While watching the documentary, what struck out at me was how boys/men must stay in line with the various aspects involving masculinity. From playing sports to not being aloud to cry, it is interesting to see how men are expected to be or act a certain way, a “man box”. The way men must keep their emotions and pain secret simply became more obvious to me. This caught my attention because I had never pictured the problem from this perspective. What also interested me was how any boys’ role model can have a significant impact on young kids. For example, a soccer coach can often become a second father to many aspiring boys and their influence can help create a sense of community among the team. When this idea was brought up, I couldn’t help but think about the negative influence that rappers specifically, can have on a young boy’s life and his perceptions.
Watching this documentary helped me better understand Carlos’s perception of masculinity and his way of expressing it. Thinking back to when Carlos experienced the differences of Zambia, I can understand why he felt free. Free from the non-written rules that keep a man masculine enough, free from the feminine stigmas that float around in society passed down to us by our parents. Most importantly, I think Carlos felt free from the “man box” as discussed in the documentary. After watching the documentary, I cannot help but understand all the experiences and feelings described by Carlos in his book. In Zambia, all the masculinity issues discussed in the documentary seem to have vanished, it is the land where masculinity has never been so genuine.
Lovers and Fighters | Section 22 