Boys Will Be Men: A Documentary About Growing Up Male In America 2001
Distributed by Bullfrog Films, PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547; 800-543-FROG (3764)
Produced by Moira Productions
Directed by Tom Weidlinger
VHS, color, 57 min.
Sr. High - Adult
Adolescence, Child Development
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Warren Hawkes, Library, New York State Nurses AssociationThis documentary provides a cursory overview of some of the issues surrounding male development in contemporary American society. There is an underlying premise that at birth, boys although different than girls are also caring and feeling. But through a socialization process, boys are taught to not show their feelings or a sense of caring. The video focuses on two programs currently in use that assist adolescent males to address these problem issues. The first program is a three-week outdoor survivalist program where individuals learn to address issues related to self, others and community. This group has been remanded to the program. The hardships and need to be interdependent to survive is shown through brief outtakes and discussions clearly showing the behavior changes in these adolescents and what impact the program has had on them. The second program is a school-based poetry/storytelling program. Participants are self-selected, but also feel the need to better understand themselves and their relationships. Although less physically demanding, the program depicts the enormous difficulties that adolescents have in understanding and communicating their feelings. Easy to watch and understand the points being made, the video is an appropriate addition to any collection where adolescent development is a topical concern.
See another EMRO review of the same title.