The miniseries Adolescencia, which arrived on Netflix less than two weeks ago, has captured everyone’s attention due to its powerful plot, which addresses complex and controversial topics like toxic masculinity and cyberviolence; however, there is a term mentioned that has sparked intrigue: “incel.”
If you’ve already watched the series and heard about this term, you probably went straight to the internet to find out what it means. If you still don’t know, here we explain what it refers to and how it originated.
What does “incel” mean?
The term “incel” is an abbreviation for the phrase “involuntary celibate“, which translates to “celibato involuntario” in Spanish. This concept was created in 1997 by a Canadian woman named Alana, who launched the Involuntary Celibacy Project.
According to Alana, the word “incel” was used to encompass anyone, regardless of gender, who experienced loneliness, had never had sexual relations, or had not been involved in a romantic relationship for an extended period.
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What was the Involuntary Celibacy Project?
This project started in Toronto, Canada, as a website aimed at those facing difficulties forming romantic relationships. According to Alana, the Involuntary Celibacy Project was a welcoming space where she posted articles.
Over time, it evolved into a forum where both men and women could exchange opinions about loneliness and openly question why it was so hard for them to meet someone.
However, years after its creation, Alana feels guilty for having started it, stating that, from her perspective, it became an environment where men tend to blame women for their problems.
This feeling of regret arose after she learned, in 2015, through a feminist magazine, about the story of Elliot Rodger, a 22-year-old man who killed six people in California before taking his own life.
Before his death, Rodger had distributed an extensive 141-page document in which he expressed his intense hatred towards women, a sentiment fueled by the frustration caused by his own virginity.
This was not the only case, as three years later, in 2018, a man named Alek Minassian drove his van into a crowd in Toronto, killing 10 people. Before this, the man wrote on Facebook: “The incel rebellion has begun… Say hello to the Supreme Gentleman Elliot Rodger!”
How does the term “incel” appear in Adolescencia?
In the series, it is shown that Jamie Miller, who is suspected of being the killer, identifies as a member of the incel community. He openly claims that his lack of romantic and sexual relationships is due to his perception of being an unattractive person.
What is the series Adolescencia about?
This intense psychological thriller, consisting of only four episodes filmed in continuous takes, follows the story of Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), a 13-year-old boy who is arrested in northern England under suspicion of having killed a classmate.
As the plot unfolds, a detective and a therapist try to uncover the truth behind the crime. The series was directed by Philip Barantini and written by Jack Thorne, with the participation of Stephen Graham.
Is the miniseries Adolescencia based on a true story?
The miniseries Adolescencia does not focus on a specific figure or event, but rather its origin comes from news that one of the writers followed on television. He was especially struck by reports about young people involved in knife crimes. This reality led him to reflect on the current situation of youth, which inspired his decision to address this issue on screen.
Will there be a second season of Adolescencia on Netflix?
Although Netflix has not said anything about this, it is highly unlikely due to the fact that the production is in miniseries format, which typically tells the entire story in just a few episodes; however, the platform has renewed some miniseries in the past, so we will have to wait for an official announcement in the coming months.
