Watch The Mask You Live In

The Mask You Live In is a thought-provoking documentary film that premiered in 2015. The movie, directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, takes a critical look at what it means to be a man in today's society. The movie touches on how cultural standards of masculinity have a negative impact on boys and young men, leading them towards a life of violence, addiction, and depression.

In this powerful documentary, the audience is given a raw and honest look at the lives of several boys and young men living in different parts of the United States. The film highlights how American culture prioritizes aggression, dominance, and emotional numbness over kindness, empathy, and vulnerability, thus putting men under immense pressure to be tough and in control at all times. The documentary argues that such cultural standards cause men to mask their true selves, creating a society that is emotionally stunted and disconnected.

The Mask You Live In takes the viewer on an emotional rollercoaster as the stories of these young men unfold. From a teenager who has been labeled a 'freak' for openly displaying his love for music and art, to a young man who struggles to navigate the expectations of his father, the documentary's subjects are diverse, but their message is the same. They feel pressure to hide their true selves in favor of the socially accepted version of masculinity.

The Mask You Live In also features interviews with experts in the field, including psychologists and sociologists, who speak at length about the cultural and psychological factors that contribute to toxic masculinity. The experts go on to explain how society teaches boys to suppress their emotions and how this repression can lead to depression, substance abuse, anxiety, and, ultimately, suicide.

The movie also takes a deep dive into the role of sports in shaping the male psyche. It features interviews with coaches, trainers and former athletes who explain how the emphasis on winning, aggression, and total domination is toxic to the development of boys. They suggest that by prioritizing winning over sportsmanship, we are creating generations of boys who lack empathy and kindness towards others.

Aside from the problem, The Mask You Live In also highlights potential solutions. In the film, a group of educators and youth leaders are shown to be teaching young boys about emotional regulation at an early age. Their goal is to help boys understand and manage their emotions so they can grow up to become healthy, responsible and empathetic individuals.

Overall, The Mask You Live In is a powerful film that is a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand the harmful effects of toxic masculinity in modern society. The film offers valuable insights into how societal norms can affect the mental health of boys and young men, highlighting the urgency of teaching emotional regulation skills from an early age. Although it presents a somewhat bleak picture of the current state of masculinity, the documentary ultimately offers hope and a way forward by suggesting that change is possible if communities and societies work together to reject the harmful standards of masculinity that have fostered emotional suppression, violence, addiction, and depression.

The Mask You Live In is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6.