There was a lot of buzz around the Netflix series 'Adolescence'. I never subscribed to Netflix, but since many people recommended it, I gave it a watch. After finishing the series, I reflected critically on the storyline. The acting was good, no doubt—but the story itself felt shallow.
A lot of conversations online seem to link the show to the idea that social media is fueling misogyny. But let’s be honest—misogyny existed long before Television and Social media. Take a look at the crime data against women in India over the past four decades. I grew up in Mumbai and have heard and witnessed horrifying incidents: a female newborn dumped in a public dustbin, women burned alive over dowry demands, husbands dragging their wives through the streets to humiliate them, men beating their wives mercilessly, and young girls being warned not to speak up against harassment because the man might throw acid in revenge. These incidents have happened all across the country, and they still happen today.
As psychologists, we regularly work with teens from deeply disturbed backgrounds. The things they share with us would give nightmares to someone not trained in mental health. And it’s not just emotional strain—we’re also trained to deal with physical threats. I remember during my internship at Kalwa Hospital in Mumbai, a man diagnosed with schizophrenia suddenly stood up on his hospital bed and started threatening me. I stood up and firmly commanded him to sit down. We’re taught to protect ourselves, because unfortunately, some psychologists have been seriously harmed or even killed by clients in the past.
When a lay person watches Adolescence, they might find the main character’s outburst towards his psychologist very compelling. But for those of us in the field, it’s not surprising at all. We know how intense therapy sessions can get—emotions can run high, and clients can shift from calm to aggressive in a matter of seconds.
Also, blaming toxic masculinity on social media oversimplifies the issue. Toxic masculinity is not a new phenomenon—it has long been embedded in our society. Social media may amplify it, but it doesn't originate there. The roots often lie in what children see and learn at home from a young age.
If we really want to address these issues, we need to look deeper than just blaming platforms. It’s about changing mindsets, and that starts early—at home, in our communities, and through education.
