Learning to Be a Man: The Mask You Live In and the Masculinity Crisis

'Man up!' 'Grow some balls!' 'Don't be a sissy!' Phrases such as these still reverberate throughout Western culture, and shape the lives of many boys and young men. These same young men are growing up in a society saturated with violent video games and often-dehumanising pornography, while also being told to reject violent acts and respect women. Myke Bartlett reports on a new documentary that delves into the minefield that is modern masculinity, and offers ways to discuss this important topic with students.

Additional keywords: Talking society, primary, middle years, senior secondary, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, gender, The Representation Project, Miss Representation, Judy Y Chu, Michael G Thompson, psychology, Terry A Kupers, femininity, sex, drugs, violence, modern culture, feminism, societal pressure, conformity, James Gilligan, sexuality, social issues, misogyny, sexism, men's rights, media influence, self-harm, depression, Lise Eliot, religion, sensitivity, weakness, pornography, American cinema, video games.