Government announces £15m fund to tackle misogyny
The fund will support work in schools, workplaces and public spaces amid concern about online manosphere influencers.
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The UK government is to provide £15m for projects aimed at preventing misogyny in schools, workplaces and public spaces. Women and equalities minister Bridget Phillipson will oversee the fund.
The announcement is intended to address what ministers describe as harmful attitudes towards women and girls, including material promoted by online influencers associated with the so-called manosphere. Organisations will be invited to bid for funding under a national programme.
The government has already launched a taskforce on misogyny and published updated relationships, sex and health education guidance. It says prevention should begin before abusive attitudes develop into harassment, violence or coercive behaviour.
Supporters say public money is justified because misogyny affects safety, education and participation in public life. They argue that schools and youth services need resources to challenge stereotypes and teach healthy relationships rather than relying only on policing after offences occur.
Critics are likely to question the definition of misogyny, the criteria for distributing grants and whether a national fund can change behaviour shaped by social-media algorithms and family or community environments. Others will argue that resources should be concentrated on policing, prosecution and support for victims.
The fund is part of a wider government programme on violence against women and girls. The government says it will publish more detail on the programme, including how projects will be assessed and what outcomes will count as success.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The government has announced a £15m fund.
- The fund concerns prevention in schools, workplaces and public spaces.
- A national taskforce already exists.
Left
Arguments Misogyny is a structural problem and prevention must address social norms, online culture and unequal power rather than relying only on criminal justice.
Values Equality, safety and collective responsibility.
Consequences Long-term prevention could reduce harm, but requires sustained funding and careful evaluation.
Centre
Arguments The fund should support proven local programmes while being transparent about evidence, costs and measurable outcomes.
Values Institutional competence, proportionality and accountability.
Consequences A targeted approach may build public confidence but could have limited reach.
Right
Arguments Government should avoid broad ideological definitions and focus resources on criminal behaviour, parental responsibility and individual accountability.
Values Free expression, personal responsibility and limited government.
Consequences A narrower programme may reduce perceived censorship but leave harmful attitudes less directly addressed.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Priya Shah — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The fund, ministerial responsibility and policy context are supported by government and Guardian reporting. The political arguments are presented as perspectives rather than facts.
Editor's note
The funding announcement and existing taskforce are confirmed. The effectiveness of individual interventions is not yet known.Sources
- UK government to give £15m to anti-misogyny fund — The Guardian
- Government launches National Taskforce for Tackling Misogyny — UK Government
More on this in other media
- Channel 4 News — „misogyny manosphere”
- BBC News — „misogyny manosphere”
- The Guardian — „misogyny manosphere”