Jennifer Siebel Newsome’s new film, “The Mask You Live In,” explores the effects of a culture where men are not allowed to express or even experience the full range of their own emotions.
From the writer-director-producer of Miss Representation comes a new Kickstarter documentary to explore the gender stereotypes of masculinity in the United States.
At a young age, boys learn that to express compassion or empathy is to show weakness. They hear confusing messages that force them to repress their emotions, establish hierarchies, and constantly prove their masculinity. They often feel compelled to abide by a rigid code of conduct that affects their relationships, narrows their definition of success and, in some cases, leads to acts of violence resulting in what many researchers call a “boy crisis.”
The film argues that the effects of this crisis are manifesting themselves in the increased rates of behavioral disorders, prescription stimulants, school drop out rates, alcohol abuse, violence and suicide affecting American men. Just look at gun-related violence in the first half of 2013; there were 14 mass shootings in the United States, almost all of which were committed by American men.
Our society’s failure to recognize and care for the social and emotional well-being of our boys contributes to a nation of young men who navigate adversity and conflict with an incomplete emotional skill set. Whether boys and later men have chosen to resist or conform to this masculine norm, there is loneliness, anxiety, and pain.
The goal of the film is to provide insight and name potential solutions for the problems of male socialization in the public school system, sports culture, and male-focused mass media — especially pornography and video games. How do the pressures to be tough, to be strong, and to posture constantly against the manliness of other men affect a man’s development? His relationships? His parenting style? Society at large? These are questions The Mask You Live In seeks to explore.
The deadline to pledge support for this project is August 8, 2013. You can find out more about The Mask You Live In on Kickstarter.
Quick comment. Where is this young mans father? Why is she worried about hers sons future? If she and her husband do their job, chances are pretty good things will work out well for the boy. My dad was my role model and I am my sons role model and when my son has a son, I would expect my son will be his role model as my saughters husband us my grandsons role model. Do ya see the pattern? three generations of married men. It works.
I was raised by a single mom (father died when I was one so might be somewhat different). I have 2 older brothers, but didn’t idolize either. I turned out more or less OK, but it took me a much longer time to get my feet under me. When I was younger, I used to wonder why some people didn’t know how to find or fill out a form. They weren’t familiar with basic law or how to write a letter, etc. I would just jump on-line (I was on the net since 94 and on BBSes before then), go… Read more »
@John Gottman: “It’s not that people can’t overcome fatherlessness. It makes it harder…” Interesting statement….My husband’s friend (who is Asian) lost his father when he was seven…his mom had to raise him with 6 brothers (there had been talk by the uncles of sending the kids to orphanages at the time, but they did not)….all he remembers of his dad is some guy who whipped him with a belt if his grades were not straight As….perhaps you can extrapolate how he treats his son and family now….. My husband tried to talk to his friend last night at an investor’s… Read more »
“perhaps you can extrapolate how he treats his son and family now…..” My father died when I was one. Based on what my mom, brothers, aunts, and uncles have told me and based on what I know and have been able to piece together, he was a great and loving father. For instance, he was blind in one eye and was wheelchair bound for much of his life after he turned 30 or so because of a heart condition, but he went to a different country to get his doctorate, which he had by the time he was 30. He… Read more »
BTW, when I was growing up in my predominately white neighborhood with my Asian friends, it wasn’t our fathers and uncles who pushed back against the racism. According to my mom, they pretty much dealt with it by ignoring it, but it did affect their psyches. The adults weren’t reacting to it with what people would consider traditional masculinity. Their sons didn’t follow suit. Things got better when we fought back at least for us. Now the guys my age are accountants, lawyers, cops, doctors, information technology professionals, etc. Based on what I’m hearing about traditional masculinity, I should have… Read more »
I am looking forward to seeing this, but if it is similar to any of the other Kimmel/katz stuff, discrimination against boys is ignored – one likely cause for violence (as with other groups).