"The Mask You Live In," a documentary that follows boys and young men as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating America’s narrow definition of masculinity, will be screened at 7 p.m., Friday, April 8 in the Henzlik Hall Auditorium, Room 124.

According ton the film's website, research shows that compared to girls, boys in the U.S. are more likely to be diagnosed with a behavior disorder, prescribed stimulant medications, fail out of school, binge drink, commit a violent crime, and/or take their own lives. The website further describes the issue: "Pressured by the media, their peer group, and even the adults in their lives, our protagonists confront messages encouraging them to disconnect from their emotions, devalue authentic friendships, objectify and degrade women, and resolve conflicts through violence. These gender stereotypes interconnect with race, class, and circumstance, creating a maze of identity issues boys and young men must navigate to become 'real' men."

Experts in neuroscience, psychology, sociology, sports, education, and media also weigh in, offering empirical evidence of the “boy crisis” and tactics to combat it.

This special screening is funded by the College of Education and Human Sciences and co-sponsored by the UNL LGBTQA+ Resource Center, Women & Gender Studies and in conjunction with the 2016 M@N Conference. For more information, contact Elizabeth Lewis, associate professor, Department of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education, 402-472-2251, elewis3@unl.edu.