During the UK National Education Union’s annual conference in Bournemouth, Charlotte Keogh, a secondary school English teacher, spoke up about the importance of creating positive models of masculinity for young boys and men. Drawing attention to the socioeconomic factors that impacted young working-class men, such as the collapse of the steel, mining, and construction industries, Keogh claimed that supporting young boys – rather than punishing them – could prevent them from turning to the 'manosphere' for support and validation. “Online misogyny is a product of capitalist, conservative, neoliberal culture destruction that is hurting the livelihoods of our boys.” she said, “Let’s punish the perpetrators, and not the victims”.

Traditional ideals of masculinity are rapidly evolving due to a changing socioeconomic landscape and watershed cultural phenomena, like the #MeToo movement. Keogh's focus on supporting working-class boys speaks to a unique challenge in British education, one that the likes of new schools, such as The XP in Doncaster, are seeking to address through more inclusive models. The concern around young boys being left behind sits within the context of a new wave of masculine idols, such as Andrew Tate and Nick Adams, who can reach and influence younger audiences through the privacy of their phones. As such, there are opportunities for targeted education that supports teachers in supporting young boys in the school environment. At a grassroots level, a play exploring toxic masculinity and violence against women has been shown in 48 Gloucestershire schools, pushing forward the debate on these topics.