The Netflix series is not just a thriller drama, it is an unfortunate reflection of our escalating gendered dystopia. Stephen Graham, one of the creators, stated that the series was conceived as a response to cases of violence against girls by young boys. The show explores the question: What is happening to our young men these days, and what are the pressures they face from their peers, from the internet, and social media?
Dr. Kate Balistrieri, a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist with specialized expertise in relationships, intimacy, and trauma recovery, says, “Adolescence reflects real-world misogyny by illustrating how rejection, when filtered through a lens of entitlement and fragile masculinity, can dangerously escalate. The series effectively shows that rejection is not inherently violent, but it becomes so when it challenges a character’s internalised belief that they are owed attention, affection, or control over another person’s choices.”
The four-part series, which follows the arrest and trial of 13-year-old Jamie Miller for the murder of his classmate, Katie Leonard, for rejecting him, doesn’t shy away from exploring the disturbing roots of violence against women and the insidious ways misogyny is instilled in young minds.
She believes that this portrayal mirrors a disturbing reality: young men, often socialised to equate dominance with worth, may interpret rejection as humiliation or loss of power. When those emotions go unchecked, especially without emotional regulation skills or models of respectful behaviour, they can spiral into rage, obsession, and violence. The series shows this progression in unsettling detail, revealing how unchecked misogyny doesn’t always appear overtly at first but can intensify rapidly.
Dr. Balistrieri also points out how the show illuminates the cultural underpinnings of the problem: “Culturally, Adolescence highlights the dangers of conditioning boys to suppress vulnerability while rewarding assertiveness, even aggression. It reveals how societal norms around gender can silence girls’ autonomy and elevate coercion or retaliation as acceptable responses to perceived slights.”
Eunice Arauz, who is extremely passionate about social topics like gender equality and how modern-day misogyny is framed in the media, believes that Adolescence has beautifully provided a lens into the ways misunderstanding and subtle versions of misogyny take root in everyday encounters for teens. While it might not be intentional, overt sexism, the show instead spotlights the smaller, everyday comments or expectations around behaviour that normalise the inequities of gender equality.
She thinks that TV shows such as this are great opportunities for teens to learn to notice these situations from their vantage points early on. The show depicts the experiences that these attitudes have on self-esteem and relationships for girls and essentially captive boys, entrenched in the same behavioural expectations. “As viewers, we see how the characters navigate school, friendships, sometimes dating, and we see how these thoughts and beliefs shape each person’s experience.”
There’s an ongoing debate about how media content, especially platforms like Netflix, affects adolescent behaviour. If a show like Adolescence portrays misogyny, there could be concerns around psychological impact or emotional harm.
Roy L. Kaufman, President, Attorney and Civil Litigator, says, “The show could be tapping into how misogyny spreads through TikTok, YouTube, or gaming circles. That’s a flashpoint issue right now. The societal question becomes how to address the digital echo chambers where boys get exposed to anti-woman rhetoric. This often leads to discussion about education gaps, parenting, and toxic subcultures.”
Adolescence forces us to confront the uncomfortable, terrifying truths of our society. It is a powerful, undeniable reminder that violence against women is not an isolated situation but a horrifying product of a deeper, systemic rot. The insidious creep of misogyny into the minds of children shapes them for a world where male privilege reigns supreme.
We are witnessing the very alarming and early stages of a dystopian reality where a culture of male entitlement is not merely tolerated, but actively cultivated, creating an unsafe society where men believe they can do whatever they want to women and expect no consequences.
It’s a current threat that cannot be ignored before this fictional dystopia solidifies into an undeniable, inescapable reality for the next generation, trapping young women in a world where their safety is a gamble.
