Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones has stated she is "horrified but sadly not surprised" by accounts from teenage girls detailing the violent misogyny they encounter. The comments follow a short film created by a group of young women from Tyneside, which highlighted abusive remarks, explicit sexual language, and rape threats often disguised as "banter".
Davies-Jones told the BBC that the film aligns with youth crime statistics showing a "huge spike and growth in peer-on-peer crimes of a sexual nature". One girl in the film described her distress after boys at her school created a "rape list" ranking girls they wanted to assault.
The government has affirmed its commitment to "taking bold and decisive action to halve violence against women and girls", with curriculum changes aimed at helping teachers challenge misogyny set to be introduced from September. The minister acknowledged that teachers cannot be solely responsible for addressing these issues, highlighting the important role of parents in educating young people.
The North East has the highest rate of violence against women and girls in England. Sue Davison, director of the film and a specialist teacher, welcomed the minister's comments and suggested that the rise of toxic masculinity among social media influencers has significantly impacted "disenfranchised boys". The film has been shared with Prime Minister Andy Burnham.