The new masculinity : A qualitative content analysis about masculinities in the Netflix series Sex Education

The purpose of this study was to identify how the leading male characters in the Netflix series Sex Education were represented through a qualitative content analysis. The theories used in this thesis are Stuart Hall’s representation theory and R.W Connell's theory of hegemonic masculinity. They were further applied to the essay in order to investigate whether the chosen male characters were portrayed in a stereotypical or an unconventional way. The analysis part of the study was created through an analysis tool by Selby and Cowdery. By adapting and using essential parts of the chosen analysis methods, Mise-en-scèneand TheThree-stage Model,we were able to gradually break down a total of 12 sequences from the first two seasons of the series. Findings from this study showed that there were several carriers of Connell's concept of hegemonic masculinity. But there was seldom a complete representation of the various categories of masculinity. Our study also shows that all four of the chosen characters showed signs of stereotypical traits but were given deeper, more groundbreaking personalities as the show progressed