The 90-minute documentary Miss Representation exposes how mainstream media contribute to the underrepresentation
of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film, which made its debut at
the Sundance Film Festival, challenges the media’s limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and
girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel
powerful herself.
In a society where media is the most persuasive force shaping cultural norms, the collective message that our
young women and men overwhelmingly receive is that a woman’s value and power lie in her youth, beauty
and sexuality – and not in her capacity as a leader. While women have made strides in leadership over the
past few decades, the U.S. is 90th in the world in terms of women in national legislatures; women hold only 3%
of clout positions in mainstream media and 65% of women and girls have disordered eating problems.
Miss Representation includes stories from teenage girls and provocative interviews with entertainers,
journalists, politicians, activists and academics like Condoleeza Rice, Lisa Ling, Katie Couric, Nancy Pelosi,
Rosario Dawson and Gloria Steinem. The film offers startling facts and statistics that will leave audiences
shaken and armed with a new perspective. You should attend in order to understand what this means for
your own life or the women and girls in your life. Mark your calendar for May 7. View a trailer for the film at
www.missrepresentation.org.
