'The Bro Code' takes an in depth look at “Bro Culture” and its effects on society.
The cultures affiliated with men and sexuality can sometimes have a negative connotation in the mainstream media.
However, this social construct is thrown under a more analytical and critical lens in the documentary The Bro Code: How Contemporary Culture Creates Sexist Men, will premiere Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Women’s Center.
Produced by California State University philosophy Professor Thomas Keith, the documentary takes an in-depth look into the proponents of American media and society that conditions boys to become misogynistic and sexist “bros.”
The documentary is split up into different parts of the “bro culture” that manipulates misogynistic behavior in young boys. Parts include the portrayal of women in music videos and movies, portrayal of women in pornography — including their brutalization — jokes related to rape or sexual assault and definitions of “manhood.”
“These ideas of masculinity portrayed in the documentary, inspire men to dominate all aspects of their life, including women who are often portrayed as submissive,” Sarah Jenkins, program coordinator for the Women’s Center, said.
The portrayal of male domination in the media is paired with ideas of its relation to masculinity perpetuated by other “bros.” The documentary shows there is constant societal pressure to conform to the norms of masculinity keep it relevant even to this day despite its degradation to women and men.
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“Gender is a very powerful thing and attempting to question its role in society can be seen as inflammatory,” Susan Mongalla, a graduate assistant in the department of Gender and Women’s Studies, said.
Jenkins said men and women will be able to benefit from seeing this film.
“It could be a game changer,” Willa Adams, a freshman studying forensic chemistry, said “Males and females can see the film and realize these ideas are not normal or OK.”
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