The following piece is an opinion and does not reflect the views of The Eagle and its staff. All opinions are edited for grammar, style and argument structure and fact-checked, but the opinions are the writer’s own.
“Do you like me? Don’t you even like me a little bit? What did you think about me?”
These words, spoken by Jamie, the young boy at the center of Netflix’s “Adolescence,” are not only a cry for affection, but also a warning. Since its release, the limited series has sparked conversation about toxic masculinity and teen violence. But if you thought “Adolescence” was just a cautionary tale about bullying, you’re missing the bigger picture: the portrayal of male insecurity and rage.
The limited series, featuring Stephen Graham, tells the story of Jamie, a young boy who kills his classmate Katie. As his family and the police scramble to understand his motives, viewers are forced to watch this uncomfortable reality. The series was inspired by the rise in knife crime across the United Kingdom and reports across the country of young boys carrying out stabbings.
The show’s most controversial episode takes place during a pretrial assessment with Briony, a child psychologist. At first, Jamie comes across as charming and witty. If not for the setting, you’d never think he was being held in a pretrial youth detention center. But Jamie is only charming and witty until he isn’t, abruptly taking on a sinister coldness when uncomfortable or angry.
As the episode progresses, it quickly becomes apparent that Jamie is deeply insecure. When Briony asks whether he thinks girls are attracted to him, he replies, “No, of course not. I’m ugly.” As the psychologist probes his views on masculinity, Jamie tells a story about his dad always looking away at his lack of athleticism on the football field, too embarrassed to acknowledge that he wasn’t talented enough at the sport. Throughout the interview, Jamie has several outbursts that break his charming demeanor, during which he throws things, yells and attempts to intimidate Briony.
Although Jamie spends much of the series in denial about murdering Katie, with Briony’s prompting, he eventually paints a picture of the events leading up to her death. He reveals that he was bullied by kids at school who would shove and spit at him and leave hate comments on his social media insinuating he was an incel. “Incel,” which stands for involuntarily celibate, is a term used to describe men who believe in attractiveness-based hierarchies, that women are sexually selective and use their sexuality to advance their social standing and who dislike feminism.
The bullying, which he reveals was spearheaded by Katie, began after Katie’s nudes circulated around the school. Jamie says he figured she’d be “weak” enough to like him. When he asks her out, she rejects him and draws attention away from herself by bullying him.
For some, “Adolescence” was a cautionary tale about bullying. But “Adolescence” really illustrates the dangers of unchecked male rage.
Jamie asserts that because he didn’t commit a “worse” act of violence, he’s somewhat virtuous. The show draws inspiration from real life and demonstrates a much larger issue: an inability to express strong negative emotions without violence.
Today, men and women aged 18 to 29 are more likely to develop perceptions of manhood and womanhood from mass media. Social media often packages stereotypical ideals alongside political views, creating the illusion that anyone who says, acts or thinks in certain ways that align with these views is part of an exclusive community.
This is particularly true of masculinity and gym bro culture. Public figures such as Andrew Tate have gained cult-like followings through their commodification of masculinity and promotion of certain political messages. Othering those outside these selective communities is a key factor in their success. The culture surrounding young men, particularly concerning gender norms like masculinity, is a trap most men don’t realize they’re in.
Perhaps the most jarring aspect of the show is how unextraordinary Jamie is. He talks and acts like every other kid his age: chronically online and borrowing language he doesn’t quite understand from social media. There is nothing remarkable about Jamie until he reaches his breaking point. His engagement and exposure to the manosphere aren’t uncommon, but they push him to the edge.
“Most boys would’ve touched her. So that makes me better,” Jamie said as if it absolved him from the severity of his actions. Masculinity being interconnected with entitlement to women’s bodies and attention isn’t a new concept; it’s a tale as old as time that’s been repackaged to fit trends. It’s also not without real-world consequences. “Adolescence” is a fictitious story about the very real impacts of toxic masculinity and male rage.
A common critique of the show was the lack of focus on the victim. It’s a critique I disagree with entirely. The show is not about the life of a young girl who gets attacked by a classmate; instead, it’s about what makes a seemingly unremarkable and ordinary boy commit an act of violence. It’s not about convincing every man who watches “Adolescence” that feminism is the end-all, be-all. It’s about how no one is left unscathed when male rage escalates.
“Adolescence” is more than just a series; it’s a case study, and there are countless real stories just like it. No one should have to pay the consequences for boys who aren’t taught to handle their emotions.
Adria Liwewe is a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs and a columnist for the Eagle.
This article was edited by Quinn Volpe, Alana Parker and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Olivia Citarella, Emma Brown and Nicole Kariuki.
