01/08/2026
We were back in Hamilton County Jail today after the holiday break, stepping into a new year with intentional conversation and reflection. We began by watching the first half of the documentary The Mask You Live In, then spent time unpacking it together. The men shared openly about the messages they have received—explicit and unspoken—about what it means to be a man, and how those expectations have shaped the way they show up in the world, in relationships, and with themselves.
The discussion created space for honesty, self-examination, and moments of realization. It was powerful to witness men naming the weight of these messages and considering how they may have learned to suppress emotions, armor themselves, or perform versions of masculinity that never truly fit. This kind of dialogue is at the heart of the work we do—slowing down, telling the truth, and giving language to experiences that often go unnamed.
We are grateful to spend our Wednesday afternoons with the men in the TOWER Program, walking alongside them as they reflect, unlearn, and imagine healthier ways forward.
> “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.
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.
The Mask You Live In ultimately illustrates how we, as a society, can raise a healthier generation of boys and young men.”
— therepproject.org
