Love Island UK has just closed its 12th season of bikinis and break-ups on ITV, one of the first where all of the islanders are a part of Gen Z. Their dating habits couldn’t make this anymore obvious. I’m not here to review the individual dating practices of people I do not know. However, it would be detrimental to turn a blind eye to the misogyny of this year’s male islanders. Reality TV is one of the most accessible reflections of societal behaviours. This season of Love Island has showcased the dating habits of young people, revealing sexist attitudes that deserve criticism to halt their development.

For better or for worse, Love Island has influenced how I approach dating. I’m in awe of how confident and courageous the women in the villa are. As an insecure teenage girl I watched outgoing women pull men aside for “chats”, expressing their attraction to them. I remember thinking ‘If these women can open themselves up to rejection on international television, then I can tell a guy I like him in private’. It may not be obvious, but reality TV does impact its viewers, especially those who are young and impressionable.

Reality TV’s impression on audiences is exactly why season 12 took a toll on me.  Most men in the villa used misogyny-driven manipulation, treating their female counterparts however they pleased. I fear for the young men who watched this season, and saw misogyny as acceptable. I fear more for the women who date these men that, knowingly or not, mirror the behaviours of this year’s male islanders. No islander is perfect and of course reality TV is characterised by producers maximising the drama of their show. Nevertheless, producers can’t fake men egging each other on as they dangle the idea of an honest, loving relationship in front of their partner, whilst secretly lying and lusting over other women.

If I was to detail all of the misogynistic men and moments of this season, I’d have to write a novel. However, 22-year-old islander Harrison Solomon precisely demonstrated the problematic dating behaviours young men are adopting. Solomon spent his time in the villa getting to know this season’s winner (and my personal favourite) Toni Laites, alongside Casa Amour islander Lauren Wood. Solomon miscommunicated with both women, frequently changing his mind on which girl he wanted to couple up with. Specifically, Solomon (consensually) slept with Wood, to only a few hours later secretly tell Laites he wanted to be chosen by her in the upcoming recoupling (where islanders choose their romantic partners for the foreseeable future). This action was one of many (committed by most of the men, not solely Solomon) that led public condemnation of this season’s misogyny. One such statement came from Women’s Aid, a charity dedicated towards ending domestic violence against women and children. In an Instagram post, they detailed the poor behaviour from the men this season.

“It reflects real-world double standards (between men and women’s dating behaviours)”, said Women’s Aid.

This year’s oldest islander, 30-year-old Harry Cooksley, perpetuated these double standards. For a good portion of this season he was coupled up with Helena Ford, until he abruptly called it off only a few days after making their relationship exclusive. Regardless, during the earlier stages of the season, Ford shared she had previously participated in a threesome, which unjustifyably became a topic of conversation amongst the boys.

“I don’t know if she’s just a good time girl”, Cooksley said.

Mind you, the boys discussed Ford’s past, questioning her character without her present, whilst simply gliding over the fact Cooksley himself had mentioned he had an orgy. Cooksley’s character was never questioned by the other boys. This hypocrisy is the oxygen that keeps these sexist double-standards alive.

One of the most alarming behaviours I noticed this season was how quick most of the boys were to defend and support their mates, laughing off and lying about their friend’s ill treatment of female islanders. This behaviour reflects the current culture of Gen Z men who seek validation from their mates by disrespecting and sexualising women. It all seemed a bit too familiar. Solomon for the majority of the season was in awe of Cooksley’s manipulative tactics.

“How have you got away with that?”, Solomon asked Cooksley after he had spent “Casa Amour” leading a woman on, downplaying his connection with Ford, only to re-couple with the latter as if none of this had occurred.

“You know I get away with everything”, replied Cooksley. “You’ll get to my level.”

The boys broke out into laughter, grinning as they joked about toying with women for their own benefit. It is this culture of men encouraging one another that keeps hurting women. By framing Cooksley’s actions as an achievement, the boys were not only normalising this behaviour, but rewarding it through gratification. This toxic masculinity prevents men from forming respectful relationships with their romantic partners. Cooksley’s remark frames his dating within the villa as a game. His approach is shallow and completely ignores the entire point of Love Island: to find love. This attitude creates unenjoyable reality TV, whilst unfortunately rewarding selfish behaviour in front of a mass, young, impressionable audience.

Love Island must realise it doesn’t need to promote misogyny to have a compelling season. No sane, moral viewer enjoys watching women in complete despair, at the hands of inconsiderate men. This is not entertainment. Normalising misogynistic behaviour on our screens, normalises it in our real lives.