Labour MP for Knowsley Anneliese Midgley called on Kier Starmer to screen the drama miniseries Adolescence in Parliament and schools, arguing that it could help counter toxic misogyny by shedding light on online male radicalization and violence against girls.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions today, Ms Midgley asked the Prime Minister if he backed a campaign by the show’s creators, including Kirkby-born actor Stephen Graham, who have said they want to see wider conversations about the issues it raises.
Adolescence depicts events surrounding the stabbing of a teenage girl, with a 13-year-old boy from her school arrested for her murder.
Prime Minister Starmer said: “At home, we are watching Adolescence with our children.”
“This violence carried out by young men influenced by what they see online is a real problem. It’s abhorrent and we have to tackle it.”
The exchange came after former England Football Manager Sir Gareth Southgate spoke out last night about what he sees as a “crisis” facing young men.
Delivering the Richard Dimbleby lecture, Sir Gareth said: “Young men are suffering. They are feeling isolated. They’re grappling with their masculinity and with their broader place in society.”
“They spend more time online searching for direction and are falling into unhealthy alternatives like gaming, gambling and pornography.”
Southgate is concerned that the lack of mentors and positive male figures present in young men’s lives is driving them to idolise toxic individuals.
He said: “These are callous, manipulative and toxic influencers, whose sole drive is for their own gain. They willingly trick young men into believing that success is measured by money or dominance, never showing emotion and that the world– including women– is against them.”
“They are as far away as you could possibly get from the role models our young men need in their lives.”
You can learn more about the crisis young men are facing in the Lost Boys report by Centre for Social Justice.
Adolescence is available for streaming on Netflix.
