“You can't be born to hate women, can you? ” An exploration of secondary school boys’ perceptions of misogyny

Griffiths-Price, Rhiannon 2026. “You can't be born to hate women, can you? ” An exploration of secondary school boys’ perceptions of misogyny. DEdPsy Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Aim: Emerging research suggests that misogyny is embedded in school cultures (Roberts & Westcott, 2024) and teachers are increasingly seeking greater support in addressing it (Morris & Buckland, 2024). Responding to research emphasising the importance of incorporating the views of boys to foster a shared responsibility and reduce the emotional labour of girls (Horeck et al., 2024), this empirical research sought to explore secondary school boys’ perceptions of misogyny. Method: Three focus groups were conducted with eleven boys attending three mainstream secondary schools across different Local Authorities in Southeast Wales. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2022). Findings: The analysis resulted in the identification of four overarching themes: malleability & moral ambiguity, network of norms, defensive dialogues and patchwork pedagogy. Themes encapsulate the complex, socially embedded ways in which boys come to understand, negotiate and respond to misogyny. Implications: The study’s findings highlight opportunities for Educational Psychologists to amplify student perspectives, support educators through practical resources and work with national government to inform opportunities for anti-misogyny guidance and preventative whole-school approaches. Keywords: misogyny, boys, perceptions, education.

Item Type:	Thesis (DEdPsy)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Schools > Psychology
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	10 August 2026
Last Modified:	11 Aug 2026 15:03
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/188830

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