Female students afraid to return to Pembroke School over misogynistic list

Girls at one state’s most expensive private school have been left “absolutely distraught” by revelations of a disgusting spreadsheet.

Girls at South Australia’s most expensive private school have been left “absolutely distraught” by revelations of a misogynistic and racist spreadsheet created by a group of their male peers.

The internal fines system, revealed this week by The Advertiser, comprised a list of “offences” that included “kissing a whale”, “you’re having sloppy seconds” and “your girlfriend’s crazy”, and was compiled by some student footballers at the elite Pembroke School, in Adelaide’s Kensington Park.

Other offences were for teammates being “fat” or “a pedophile”, while another involved a racist slur degrading and targeting Indigenous women.

Monetary fines were allegedly handed out for boys who committed one of the “offences”.

The Advertiser reports an assembly was held last Friday to address the issue, and that dozens of students have been spoken to.

Girls at South Australia’s most expensive private school have been left ‘absolutely distraught’ by revelations of a misogynistic and racist spreadsheet created by a group of their male peers. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Principal Mark Staker said in a statement the school was “working in partnership with families to move through this challenge sensitively, delicately and educatively”.

“It has been an extensive process which remains ongoing and it is being managed in a way where dignity, support and fairness are extended to all,” Mr Staker said.

Pembroke was “strictly adhering” to its duty of care “which includes reporting obligations concerning child protection”. Mr Staker did not make clear what, if any, disciplinary action has been taken.

“As a school, we never shy away from or turn a blind eye to issues that emerge,” Mr Staker said.

“We always commit to walking alongside families and young people to help them navigate life, with an awareness that young people make mistakes.

“What we do is help people make sense of these mistakes and take action to shape a better society.”

Pembroke School in Kensington Park, Adelaide. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

The ‘disgusting, misogynistic’ spreadsheet was created by a group of student footballers. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Some female students at the school, which has annual tuition fees as high as $29,160, are so traumatised by the list they no longer feel comfortable attending the college, The Advertiser reports.

South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas, labelled the boys’ behaviour “alarming” and questioned the influence of Andrew Tate, the bald, cigar-smoking former professional kickboxer who is facing extradition to the UK over rape and human trafficking claims.

A leading voice of the manosphere, Tate is one of, if not the main misogynistic influences young men speak about, and whose ideas and phrases they regurgitate.

Pembroke School principal, Mark Staker.

“You can’t help but wonder to what extent the Andrew Tates of the world on a social media platform are driving these behaviours, because I don’t suspect it’s coming from parents,” Mr Malinauskas said on Wednesday.

“I do think that young kids are made vulnerable to the extremes that are made readily available to them through social media and we see the consequences of that playing out in real time.”

Mr Staker also described the scandal as “a matter that is reflective of society more generally”.

There has been consistent debate in recent years over where Gen Z (and, to some degree, its successor Gen Alpha – those born from 2010 onward) is the most progressive generation in history, or the most conservative.

Premier Peter Malinauskas labelled the boys’ behaviour ‘alarming’. Picture: Dean Martin

He questioned the influence of Andrew Tate on young men. Picture: Pinterest

Feminist researcher at Monash University and former teacher, Dr Stephanie Wescott, is looking at how toxic male influences are impacting behaviour in Aussie schools.

As part of her research, Dr Wescott spoke to 30 female teachers from across the nation and from all sectors, and found they’re facing a rise in misogynistic behaviour.

“There was also a level of sexism and sexual harassment that teachers were experiencing that they hadn’t previously,” Dr Wescott told the ABC in July.

“For some women, it was constant and unrelenting in nearly every class that they taught.”

As a result, female teachers are turning away from the job – in South Australia alone, the number of those who have deserted public school classrooms has more than doubled in the past five years.

“We all have a responsibility to ensure the way we treat ourselves and each other is grounded in the school’s values such as respect, honesty and kindness,” Mr Staker said.

“We hope that we can learn and grow through this experience. We are extremely grateful for the trusted partnership we share with our families and as we work through this challenge, we will continue to walk alongside our students and parents.”

Originally published as Female students afraid to return to Pembroke School over misogynistic list