‘Adolescence’ and the Power of Creative Drama

Suddenly the Netflix drama series, ‘Adolescence’, has hit the news and the public imagination. A week or so ago I watched the first three episodes in one binge session, following the last one up this week and my, it is powerful and thought-provoking.  So much so it has prompted me to get on with another blog at long last, one which has been fermenting at the back of my brain featuring the TUC Women’s Conference I attended, on behalf of Equity women, earlier this month.

So why would I link the annual opportunity to voice support for gender equality and similar issues affecting women and girls, with this powerful depiction of a 13 year old boy accused of murder to the surprise and devastation of his unassuming, decent working class family?

Well, many of the worrying issues in ‘Adolescence’, namely the growing influence of the internet on the hearts and minds of the young, where the misogynistic views of Andrew Tate and the Incel movement fester inside a dark mind of online hatred, the Equity Women’s Committee have highlighted for the last decade or so.  These and similar concerns year after year have been expressed at Conference by other affiliates - the NUJ, the MU, PCS, Arts Union England and women from all the teaching unions.  In fact whenever we have initiated a conference debate on sexism and ageism in the Arts, or the link between internet body shape obsession and mental health, or the dangers of our stereotyping culture, they have always been depended upon to support us.  They see close-up how the world is changing and, impeded by lack of funding, long hours, high turnover and heavy responsibilities, they are frustrated at being unable to spend the time they would like to reassure pupils and nip these negative influences in the bud.

I believe some people think the TUC Women’s Conference is all about women and girls full stop.  A place where we can have a moan, swap recipes and look at seductive displays of handbags.  Certainly for a number of years the very existence of the Equity Women’s Committee was under attack, the biggest argument being - shouldn’t there be a men’s committee? But those views are far from the truth.  Our conference is about issues that go right to the heart of what all of us need to flourish and grow, whoever we are and whatever our background.  At its heart it explores family, community, as well as our working life.  The issues it debates are enormous.

This year’s conference was particularly emotive and though it discussed primarily the protection and equality rights of women and girls, certainly didn’t discuss knitting patterns!

It began with a link from the USA on the effects of President Trump’s administration on many Americans and their way of life, the erosion of which can already be seen.  Frighteningly, with their Administration’s  right wing and often misogynistic attitudes this seems set to get worse for women as it systematically dismantles any recent progress in Equality.

Other big topics debated were about generative AI, fake news, domestic violence, fighting misogyny, empowering our black sisters into leadership roles and exposing how outdated attitudes to black mothers result in maternal health inequalities - there were some very distressing stories shared here - plus, as usual the gender pay gap.  Our two Equity motions were on safety on public transport for night workers and re-instating Art back into the School curriculum along with Critical Thinking, but more about that next time.

AND, despite being well before ‘Adolescence’ hit the headlines, an in-depth, harrowing account of the worrying situation now for teachers in schools, brought about by the Internet, mobile phones and sadly Andrew Tate.

‘Adolescence’ is expertly written, directed and acted.  The underlying anger and violence vividly shown in this new series is set again to show the power of drama to inform, educate and change public opinion, as much, if not more, than ‘Mr Bates v the Post Office’ did and already the debate on whether young children should be trusted with mobile phones in or outside school, and at what age, is really hotting up.