Calling It Out - Addressing Adolescence

The Netflix drama, Adolescence, has been a huge hit in terms of viewing figures and a bigger talking point in the press and education circles. Schools have looked hard at their RSHE work and at everything from school culture to the use of mobile phones in schools. The show highlighted many challenges especially around how to meaningfully engage boys and young men about the kind of online misogyny and messages that the character, Jamie, had seen.

Our Calling it Out programme can help secondary schools and colleges to find a way in to talk about the impacts and start discussions around juggling the different messages that boys and young men may receive and how that impacts on their attitudes and behaviour around girls and young women. Netflix made Adolescence available for schools to use but it may not be right for many schools. It takes a long time to watch all episodes and there is a lot to unpick and it was never designed as an educational resource.

"I feel the Loudmouth session will add value to the schools Relationships/RSE and Health Education by revisiting consolidating and deepening understanding of sexual harassment and misogyny." - PSHE Lead, Redhill School, Stourbridge.

Calling it Out was made for specifically for schools to use in their RSHE and takes a safe and gentle approach that uses a smaller story around the challenges young people can face juggling different views and how to safely call out behaviour and attitudes that they find uncomfortable or offensive amongst their peers.

Calling it Out has worked with almost 100,000 students since it started in 2022 and has proved effective in engaging with young people around misogyny, sexual harassment and assault and a space to reflect on and challenge opinions from online influencers such as Andrew Tate.

"Lots of boys seem to re-evaluate opinions they have adopted from social media. The girls felt empowered to voice their opinions." - Teacher, St John Bosco College, London

88% of students evaluated said that after taking part in the Calling it Out programme that they now feel confident or very confident to call out sexual harassment. 98% said that they would recommend the programme for next year's students.

The programme can also support staff's wellbeing. There has been a rise in overt misogynistic comments in the classroom to female members of staff. Calling It Out provides space to build empathy and go beyond the jokes and banter to provide students a time to reflect and change without feeling blamed or defensive.

"As a female member of staff, I find teaching and facilitating those discussions difficult...thank you for encouraging pupils to develop understanding of sensitive issues and empathy by expressive theatre."" - Teacher, Highgate Wood School, London

Primary schools can also start to address these topics using our Helping Hands programme. This is an early intervention programme around being safe on and offline and starts discussion on online safety as well as attitudes to girls and women and respect. Our newest progammme Screen Time also covers online misogyny and the impact that it can have on both girls and boys,

To find out how you can use Calling it Out or our other programmes to help your response to Adolescence then get in touch for a chat. We can tell you more about the theatre in education programmes we offer and the many additional resources and support materials that you get with your booking. Contact us on 0121 446 4880 or email enquiry@loudmouth.co.uk