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The Racism Of Young Men Essay

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Since junior high, I have always been curious as to why males felt the need to carry a tough façade. This unauthentic behavior persuaded me to view the documentary, The Mask You Live In. Certainly, after watching The Mask You Live In, my curiosity in men unnecessary macho persona; was relieved. For years, I wondered, why are most males so aggressive? Why are some vulgarly forward while flirting with women? What is wrong with men? Overall, I never could grasp why most had a really challenging time fully expressing themselves. Whenever I would ask my male friends, their vague response sounded like “That is just how we are”, as if there were innately programed for emotional disconnect. Of course, their response would cease to satisfy my itching ears. However, after watching this documentary, the internalized oppression of young men was clearified. It noted that they were generally forced to suppress their feelings as young as the tender age of five, simply to gain approval from their fathers or peers. It was disheartening to see the great pressure boys experience, simply to reach the title of “being a man”. What exactly is meant by the term, ‘be a man’? Does it imply one’s ability to maintain a numbness to feminine equality or engaging in violent tendencies? The documentary addressed the question and enlightened one on the damages that such a short phrase can cause as a generational curse on manhood. The mask you live in, reflected the social context of masculinity in

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