[An image of someone using a computer. Photo credit to Unsplash]

A recent interview on Joodoong’s YouTube channel has brought up a social issue that has been going on for a long time.

During the interview, a 17-year-old male, who introduced himself as an “incel human rights activist” expressed his grievances over what he perceived as life’s unfairness.

The term “incel” is a contraction of “involuntary celibate,” referring to individuals, typically male, who desire romantic relationships but find themselves unable to attain them.

The teenager argued that only those who fit society’s standards of attractiveness and height are successful in attracting pretty girls, leaving others, whom he described as “ugly,” without romantic prospects.

He suggested implementing a system in Korea wherein males would be randomly paired with females for dating, providing everyone with an opportunity to date someone they deem attractive.

When questioned by Joodoong about his willingness to date someone he deemed unattractive, the teenager adamantly refused in a serious tone, indicating how serious he was about his opinion.

This attitude reflects a troubling perspective, wherein women are perceived not as individuals, but as objects to be distributed according to a predetermined system.

The teenager’s boldness in sharing these ideas displays a bigger problem in society.

There are people who feel confident in promoting the idea of controlling and treating women like objects.

Unfortunately, such attitudes can escalate into real-world harm.

Instances of “rejection killing,” where individuals resort to violence after being denied, have become distressingly common.

Statistics from various countries highlight the severity of this issue.

In Australia, for instance, 49 women lost their lives to acts of violence last year, with 28 of them killed by their partners.

Celebrities like Jameela Jemil have shared personal experiences of facing violence after rejecting advances, further emphasizing the prevalence of this issue.

In Israel, out of the 22 women killed last year, 59% were murdered by individuals with whom they had a past or present relationship.

The internet has made these problems worse by giving people with harmful beliefs a place to feel accepted and encouraged.

Therefore, tackling this social problem requires a comprehensive plan.

Education on healthy relationships and consent is crucial, as is the establishment of a society that says no to treating women as objects and to violence against them.

Social media platforms should do more to stop harmful ideas from spreading.

There should be stricter rules and encourage positive conversations.

Creating a society where everyone can speak up and engage in relationships built on mutual respect and agreement is paramount in addressing this pressing issue.