Kieren Brown, a dating coach from Erdington, Birmingham, is set to launch a public speaking tour aimed at mentoring schoolboys in the city. His initiative comes in response to concerns raised by the Netflix series "Adolescence," which explores themes of social media misuse and toxic masculinity. Brown, who has been a men's dating coach since 2018, is committed to ensuring that the next generation develops into respectful and emotionally intelligent men.

At 42 years of age, Brown is drawing on his personal experiences to connect with young boys. He plans to address a range of topics such as bullying and incel culture—quickly referencing the term as short for involuntary celibacy—during his sessions in local schools. Speaking to BirminghamLive, he emphasised the importance of speaking candidly with children, stating, "I won't insult their intelligence... I'm going to speak to them with respect."

Brown, a former student of Arthur Terry School in Four Oaks, shared his own struggles with self-image during his youth. "When I was a kid, I felt like girls didn't want me and people didn't respect me," he recalled. Through his journey of self-improvement, particularly through physical fitness, he now possesses self-confidence and a physique that he believes most people would envy. "I've learned how to meet women and now I have a body... that most people would be envious of," he noted.

He plans to get to the "root cause" of how these boys perceive themselves, encouraging them not to internalise negative comments from others. "When someone says 'you're a fat loser', you could say to yourself, 'no I'm amazing'," he suggested. This framework is intended to help boys build self-esteem and foster a healthy self-image.

Brown also highlighted the misconceptions surrounding his profession, which is often viewed as "sleazy" by the public. He explained that men who seek help with dating often share common emotional struggles, reminding us that these young men frequently mirror the experiences of characters in "Adolescence." He expressed a desire to shift the narrative around boys feeling alienated and outcasted due to their social circumstances.

Asked whether he would engage in discussions about figures like Andrew Tate, who have been associated with misogynistic viewpoints, Brown indicated that while he had not planned to mention him, he was open to discussing the broader implications of such influences. He described Tate as "a symptom of a deeper issue," acknowledging that while he does not view Tate positively, his approach resonates with boys seeking an adversary or someone who offers guidance lacking in their lives.

Kieren Brown’s efforts reflect a proactive engagement with youth concerning serious societal matters, aiming to equip boys with the tools they need to navigate adolescence positively and constructively.

Source: Noah Wire Services