Unintended consequences of Adolescence

[Taytoface]

Whilst this is an incredible programme with a powerful and necessary message, I find myself worried that every time the there is a new social justice cause de jour, it is women that get shoved again up the privilege pyramid, to be told we should be grateful for what we have.

A renewed focus on working class white boys and men, will come at the expense of women. This is because in the privilege hierarchy, the attention flows to the bottom. Now white men, like trans identified men before them, will displace women at the bottom of the heap. We will be deemed to have privilege over them, as we have had the solace and sisterhood of feminism, whilst the poor menz have had to resort to the manosphere.

I have come to loathe the privilege pyramid.

I taught in a prison for a few years. Prisons are full of hopeless boys and men. Often they are illiterate and they have never had proper jobs. They have chaotic families who turn their backs on them. They come out of prison with nothing and reoffend quickly. They are so in need of support and proper guidance. No government is prepared to address this issue and spend money on such a marginalised and hated group. They are hated and they are blamed ( often with cause) for much of the violence and crime in society.
I remember so clearly when black immigrants were treated in this way and whatever some people might think, the casual racism and hatred is nothing like the conscious racism every where fifty, sixty years ago.

I don't think this is really about poor white boys as such. It runs through all of society, you find these attitudes in the army, the police force, the arts, etc.
It's really about tackling social media as well as positive role models for boys. Look at the Scouts, they now accept girls because they couldn't survive as boys only. Again, this is presented as boys aren't allowed to have anything for themselves.

Another article from the Times

https://www.thetimes.com/article/e40ea92a-e3b5-48c0-afec-73a8b36d3083?
shareToken=1be949cfac37b715b708deaa40c047a2

In his 2021 McTaggart lecture Thorne spoke of television as an “empathy box”. With Adolescence, he says, he’s not asking for empathy for men who do terrible things. “I think we’re asking for understanding and I think that’s a distinction. If we don’t try and understand Jamie and try to understand that position, then we’re not going to solve the problem.”

But he does not believe creating a “minister for men”, as has been mooted by some politicians and the Higher Policy Education Institute will help.

“No, I think a minister for technology that actually wants to solve the online problem is the answer,” he says. “And actually this also falls under a minister for women because it’s about harm to women. This show is about harm to women.”

I'll admit, I haven't seen it.

But it is another programme in a long line of programmes where there is a dead female, and therefore they have no voice.

Could there be a way to highlight violence against women without creating a story with another dead woman?

Global fame and adulation for the actor playing Jamie, he's a mega star purely based on the character he played.

Unintended role modelling, if girls disrespect you they deserve to be killed as shown by Jamie.

Blaming social media when parents are mostly to blame. Yes parents, mothers worshipping the ground their darling boy walks on who believe their precious male child can do no wrong and dads who are absent emotionally and disrespect their wives.

I've been mulling it over and I think what bothers me is the sudden focus on toxic masculinity and how it affects men's mental health. Women have been dying for years because of this issue, but it's not until someone realises that it negatively affects men that there's suddenly a fuss about it. Do the hundreds if not thousands of women who've died or had their lives completely ruined not matter enough to address the issue? It seems not - we have to wait until men's lives are being ruined to get any meaningful conversation about it.

but… adolescence the show is about this is what leads to boys violently murdering girls. It’s not further marginalising girls to focus on how to bring up boys that won’t kill them?!
I disagree op. This is important and adds to women’s safety, as well as boys matter too.

I thought Deborah Ross's take on the reaction to the series was interesting.

https://www.thetimes.com/article/b88499c7-f74c-4677-b1b5-93716d686b3b?shareToken=f559e1e1d563f6914d75b7b3ccbdeb7b

I disagree with the idea these kids don't need more mentors. That's just what they do need, particularly in the form of fathers.

Anyway, beside the point. I think if we are really committed to taking on the oppression pyramid, then we need to stop paying attention to it, not try and push away real issues.

One unintended consequence is that a company that David tenant is behind is linked to the makers and is now going to be going into schools “tackling misogyny” whilst claiming men can be women.

after some consideration, i am very concerned that this will be shown in schools.

this is aimed at adults to expose our collective inadequacies around safeguarding children from online harms and problematic / abusive relationships.

Children are not responsible for their own safeguarding