The Mask You Live In

“Man up.” “Be a man.” “Boys don't cry.” “You're a momma's boy.” Boys and young men hear these phrases (among many others) all too often from family members, teachers, friends, and classmates, all meant to instill a “proper” sense of manhood. These words have become ubiquitous, along with countless media messages that propagate a particular brand of masculinity that inhibits emotions, amplifies sexuality and violence, and promotes misogyny and homophobia. Filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom's excellent, probing documentary The Mask You Live In examines the effects of such messages on youth and men alike. Testimony is heard from psychologists, educators, athletes, and others, who reveal how our culture's strict adherence to a stereotypical view of masculinity has created generations of stunted men and boys. The film demonstrates how movies, video games, and pornography can desensitize men, while also addressing the generational component: a young boy often learns a skewed version of manhood from his father, who learned it from his father, and so on back through the years. Simply put: the problem lies in nurture, not nature—a point driven home here by examples of men—fathers, youth leaders, and even prison inmates—who are making strides to reverse the stereotype by opening up, accepting their emotions, and creating environments that foster positive male fellowship. Highly recommended. (P. Morehart)