Abstract
This article examines the depiction and experience of male characters in the initial season of the Netflix series Squid Game. Firstly, an examination of gender stereotypes is conducted through the use of illustrative examples. Concurrently, the behaviors and approaches that these stereotypes imply in situations of hopelessness will be analyzed. The series employs conventional gender stereotypes and depicts problematic coping mechanisms in times of crisis (e.g., a sense of despair in the face of financial adversity, death, or suicide as a means of problem-solving). However, the protagonist transcends the winner-loser paradigm, which portrays men as robust and impervious. The victory in the game is shown to be the result of fortitude derived from acceptance of assistance, collaboration, and empathy.
Keywords: gender justice, gender stereotypes, images of men, suicidality, crisis management, Squid Game