaults against women as adults.

Despite reporting these behaviours to teachers, Caitlyn claims that no action was taken against the offenders, largely because they were talented athletes. “Nothing was done with it because they were talented sports players and brought value to the school,” she stated. This perception of athletes as “sporting prodigies destined for greatness” contributed to an environment of entitlement among these boys.

Another former student, Saoirse*, who left school five years ago, reflected on how ingrained misogyny was in her education. She recounted a troubling incident where a female student was sexually assaulted by a male peer on school grounds. Rather than addressing the situation appropriately, she claims that the girl was asked to leave the school for her own safety, while the boy returned to continue his studies. “I think there were a lot of instances in my year where thorough education on consent could have changed an outcome,” Saoirse remarked.

Saoirse also pointed out that relationships among peers were often treated as status symbols, overshadowing their quality. “It didn’t really matter how your boyfriend was treating you; it was more important that you were in a relationship,” she explained. She called for more comprehensive training for teachers on detecting coercive control in relationships and providing education on consent.

Girls often felt the need to seek help outside of school. By the age of 16, many in Saoirse’s year had visited ‘Common Youth’, a confidential sexual health service, because they felt they had no space to discuss issues within the school environment. “There was always a danger that if you were to report a boy for their behaviour, his friends would find out and make your life hell,” she shared, emphasizing the fear of backlash.

Orla*, who recently completed her A Levels, also recognized the misogyny prevalent in her school. She highlighted the troubling treatment of female staff members, noting that a new female teacher left her position due to severe mistreatment from male students. “Boys would physically intimidate her,” Orla stated. She expressed concern about the influence of misogynistic figures in popular culture, mentioning derogatory references to women that were often made by her peers.

Despite the curriculum including discussions on consent, Orla revealed that their teacher felt uncomfortable addressing it, leaving students without proper education. “By the time they’re leaving school, these aren’t boys anymore, they’re men,” she warned, stressing that early teenage relationships significantly shape future interactions.

In April 2024, the Northern Ireland Assembly passed a motion mandating compulsory, standardized, and age-appropriate relationship and sexual education. Eóin Tennyson of the Alliance Party criticized the outdated teachings still present in many schools, stating, “Many students graduate without ever having learned about consent, abuse, or the elements of a healthy relationship.”

SDLP MLA Cara Hunter echoed this sentiment, asserting that appropriate relationship and sex education can empower young people and promote a culture that values consent. Boyd Sleator, a coordinator with Northern Ireland Humanists, emphasized the need for early education on misogyny and respectful relationships, advocating for these topics to be prioritized in the curriculum. “We’re asking for relationship and sex education to be taught in an age-appropriate way, just as maths or physics would,” he concluded.

The experiences shared by these women shed light on the urgent need for comprehensive education on consent and healthy relationships in Northern Ireland schools, a necessity that could significantly impact future generations. *The names of the women featured have been changed to protect their identities.