The use of “normal males” negate the main argument throughout the film which is to encourage a culture change that releases males from the harmful and idealistic mask of masculinity. A culture that bombards males with messages of physical aggression and the absence of emotion puts our boys into gender boxes just as girls are forced into gender boxes of submission and inferiority. At a young age our children submit to these gender boxes when our girls are given skinny, perfect Barbies and our boys are given muscular, violent G.I. Joes. As they become older, media surrounds them with stronger social pressures and boundaries resulting in harmful behaviors. Hoff-Sommer’s idea that the positive aspects of masculinity only apply to “normal males” and denying that both, masculinity and normal, are constructs only pushes the creators of the film from its goal of creating a healthier self image for all males. As depicted in the film, this harsh standard for hypermasculinity in adolescent boys causes a variety of problems later in their life, including an inflated rate for male suicide and greater risk of addiction. Studies show that 80% of suicides are among 10-24 year old males in 2013. A vast majority of these death resulting from mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, with symptoms that are ignored or gone undetected because of male reticence. Although Hoff-Summer claims that there are advantages to male reserve and that males’ struggle with emotional literacy stem from a lowered value for self expression. She emphasises that boys don’t see the value in “problem” talk, thus making it weird or unnecessary for males. She goes on to say that girls believe that personal disclosure made them feel understood and cared for. The film rejects this idea and reveals the culture that males are fed in
The use of “normal males” negate the main argument throughout the film which is to encourage a culture change that releases males from the harmful and idealistic mask of masculinity. A culture that bombards males with messages of physical aggression and the absence of emotion puts our boys into gender boxes just as girls are forced into gender boxes of submission and inferiority. At a young age our children submit to these gender boxes when our girls are given skinny, perfect Barbies and our boys are given muscular, violent G.I. Joes. As they become older, media surrounds them with stronger social pressures and boundaries resulting in harmful behaviors. Hoff-Sommer’s idea that the positive aspects of masculinity only apply to “normal males” and denying that both, masculinity and normal, are constructs only pushes the creators of the film from its goal of creating a healthier self image for all males. As depicted in the film, this harsh standard for hypermasculinity in adolescent boys causes a variety of problems later in their life, including an inflated rate for male suicide and greater risk of addiction. Studies show that 80% of suicides are among 10-24 year old males in 2013. A vast majority of these death resulting from mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, with symptoms that are ignored or gone undetected because of male reticence. Although Hoff-Summer claims that there are advantages to male reserve and that males’ struggle with emotional literacy stem from a lowered value for self expression. She emphasises that boys don’t see the value in “problem” talk, thus making it weird or unnecessary for males. She goes on to say that girls believe that personal disclosure made them feel understood and cared for. The film rejects this idea and reveals the culture that males are fed in