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School's video hopes to combat toxic masculinity

BBC PE teacher Elliot Nightingale, who has short brown hair and is smiling. He is wearing a yellow jacket and is standing in front of a blurry yellow and black sign.BBC
PE teacher Elliot Nightingale created the film to improve the mental health of staff and students

A video encouraging men and boys to be open with their emotions has been created by students and staff at a school.

The film, made at Clevedon School in North Somerset, warns against toxic masculinity in society, a term that refers to a set of behaviours and attitudes that can be damaging to mental health.

"From a young age, boys are taught that to cry is weakness; to be vulnerable is shameful; to express their emotions other than anger is to lose their masculinity," staff say in the video.

This attitude can push men towards violence, drug abuse and even suicide, they add.

The video was conceived by PE teacher Elliot Nightingale, who opened up to colleagues about his own mental health problems last year.

"I was surprised to find out that we were all just marching on without saying anything," he said.

Jack, wearing a black top and a sixth form lanyard. He has curly brown hair. He is stood in front of a picture of Clevedon Pier.
Jack said his fellow students faced a lot of harmful material online

The video was played to year 10 students at the school during a recent assembly.

"Some people don't view the teachers as human beings, but seeing them open up was eye-opening," said Jack, a student at the school.

"Students can get very easily affected by social media and a lot of misinformation is out there which can be harmful."

Clara, who has shoulder-length dark hair, is smiling and looking at the camera. She is wearing a light grey knitted jumper and a sixth form black lanyard. Behind her is a picture of Clevedon Pier.
Clara, another pupil at the school, said her male peers tend to hide their emotions

Clara, a sixth form student at the school, said: "I definitely notice a lot of my male peers tend to hide their emotions, that's not necessarily a good thing.

"Showing emotions is really strong, and everyone should be empowered to express their emotions in a way that makes them feel comfortable."

Police have recently warned that influencers are radicalising boys into toxic masculinity and misogyny in a way that is "quite terrifying".

Officers said young men could be radicalised in the same way that terrorists draw in followers.

Watch: The film, made by Clevedon School, encourages students and staff to be kinder to each other

Head of school, Sam Kent, said the teaching staff were having a "challenging" time dealing with external influences on social media that promote toxic masculinity.

"Boys can be impressionable and they do have some vulnerabilities," he said.

"It's important that they feel it is OK to talk about their feelings and we do all we can to make these safe spaces for them.

"It's brilliant for our students that we have so many positive role models willing to show their vulnerable side."

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