Primary school hails trans actor Elliot Page in lesson about masculinity for showing it can 'mean softness and strength'

A London primary school has included actor Elliot Page in its teaching materials as a positive example of masculinity in a bid to challenge gender stereotypes.

The Canadian actor, who now identifies as a man after medically transitioning with cross-sex hormones and surgery, featured in a lesson at Streatham Wells Primary School about how masculinity can take multiple forms.

Page was described as someone who shows masculinity 'can mean softness and strength' in materials shared with pupils.

The 38-year-old, who publicly came out as gay in 2014 and as transgender in 2020, uses the pronouns he/they.

Pop star Harry Styles was also referenced alongside Page, who stars in Juno, Inception and the X-Men franchise, to demonstrate to students that men can be multi-dimensional.

Writing in an article for education site Teachwire, Headteacher Sarah Wordlaw said: 'It is important to teach pupils about harmful stereotypes about masculinity. However, if the first time we teach and name masculinity is calling it toxic, that could do more damage than good to our boys.'

'It is extremely important to teach about positive masculinities,' she continued. 'We need to encourage empathy, kindness, showing emotions, listening to alternative points of view and developing emotional literacy.'

She added that school had already seen 'a significant improvement in children's awareness of key issues surrounding gender equality' but admitted tackling gender stereotypes is not a 'quick fix'.

'Moving forward, we are going to continue to work on representation in our curriculum. This is not just representation of the amazing, strong women who have shaped global history, but also representation of positive masculinity,' she added.

The headteacher added that individuals such as Harry Styles and Elliot Page 'show that masculinity can mean softness and strength, and everything in between'.

However, some educational professionals have argued that it may risk providing pupils with the message that biological men are not as capable of being gentle and emotionally aware.

It comes after earlier this year, the hit Netflix TV show Adolescence sparked the government to roll out anti-misogyny lessons.

The classes form part of the government's relationships, health and sex education (RHSE) guidance.

Sir Keir Starmer revealed at Prime Minister's Questions that he watched the mini-series with his two teenagers.

The four-episode programme follows the Miller family, whose lives are torn apart when their 13-year-old son Jamie is arrested for stabbing a female classmate to death after being influenced by online misogyny.

The drama, which was the most-watched show on Netflix worldwide when it was released, gripped audiences with its sobering portrayal of how social media and misogynistic influencers can impact young boys.

The new guidance is understood to include content to 'support healthy relationships', to 'enable schools to tackle harmful behaviour and ensure that misogyny is stamped out and not allowed to proliferate', an insider source said, the Times reported.

From as early as primary school, children will be encouraged to 'express and understand boundaries, handle disappointment and pay attention to the needs and preferences of oneself and others', with content modified for older children to reflect the 'real-life complexities of romantic and sexual relationships', the source added.

The development came as a win for the Netflix show's co-writers, Jack Thorne and actor Stephen Graham - who stars as the teen boy's father - who have said they wanted Adolescence to be a programme that 'causes discussion and makes change'.

Students will be encouraged to 'think about what healthy sexual relationships involve' - including 'consent', along with 'kindness, attention and care'.

As children progress to secondary school, classroom content will start to include the 'communication and ethics' needed for healthy romantic and sexual relationships.

Topics covered will range from dynamics of power and vulnerability, to tools to manage 'difficult emotions', like disappointment and anger, that can affect relationships.

The effects of misogynistic online content and pornography on both young people's sexual behaviour and their views of relationship norms will also be discussed.