‘Manosphere’ explained as Netflix show Adolescence delves into incel culture
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault which some readers may find distressing
It's officially been one entire week since Adolescence came out and it's clear the hype surrounding it is still going strong.
The seriously 'disturbing' four-part Netflix series - which boasts a star-studded cast featuring the likes of Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty and new talent Owen Cooper - follows a father named Eddie Miller (Graham) whose life is turned upside-down when his 13-year-old son Jamie (Cooper) is arrested for the violent murder of one of his female classmates.
It expertly tackles a number of extremely topical subjects including misogyny, toxic masculinity, children's safety online and the online 'manosphere' - the latter of which has left many viewers seriously intrigued about given just how fearlessly Adolescence delves into incel culture which is harrowingly rife on social media right now.
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So, without further ado, here's a rundown of all the key terms used in the TV series that links to the 'manosphere' as well as its real-life impacts.
What is the 'Manosphere'?
Simply put, the 'manosphere' is a network of online male communities like websites, blogs, and online forums promoting toxic masculinity, misogyny, and a fervent opposition to feminism.
Think of it like the umbrella term in which all the other key terms live under.
What is an 'Incel'?
In short, the term 'incel' stands for being 'involuntary celibate'.
It's become associated with a mostly online subculture of people, whose entire definition of identity revolves around being unable to find a romantic or sexual partner despite desiring one and who blame, objectify and attack women and girls as a result.
According to a 2022 study which was published in the journal, Current Psychiatry Reports, and filed in the National Library of Medicine, there are some major ideologies that tie incel communities together.
These include:
- an appearance-based hierarchy, in which how one looks is considered the most essential key to both sexual relationships and one’s place in society
- a belief in female 'hypergamy', the notion that women are too sexually selective and use their privilege and sexuality for social advancement above all else
- a dislike of feminism
Andrew Tate's involvement
The second episode makes a fleeting reference to Andrew Tate, a misogynistic influencer who recently travelled to the US, despite facing charges of rape and people trafficking in Romania.
Graham and his Adolescence co-creator Jack Thorne previously opened up about their own coming-of-age as the former told the Independent: "When we were kids, if you got sent to your room or if Kenny Everett was on the telly, and it got a bit racy, you'd be sent to your room and then you couldn't watch it.
"But today even within the context of that home, when lads and girls go to their bedrooms, they have the world at their fingertips."
"The kids aren't watching Andrew Tate," Thorne added. "They're watching a lot more dangerous stuff than Andrew Tate. We were trying present a portrait of complexity of this kid that had been made by all sorts of different influences and the thing about incel culture is there's a logic to it."
Red pilled
The same episode also revealed the secret symbolism in emojis used by teenagers online.
We see the lead detective Inspector Bascombe's teenage son, Adam, who also goes to the same school as Jamie and his murdered classmate, explain that the use of a red pill emoji is a reference to a red pill showing the world as it is from The Matrix.
Adam explained the red pill is like 'I see the truth' and is a call to action by the manosphere. According to the teen, an 'exploding red pill' indicates that someone is an incel.
Lead detective Inspector Bascombe's teenage son, Adam, broke down the 'manosphere' in episode two (Netflix)
The 80/20 rule
Adam also adds that the '100' emoji is another incel symbol which is related to the '80 to 20 rule' - AKA the incel theory that 80 percent of women are attracted to 20 percent of men.
When Katie publicly accuses Jamie of being an incel on Instagram, he becomes embarrassed and enraged - feelings that eventually led to her murder which he said he'd plead guilty for in the final episode.
Incel culture in real life
While the story isn't based on specific true crime cases per se, it is heavily inspired by real-life events.
The real-life impacts of 'incel' culture and the wider online 'manosphere' in general can already be seen as its consequences are more than just a social media 'trend' or 'movement'.
Back in 2014, 22-year-old Elliot Rodger - a self-described 'incel' - went on a stabbing and shooting spree in Isla Vista, California, killing six people and injuring more than a dozen.
Then, in 2021, Alek Minassian drove a van into a crowded area killing ten people and spoke of an 'incel rebellion' to 'overthrow the Chads and Stacys' - terms which refer to attractive men and women who incels perceive at the top of the male social hierarchy whilst also being the reason for their sexual failures.
Jake Davison, who killed five people during a shooting rampage in Plymouth, England, in the same year, expressed solidarity with incel culture and had a fascination with violent men.
And, just earlier this month (5 March), it was found that Kyle Clifford searched for self-described misogynist Andrew Tate's podcast the day before he carried out a four-hour attack which saw him rape and murder his ex-girlfriend, as well as killing her sister and their mother in Hertfordshire in 2024.
And that's just to name a few case studies.
Adolescence is available to stream on Netflix now.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.
Topics: Netflix, TV And Film, Adolescence, Parenting, Life, Explained, Social Media
Rhiannon Ingle