Truth be told, I’m not a big fan of documentaries.  For me going to the theatre is mostly about entertainment and escapism; however, Miss Representation changed that while opening my eyes to subtle and not so subtle media influences. I became caught up in the story and feeling that I needed to capture information, I eventually took out my iPhone and began taking notes because this insider’s view of the portrayal of women draws everything together effectively and stirs one to want to take action.

Director Jennifer Seibel Newsom draws from an impressive group of public figures: women (Condoleezza Rice, Lisa Ling, Geena Davis and Rachel Maddow) and men (Cory Booker, Paul Haggis and Jackson Katz). She combines their comments with personal insights, historical footage, facts and figures to expose a biased emphasis on women’s physicality and the resulting impacts on girls and women.

Gayle T. Lemmon, reporter and TEDx speaker states, “You can’t count what you don’t see. We don’t invest in what is invisible to us.” When anyone does not receive equal treatment, dehumanization occurs.  Newsom draws attention to the media’s disrespect and emphasis on the dress and appearance of female politicians citing Women for President:  Media Bias in Nine Campaigns by Erica Falk.  If it is true that less than 20% of news stories are about women and 97% of what we know is presented from the male perspective, women’s abilities and achievements are going unrecognized.   The opportunity to be an instrument of change exists, yet images and messages that shape society in a manner that maintains the status quo remain. Huge corporate conglomerates control the media, who no longer appear to feel any obligation to public interest (51% of the population is female yet the primary advertising target is men 18-34 years of age.)  Balancing the picture, the vast majority of the audience continues to willingly accept the picture of society presented where women continue not to receive or achieve full representation on several fronts.

From Reality TV (Is it reality?) to news coverage, this giant industry presents images and information working subtly to see the public conform to its will and that of its advertisers.  The effectiveness of the campaign is evident in today’s girls, teenagers and women who continue to strive for equal opportunity for success in life. Miss Representation raises a flag urging consumers to gain media literacy that will enable them to analyze and evaluate the messages being sent and take action accordingly. This documentary is great to watch alone but better when shared with friends and/or community.  Be prepared to challenge what you believe or how you see things after viewing, I know I am.