Commenting on the announcement that a Misogyny Bill will be brought forward to outlaw misogynistic harassment and abuse in Scotland, Matt Wrack, General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, said:

“The Scottish government is right to move towards criminalising misogynistic harassment and abuse but this can only be a part of the answer to tackling rising misogyny.

“Sadly, we have witnessed a worrying rise in misogynistic behaviour from pupils in schools – nearly a quarter of female teachers tell NASUWT they have been subjected to misogyny from a pupil in the last year. If this is happening in schools, it is likely happening elsewhere too, in workplaces and homes. Tackling that requires a broad strategy, including education and the empowerment of young women and girls. It also means seriously tackling the horrific power of the tech companies who profit from promoting such reactionary and divisive ideas.

“We will not have true equality until we have eradicated all forms of discrimination. If it is to be effective, this bill must designate misogyny as a hate crime.” 
 
Mike Corbett, National Official for Scotland, said:
 
“NASUWT Scotland has long campaigned for the criminalisation of misogyny. The government’s proposed Misogyny Bill is a step in the right direction.
 
“Teachers tell us that experiencing misogyny makes them feel humiliated, violated and demeaned. Criminalising misogyny will go some way to validating their distress, but they also urgently need resources and training to help them tackle this issue in schools.
 
“The government must now act swiftly to make sure women are safe from misogynistic abuse and discrimination. While accountability measures are welcome, we must also have measures for prevention. This means tackling the horrifying amount of misogynistic content available online to influence boys and men, and holding technology companies, media outlets and right wing campaigners responsible for their role in the constant dissemination of this content.”