Coronation Street Ross’s vile beliefs raise fears for Dorin
Coronation Street has raised new fears for Dorin after Ross cruelly shamed him for playing with a doll and secretly used Tyrone’s trauma against him.
Thursday’s Coronation Street showed the disturbing beliefs Ross Wilkes is already attempting to pass down to young Dorin, shortly after pretending to understand the abuse suffered by Tyrone Dobbs.
Ross had previously laughed at the suggestion that a woman could abuse a man while discussing imprisoned Richie Parkinson. His remarks devastated Tyrone, who endured months of physical and emotional abuse from Kirsty Soames.
After Tracy and Ken confronted him, Ross approached Tyrone with an apology. He listened as his son explained the shame he had carried following Kirsty’s abuse, held his hand and claimed he wished he had been there to support him.
However, the apparent sincerity of that conversation disappeared moments later. Once Tyrone was out of the room, Ross noticed Dorin playing happily with a doll called Shirley.
Ross took the toy away and threw it aside before using Tyrone’s vulnerability to insult him behind his back.
“Boys don’t play with dolls, son. You don’t wanna turn into a big softie like your dad, do you?”
Dorin can and should be allowed to play with any toy he chooses without being shamed by an adult. Playing with dolls encourages imagination, empathy and caring behaviour, none of which makes a boy weak or less masculine.
The comment also proved Ross had learned nothing from Tyrone’s confession. Having just heard how his son struggled with being made to feel weak, he immediately used that same idea to ridicule him.
It follows an increasingly troubling pattern in Ross’s treatment of those around him. He seemingly dismisses male survivors because he believes men must always be strong, while his history with Cassie reveals his controlling attitude towards women.
Cassie revealed that Ross paid her for sex when she was only 15, with Tyrone conceived as a result. Rather than accepting the harm he had caused, Ross attempted to defend himself by claiming he had not known her age.
He later threatened to kill Cassie if she damaged his relationship with Tyrone. When she prepared to leave Weatherfield for a cruise ship job, Ross locked her inside his car and drove away, later returning alone while Cassie seemingly disappeared.
Ross has dismissed Cassie’s trauma, mocked male domestic abuse victims and started imposing his damaging beliefs upon Dorin.
How much further will he go before Tyrone finally recognises the man he has welcomed into his family?
Coronation Street continues on ITV1 and ITVX as concerns grow over Ross’s influence upon Tyrone and his family.
