Netflix's 'Adolescence' explores dark world of incels: What are they?
What's the story
Netflix's latest mini-series, Adolescence, is taking the world by storm by addressing the controversial topic of incels and toxic masculinity. The four-part show, co-created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, revolves around a 13-year-old boy, Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper). Jamie is accused of murdering a classmate who ridicules him for being an "incel." So, what is an incel and why is it in focus?
Incel culture
Understanding incels: The term's origin and its implications
According to the Anti-Defamation League, an incel (short for "involuntary celibate") is a heterosexual man who blames women and society for his romantic failures. The term was coined by Alana, a young woman, who used it on her personal website Alana's Involuntary Celibacy Project in the mid-1990s. Incels, who are usually found on social media sites like Reddit and 4chan, harbor resentment toward women and other sexually active men, blaming them for their own lack of social status.
Escalation
The rise of incel culture and its dangers
Although Alana's peer-support website was a supportive space for individuals who had difficulty starting relationships or finding partners for dating or sex, it birthed something dangerous. After Alana's project ended, incels moved to different online spaces to voice their opinions. While not every incel is violent, some hold extremist ideologies. Laura Bates, author of Men Who Hate Women, described the incel "community" as "a community devoted to violent hatred of women."
Mental health
The psychological impact of incel culture
Incel culture not just threatens society, it also preys on the mental health of its followers. In a 2022 study, 75% of incels surveyed were found to be clinically diagnosable with severe/moderate depression, 45% with severe anxiety. William Costello, lead author of the study, said, "Incels are suffering extraordinarily high levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. They are also as a group particularly averse to seeking help from mental health professions."
Real-life inspiration
'Adolescence' was a reflection of real-life incidents
Adolescence, the hit show, mirrors real-life incidents of young men, poisoned by toxic masculinity and incel culture. One of the creators, Graham, confessed the series was inspired by a shocking incident where a young boy stabbed a girl. He said, "I was thinking, 'What's going on? What's happening in society where a boy stabs a girl to death? What's the inciting incident here?'" The show hopes to highlight and make viewers think about it.