Research shows that boys in the U.S. are more likely to be diagnosed with a behavior disorder, prescribed stimulant medications, fail school, binge drink, commit a violent crime, and/or take their own lives. As we screen the critically acclaimed film “The Mask You Live In: How Boys Can Stay True to Themselves While Negotiating America’s Definition of Masculinity ,we explore how America’s narrow definition of masculinity is harming boys, men, and society at large.
Here is a look at the limiting, societal expectations the popular culture and media are feeding boys on what it means “to be a man” and the persistent messages that encourage males to disconnect from their emotions and devalue authentic friendships. We will examine the unintended consequences for our boys, including substance abuse, anxiety, and date rape, The movie aspires to change the way we raise boys, and change the messages we send them.
This thought provoking documentary from the award winning Jennifer Siebel (“Miss Representation”) will showcase professionals in sports, education, neuroscience, and psychology who weigh in on our “boy crisis” and the tactics to combat it. A discussion with area leaders in the field will follow.
Please join us for this very special event and gain insights that will help awaken our consciousness, end harmful gendered behavior stereotypes,and enable us raise a healthier generation of men.
An important discu
ssion will follow the film screening lead by Dr. James Garbarino Emeritus Professor of Human Development at Cornell University and the founding Director of the Center for the Human Rights of Children at Loyola University Chicago. Dr. Garbarino has served as advisor to a wide range of organizations, including the American Medical Association, the FBI and the National Science Foundation. He is the award winning best selling author of Lost Boys: How Our Boys Turn Violent and What We Can Do About It, See Jane Hit: Why Girls Are Growing More Violent and What We Can Do About It, and Words Can Hurt Forever: How to Protect Adolescents from Bullying, Harassment, and Emotional Violence.
Website for “The Mask You Live In”
Event Flier for The Mask You Live In (pdf)
