WORLAND - The documentary “The Mask You Live In” follows boys and young men as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating America’s narrow definition of masculinity. The film was written, produced and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2015.

A free screening and post-film discussion of “The Mask You Live In” will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 21 at the Worland Middle School Auditorium. The Tri-County Pilot Community, which consists of domestic violence, sexual assault and crime victim advocates from Big Horn, Hot Springs and Washakie counties, is the host of the event.  

Karina Pacheco, director of Crisis Prevention and Response in Worland said the film is important for a broad range of viewers. “Coaches, educators, counselors, parents, faith leaders – really anyone who works with young men will find the topics of the film timely and worthy of discussion. There are sections of the film that may be a little uncomfortable to watch but it is in context with the subject and indicative of what our boys are exposed to on a daily basis.”

Washakie County Victim Witness Coordinator Bob Vines encourages parents to bring their high school-aged boys to the screening as well. “I watched it with my wife and 16-year old son. Afterward, we had a great conversation about misogyny in pop culture, violence exposure in media and gender role stereotypes. The topics aren’t always easy to talk with a teenager about, but it is truly necessary. If we don’t talk to them, then they are getting their information elsewhere, and that is a scary thought.” 

Pacheco said that the screening was paid for with grant funds designed for a tree-year initiative to bring gender violence awareness and prevention in the three-county area. Along with the screening of “The Mask You Live In” the group has also provided area high schools with the Coaching Boys Into Men and Student Leaders and Athletic Youth programs.

The documentary presents the personal narratives of young boys and men and features experts in neuroscience, psychology, sociology, sports, education and media, further exploring how gender stereotypes are interconnect with socio-economic circumstances. “The Mask You Live In” ultimately illustrates how we, as a society, can raise a healthier generation of boys and young men, according to a press release.

“Just as our culture has harmed women and girls, so too are we harming our boys, which has led to a Boy Crisis in America,” said Newsom. “Our intention is that this film sparks a national conversation around masculinity and helps our boys overcome limiting stereotypes, encouraging them to stay true to themselves.”

Vines said that society’s hyper-masculine expectations are a matter of nurture over nature.

“We are challenged from a very young age to ‘be a man’ yet we have a hard time breaking free from the stereotype that being a man has more to do with successes in athletics, sexual conquests and the thickness of our billfold rather than our successes in building strong and respectful relationships with family, friends, those we care about, our schools and communities,” he said.

“Since this is a learned trait, we can unlearn it.”