Unmasking Masculinity: How Netflix’s’ Adolescence exposes the dangers of toxic masculinity on young boys

Exploring the emotional turmoil of Stephan Graham’s new 4-part series

(Picture taken from Google)

The Netflix hit Adolescence soared to no.1 on Friday, one day after its release, with viewers tuning in to watch Stephan Graham play Eddie Miller- a father, whose son Jamie (Owen Cooper) is accused of murdering his female classmate Katie (Emilia Holliday).

The series explores how young men and boys are being influenced by misogynistic ideologies (red pill ideology) and that young women and girls are becoming the targets of these practices.

The great need for a series like Adolescence couldn’t have come soon enough. It creates an awareness of the dangers and the detrimental impacts of toxic masculinity on young boys especially.

According to an Ofsted Review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges, conducted in 2021, it ruled that 90% of girls and nearly 50% of boys had experienced sexist name-calling, unwanted sexual comments, or unwanted touching in school settings.

The show has been highly praised for its intense, gut-wrenching scenes with director Philip Barantini being soulfully praised for his signature one-shot style of cinematography.

The opening scene depicts the police storming into Eddie and Manda’s (Christine Tremarco) house looking for their 13-year-old son. After Jamie’s arrest, Detective Inspector Luke Bascomb (Ashley Walters) and Detective Sergeant Misha Frank (Faye Marsay) question him. It is revealed that Katie has been murdered.

With one strong characteristic of toxic masculinity being sexual entitlement, episode three truly captures the horror of this. The interview with Briony Ariston (Erin Doherty) - a court appointed psychologist, where Jamie discloses that he was tempted to touch Katie, was truly frightening.

He says, “I didn’t touch her, I could’ve touched her, but I didn’t… I could’ve touched any part of her body, I wanted to, I really wanted to, but I didn't.”

It is extremely alarming that although the series isn’t based on a true story, it was heavily influenced by the rise in knife crime as well as attacks on women and girls throughout the UK.

Jack Thorne, co-writer of Adolescence, recently told Channel 4 News: ‘What we're looking at really is male rage, how boys grow into toxic presences.’

What makes this series so impactful, is that it is men who are trying to spread awareness of these characteristics in hope that young boys are turned away from the idealized misogynistic views. This series is the wake-up call that society needs.