More or Less: Behind the Stats - Are 80% of women really only attracted to 20% of men?

Download Are 80% of women really only attracted to 20% of men?

Netflix’s psychological drama Adolescence has started a debate about teenage boys and misogyny in modern society. It tells the story of a seemingly normal young boy, Jamie, who is arrested after the brutal murder of a girl in his class.

The series focuses on how young men are being radicalised against women by various podcasts, blogs and forums that make up the anti-feminist movement, the so-called ‘manosphere’. These podcasts often give men tips about how to be an ‘alpha’ male and promote the idea that feminism has set back men's rights. They use a range of material to back up their claims, including statistics.

One such statistic was quoted in Adolescence and used to explain Jamie’s hatred towards women - that 80% of women are only attracted to 20% of men.

Where does this claim come from and is it true? We look into the alleged maths behind the misogyny.

Presenter/Producer: Lizzy McNeill
Series Producer: Tom Colls
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown
Sound Mix: James Beard
Editor: Richard Vadon

Published on Tuesday, 29th April 2025.

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