A new Angus Reid and White Ribbon survey reveals a troubling trend: misogynistic ideas spread online are finding their way into Canadian classrooms, leaving teachers unprepared to respond.
Four in five education workers said they have witnessed sexist or misogynistic behaviour among students — from offhand jokes to explicit comments inspired by online influencers.
Annie Ohana, a Surrey, B.C., teacher, says such attitudes often show up casually in class. Earlier this year, a student asked her if drinking from a plastic cup would “lower his testosterone.”
“He didn’t even know what testosterone was,” Ohana said. “But he knew the misinformation that men with low testosterone are less masculine — straight from the manosphere.”
From the Internet to the Classroom
Experts say the “meme-ification” of misogyny — where harmful ideas are disguised as humour — is normalizing toxic beliefs among boys.
“Online and in-person worlds aren’t distinct anymore,” said Jonathon Reed, director of programs at Next Gen Men, a non-profit promoting healthy masculinity. “That makes for really easy cross-pollination of the jokes and the memes.”
These ideas, once buried in fringe corners of the internet like Reddit or 4chan, now circulate widely via social media influencers, including controversial figures like Andrew Tate.
Salsabel Almanssori, a University of Windsor professor, calls this phenomenon a “hidden curriculum.” She says boys earn “masculinity points” by repeating sexist language among peers.
“It becomes a form of currency,” she explained. “They bring these ideas into school, and peers reinforce them.”
Students Notice, Too
Grade 12 student Logan Pedwell-Rezaifard says even as Tate’s popularity fades, new “gym influencers” are promoting similar ideas about what men should look like — and how women should behave.
“They rank women by looks or call them ‘high-value,’” he said. “It starts as a joke, but when others laugh, it becomes normal.”
He added that teachers often miss the slang or fail to address it: “I hear it a few times a week.”
Teachers Need Tools and Lawmakers’ Help
Ohana says most teachers aren’t equipped to recognize coded misogynistic references or respond productively.
“We don’t have the tools yet to deal with this beyond punishing or judging,” she said.
Almanssori believes the root cause lies with social media exposure and calls for legislation to protect young users, citing U.K. and Australian laws that restrict minors’ access to harmful content.
Phone bans, she argues, are not enough — they stop use in class but not influence outside school hours.
Building Healthier Masculinity
Reed says building boys’ self-esteem and trust can help counteract toxic narratives. He encourages teachers to engage instead of shame:
“Try saying, ‘Can I challenge you on that?’ instead of shutting the student down.”
For parents, he adds, the key is open communication:
“You don’t have to understand every influencer — just know your kid. They’ll tell you what’s shaping their world.”
