Charisa Bossinakis
Australian private schools have claimed Andrew Tate is causing teens to display signs of ‘toxic’ sexism.
Several Melbourne private schools have been reporting incidents of extreme sexism and, in some cases, sexual harassment online, according to The Herald Sun.
Educators are pointing the finger at the new uprising of the controversial social media star Andrew Tate and are blaming him for the surge in misogynistic behaviour exhibited by male students.
A teacher at an all-girls school in Melbourne’s CBD told the newspaper: “This sort of male toxic influencer s**t is fuelling it … this term for sure.”
Chief executive of mental health charity the Man Cave Hunter Johnson also said that Tate’s viral videos were extremely concerning, and young men needed to shift their focus to a positive male role model.
“They call his references ‘Tate-isms’. They’re literally using it as a social currency for banter, but also, disrespect,” he said.
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“Often it is young men who feel like they’ve been ripped off, that they were entitled to attention, were entitled to, you know, particularly female attention, and they didn’t get it.”
The former kickboxer turned reality star/podcast guest has carved out a name for himself for his extremist views.
Tate has openly said that he believes that women are men’s ‘property’ and has compared being in a relationship with a female to ‘training a dog’.
Charming.
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The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Tate has even admitted to being investigated by authorities for allegedly abusing a woman and engaging in human trafficking.
Chief executive of the Centre Against Violence Jaime Chubb told the outlet that in the wake of Johnny Depp’s win, more men are gravitating toward influencers like Tate, who are spewing sexist rhetoric.
And the way young men are viewing this content is also concerning.
“It’s being consumed on platforms that are generally viewed in isolation,” Chubb said.
“When young people consume messages like this, whilst sitting in their rooms alone, there is no one there to moderate the message, to challenge his views.
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“For many young men the messages are in some way making them feel strong, validated, seen, or powerful ... that is when the feelings will turn into actions and behaviour.”