The Mask You Live In Gender Roles

The Mask You Live In talks a lot about gender and how society has played a role in the way children especially boys are raised in a culture where they are judged based on Masculinity. This relates to Gender Roles, which are activities or behaviors that are linked to being male or female. These gender roles can limit the scope of what a child is interested in. In the Film a boy discussed how he took up theater and really enjoyed being a part of it, but theater was considered taboo for boys because it wasn't considered masculine. He had wished he started theater earlier because he found out it was something he enjoyed. Gender refers to the personal traits linked to being male or female. Males are held to this standard of masculinity and are constantly …show more content…
I could relate to parts of this film and some parts I struggled to understand because I am female and have never had to prove my masculinity. Although I do know what it is like to be a female and the pressures associated with my gender. All my life I felt I was surrounded by people who were open to me expressing myself in all different ways and never felt pressured to fit the stereotypical role of a girl. When I was little I wanted to grow up to become a firefighter, and I was never told by anyone around me that I couldn't because I was a girl. The film talked a lot about how children are raised and the influences parents, teacher and coaches have on the way children see themselves. I truly believe that people need to be there for children and support them in all aspects of their life and teach them that it is ok to be different or have interest or beliefs that differs from others. No one should have to live behind a mask, afraid to share who they truly are. Growing up I felt I didn't have to wear a mask, until I went into high school. I could relate to this video, in the way that I could feel myself changing because of the pressures I was surrounded by. In high school I would find myself lying or hiding parts of my life because I felt I would be looked at differently if people knew the truth. I was considered a “late Bloomer” and never dated or had relations with boys till college unlike all my friends who had a new boyfriend every semester. I would find myself lying to them saying I had a boyfriend just because I didn't want them to think I wasn't good enough or that I wasn't cool. I think this film points out a lot of the problems and issues that need to be addressed on how society has such a major impact on the young lives of both boys and girls. There is no right or wrong way to be male or female and we need to start teaching children just