The Men in Media test (MIM)
Watch a movie or TV show and use the MIM test (below) to assess the portrayal of male characters…
You’ll learn more about the kinds of manhood on display in what you watch!
The Men in Media test includes two tools to evaluate the stories we create and consume about men: The Caring Men in Media Test (CMIM) and three Manhood in Media Tracks.
The Caring Men in Media Test is a Pass/Fail question, inspired by the Bechdel Test. It asks if a film or TV show has:
(1) two named male characters who talk to each other
(2) about their inner emotional lives, and
(3) the disclosure is met with compassion.
The MIM Tracks examine a spectrum of principles and experiences relating to masculinity and manhood. This spectrum includes:
Dominance manhood (stoic, hyper-masculine, tough guy)
Questioning dominance manhood (suffers due to not being ‘manly’ enough; rejects norms)
Relational manhood (expressive, collaborative, and authentic)