On June 4 1919 the United States Congress passed the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granting women the right to vote. A huge leap forward for the female population and yet today not quite 100 years later women are still under represented in positions of leadership and influence.
The film ‘Miss Representation’ written and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom unveils the truth about how women are portrayed in the media and the consequences of such messages.
‘Like drawing back a curtain to let a bright light stream in ‘Miss Representation’ uncovers a glaring reality we live with everyday but fail to see’ according to MissRepresentation.org. ‘The film 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.’
The film which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival presents some stark figures. According to MissRepresentation.org women hold only 3 percent of clout positions in the mainstream media. Women comprise 7 percent of directors and 13 percent of film writers in the top 250 grossing films. The United States is 90th in the world in terms of women in national legislatures. Women are 3 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs. About a quarter of girls will experience teen dating violence. Some 65 percent of American women and girls report having eating disorders.
By exposing these figures and this reality the filmmakers hope to spark change and progress. The movie has reached more than a million people across the globe including Truckee mom and president of Parents for Public Schools Leisa Peterson who saw the documentary at the Queen of Hearts Luncheon in February.
After seeing the film Peterson said ‘I felt like wow things are not only not getting better they’re getting worse. And what does that mean for my children? And why is this happening? … But when you bring awareness to something it shifts everything.’
Peterson and Parents for Public Schools a local chapter of a national nonprofit aimed to increase parent involvement in their child’s school and curriculum are hosting two screenings of the film one at each high school in the district. (The Truckee High School presentation was held before press time). At the screening there will be a panel to promote discussion after the film.
‘I’m curious to hear from kids who have just seen the movie’ said Peterson whose daughter is a freshman at Truckee High School. ‘The panel gets the audience talking. It gets people standing up and saying this is wrong … These are the things I want to do differently for my children.’
