What does NRC think | ‘Adoloscence’ opens the conversation about Manosphere

« As De Leeuw is equipped with claws and a sharp teeth, the elephant with tusks and the squid with ink that makes the water cloudy, the woman is to protect herself and defend herself equipped with hypocrisy, and all the power that the man has received in his body and intellect has been given the woman in the form of hypocrisy. » In 1851, these words wrote the Andrew Tate under the philosophers of the time. ‘Culture War’, better yet there is a series that gives rise to conversation. Adolescence.

Adoloscence Is about 13-year-old Jamie who is suspected of killing a girl. He was called ‘Incel’ (unhearance celibate) by her and comes under the influence of the ‘Manosphere’ (violent masculine online environment). Adolescence Handles many topics that provide insight into manners at all levels. What role do parents and teachers play, how great is the influence of smartphones and social media, and above all: how much effort does it take to really understand the other person? These are questions that matter, where answers are sought in a mobile ban at school up to and including prohibiting smartphones in children under the age of 15 in the hope that they will enter into dialogue instead of communicating in smileys. Who Adoloscence Looking at, wondering if that is enough, in a climate in which masculinity is noisier and bader than was the case for decades.

The British Prime Minister also recognizes the harmful role of social media, which make bullying possible 24/7 and present toxic images about masculinity. As far as he is concerned, it is even ‘a big problem. And if we want to solve it, we must talk about it. That is why I want this series to be seen in all schools, « he said at the beginning of this month. Netflix was open to his call and therefore makes the series available for free for all high schools in the UK. AIVD director Erik Akerboom and MP Barbara Kathmann (GroenLinks-PvdA) followed the example of the British Prime Minister and in the meantime the signals on Groen are also showing the series in schools in the Netherlands.

The advantage of showing at schools is that the conversation can be conducted about social media, bullying and masculinity. It is also possible to argue that parents watch the series with their children because, although secrets between parent and child are of all times, the grip on what is playing at the same time has become much more difficult. Parents know better than ever where their children are-after all: no trip without polarsteps, not a teenager without ‘where is my iPhone’ app-but knowing is something different than understanding. Knowing the where distracts from the questions that are essentially about: how are you and what do you think?

The series shows what the consequences of a low self -image are, how bubbles feed someone in holding on to ideas, and how that works to a future that runs on self -image rather than civilization. And he starts with the question, as the psychologist asks Jamie: « Shall we talk about you? »

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