The Mask You Live In Research Paper

George Orwell quote, “He wears a mask, and his face grows to fit it.” The documentary, “The Mask You Live In”, directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom shows different ages of males who struggle to be themselves while battling America’s limited meaning of manliness. George Orwell quote, “He wears a mask, and his face grows to fit it.” Influenced by the media, among their age group, and the grown-ups in their lives, adolescents dissociate their emotions, disrespect women, and is aggressive. Society gender stereotypes affect young males to change to fit into the societal norm as they characterize “real” men. Boys want to grow up to be like their fathers. Joe Ehrmann’s father taught him how to punch. Ehrmann would cry and his father would tell him

Children may become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others. Children may be more fearful of the world around them. Children may be more likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways toward others. If a boy was weak, skinny or a different race he would be bullied. 1 out of 4 boys are bullied in schools. Young men think there is no one there to converse with or hear you out in light of the fact that they are embarrassed to request for help. They think people will judge them and are insecure with themselves. Fewer than 50 percent of boys and men with mental health challenges seek help. This leads to drinking, doing drugs, and suicide. By age 12, 34 percent of boys have started drinking. The average boys tries drugs at age 13. 1 in 4 boys binge drink (consume 5 or more drinks in a row). According to the Centers for Disease Control, men are more likely to drink to excess than women, leading to “higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations.” Everyday 3 or more boys commit suicide. For boys, suicide is the third leading cause of death. Studies have shown that “males take their own lives at nearly four times the rate of females and comprise approximately 80 percent of all suicides and suicide attempts among women are estimated to be three to four times higher than that of their male

Men watch 2 hours of porn average. 34 percent of youth online receive unwanted pornographic exposure. 93 percent of boys are exposed to internet porn. 68 percent of young men use pornography weekly and 21 percent of young men use pornograph daily. Pornography is sex education for most people. Only 22 states require public schools to teach sex education. Porn causes men to get addicted and this causes social isolation. 83 percent of boys have seen group sex online. 33 percent of boys have seen bondage online. 18 percent of boys have seen rape online. Boys have a strong sexual impulse. Exposure to pornography increases sexual aggression by 22 percent and increases the acceptance of rape myths (that women desire sexual violence) by 31 percent. American culture are producing rapists. Every 9 seconds a woman is beaten or assaulted. 35 percent of male college students indicated some likelihood of raping if they knew they could get away with it. 1 in 5 female college students is the victim of an attempted or completed sexual assault. Parents raise boys to become men and to reject feminine. This leads men to disrespecting women because they do not see them as a human. According to Geoffrey Canada, “The music industry presents overtly sexual messages that denigrate women and portray them as sex toys. Video games offer violent messages, and even the sports video games include taunting and teasing. Movies portray