The Manosphere – How Forest School Can Help

Louis Theroux’s The Manosphere on Netflix has proven itself to be a sensation, revealing a shocking online world full of misogyny and hate. This glimpse into another world has been followed by a survey from NASUWT, a teachers union, showing that 23% of female teachers reported experiencing misogyny from pupils in the past year.

Watching the documentary, the main thing that struck me was the wafer-thin layer that divides their world, the manosphere, from reality. It was clear that these online ‘influencers’ were paper tigers; a small puff of wind would be enough to unveil the truth. And that truth was that these were incredibly insecure men, lost in a modern world that is increasingly complicated. Theroux himself didn’t even need to blow to reveal the truth, in his signature style, he would just look at them as they unravelled in front of the camera.

So the manosphere may be built on sand, but despite this it continues to draw in new acolytes and has a powerful hold over them. Researchers have identified some of the main reasons why boys and men are finding this world so compelling:

• They feel lonely, rejected and lack belonging.

• They struggle with male identity and changing gender expectations.

• They lack emotional support and mental health outlets.

• They face growing educational and economic pressures.

• The manosphere offers simple answers to these complex problems.

  
  

Loneliness in particular stands out. Recent UK surveys suggest that around 40% of young men report feeling lonely at least some of the time, and boys are significantly less likely than girls to seek emotional support when they are struggling.

So what can Forest School do to help?

Forest School can’t solve all of these problems, but it can set boys on a different path, armed with vital tools as they embark upon adolescence. Social disconnection has been identified as perhaps the primary reason for the growing problems boys and men face. Forest School directly helps boys develop these skills at a key age; it gives them a sense of community, allows them to socialise in a setting without the normal rules of the classroom, and gives them an opportunity to test boundaries and make mistakes in a safe environment.

Research into outdoor learning has shown that 92% of teachers believe outdoor learning improves pupils’ health and wellbeing, and many report improved confidence and communication among children who regularly learn outside. These are exactly the skills that help build connection and belonging, the opposite of the isolation that so often feeds online echo chambers.

Considering the idea of male identity in a Forest School setting is a fascinating thought, because not only does it say yes, you can fulfil this traditional male role, at the same time it says, look at those girls doing it just as well. In Forest School, strength isn’t just physical — it’s patience, cooperation, creativity and resilience. Boys see that competence and capability aren’t owned by one gender, and that confidence can come from learning, not dominance.

As a benefit to mental health, the evidence around being in a natural setting and the improvements this can bring are tantalising. Studies have shown that time spent in nature can reduce stress, improve mood and increase attention, even after relatively short periods outdoors. In a world where many children spend hours indoors and on screens, simply being outside, lighting a fire, climbing a tree or building a shelter can feel deeply grounding. It gives children a sense of calm and achievement that can be hard to find elsewhere.

It’s well known that educational pressures on children have grown, and that boys’ performance in exams over the past decades has fallen behind that of girls. The pressures can continue to build as children face expectations in the classroom, consistently through the week and sometimes even at home. Forest School provides a space away from this, where tests and targets are replaced with curiosity and exploration. There are no grades for building a den and no exam results for lighting a fire but there is pride, perseverance and confidence gained through effort.

Finally, simple answers to complex problems, a great point to finish on, as Forest School couldn’t be a better salve to this problem. Nature is never simple; it’s complex and wonderful because of it. The challenges that children face at Forest School encourage them to keep trying. They build resilience and teach children about the satisfaction that comes from solving a challenging problem — or even from not solving one. Learning that frustration is normal, and that persistence matters, is perhaps one of the most powerful lessons we can offer.

The manosphere offers certainty, blame and simple explanations. Forest School offers uncertainty, challenge and growth. In the long run, those are the tools that build capable, confident young people — boys and girls alike.