Use Your Strength: Mobilizing Young Men to Prevent Sexual and Dating Violence

What's a real man? Or a strong man? How does one sort out the messages that society, family, peers, and other influences send about masculinity? Providing guidance to help young men “create cultures free from violence” is part of the work of an international organization called Men Can Stop Rape (MCSR). Filmmaker Jane Pittman focuses on MCSR's Men of Strength Club (MOST), which operates within public and private high schools and colleges. An adult facilitator leads a group in exercises revolving around notions of masculinity, combining structured activities and simple conversation to identify the “dominant story” and the “counter story.” The former depicts males as emotionless, aggressive, sexually/financially profligate, and only out for themselves; the latter sees them as emotionally honest, responsible for themselves and those they care for, and willing to stand up for others. Shot mostly onsite in classrooms, Use Your Strength is well-made and consistently interesting. But its purpose is unclear: as a profile of MCSR, only cursory information is offered; as a documentary about MOST, the film presents no storyline nor allows us to get to know the young men we see. Still, this should be considered a strong optional purpose. Aud: H, C, P. (E. Gieschen)