What is it that perpetuates bullying in schools?  Is it the pervasiveness of prescribed gender roles that straightjacket children into narrow notions of what it means to be female or male?  Is it the pressure to avoid at all cost, being the one who is picked on, or ridiculed? The culture of silence that McFadden-Curtis
sheds light on in her powerful documentary is kept alive by these systemic pressures and many others. The hardening process that boys must endure as they learn to be male, keeps them from speaking up or speaking out when injustices such as bullying occur. That they are always supposed to be "fine", or  tough, is the "mask of masculinity" spoken of by boys' scholar William Pollack. This boy code - this mask of masculinity - is one of the important things illuminated in the most powerful way by this renegade film maker.

A mother who will stop at nothing short of keeping this on the radar of all those who can and should make a difference- McFadden-Curtis compels us all to break the silence and stop bullying from ever starting. A must see for all children's studies programs, education programs and health care professional education.

Dr. Cheryl van Daalen-Smith, RN, PhD, CCHN(C)
Associate Professor, School of Nursing/School of Women's Studies/Children's Studies Program
York University

How we treat the 'least' of beings amongst us,
determines our own humanity.
                              Author Unknown