Sexism, Harassment Against Female Teachers Widespread in Australia, Survey Reveals

Melbourne — A national survey conducted by Monash University has revealed high levels of sexism, misogyny and sexual harassment directed at female educators in Australian schools, prompting urgent calls for policy and legislative intervention.

The study, which surveyed more than 2 600 members of the Australian Education Union (AEU), revealed that 78% of respondents have observed or experienced gender-based discrimination and hostility within their workplaces, with one in three reporting frequent occurrences.

Researchers noted that the hostility originates from interactions with male students, colleagues and parents, with many incidents reflecting rhetoric popularised by online "manosphere" figures.

The survey found that 95% of teachers believe their students consume content from these online groups, while 70% noted a visible influence on student conduct over the past 12 months.

Lead author, Dr. Stephanie Wescott, from the Faculty of Education at Monash University, stressed that public schools are formal workplaces bound by statutory safety standards.

“Schools employ hundreds of thousands of Australians, the majority of them women, and they are governed by the same workplace health and safety and anti-discrimination laws that apply across other businesses and organisations,” Dr. Wescott said.

“Educators are skilled and essential workers who make valued contributions to Australian society, yet, for many teachers, schools have become unbearably hostile places to work, with levels of sexism, misogyny and sexual harassment that have made their jobs untenable," she said.

The survey highlighted that gendered harassment is directly driving staff attrition.

The survey revealed that one in three teachers indicated that gender-based violence has led them to consider leaving the profession, while 16% reported frequently contemplating resignation due to hostile working conditions.

A veteran educator, identified under the pseudonym Danielle, described the day-to-day challenges faced by female staff in the classroom.

“I have personally experienced and bore witness to male students verbally and physically assaulting female staff and sexually harassing staff both in and outside the classroom.

"All for it to be considered as students simply 'misbehaving',” she said.

“Now, in addition to these, sadly common, traumatising experiences, we are facing a daily struggle against pervasive misogynistic ideas in our classrooms and out in the yard, undermining our ability to effectively teach and eroding our self-worth," she said.

Co-author, Professor Steven Roberts, called on government officials to strengthen regulatory frameworks and workplace safety protocols.

“Our research in the last three years has documented a large number of stories of misogyny faced by teachers in schools, indicating a resurgent form of brazen 'male supremacy' among boys and young men,” Professor Roberts said.

“There is now absolutely no doubt that political attention and action is required," he said.

The report’s key recommendations include enforcing workplace health and safety requirements, addressing structural sexism through fair pay and flexible employment, enhancing access to workers' compensation for affected staff and enforcing legislative regulation targeting harmful social media algorithms in coordination with the e-Safety Commissioner.