MISS REPRESENTATION – SLIFF Review

Review by Dana Jung

In this country, 51% of the population are women, but only 17% of Congress is women. Our elected leadership consists primarily of white, male, higher-income, college educated individuals—a class which represents only 6% of the general population. The countries of China, Cuba, Iraq, and Afghanistan have more women in government than the United States. Why? Who is to blame for this disparity? These numbers are just statistics, but the fact that the majority of young women today seem to have little or no interest in politics or social activism is the real tragedy.

These are some of the themes presented in the persuasive and sometimes eye-opening new documentary MISS REPRESENTATION by Jennifer Siebel Newsom. The film mixes interviews with notable women and men, images from past and current entertainment venues, and many more facts and figures, plus the personal reflections of the director in an interesting and compelling manner. It was the birth of her daughter, according to Siebel Newsom, that was the inspiration for this film. Taking a hard look at the way women are perceived in this country, in everything from music videos to the powerful halls of Washington, with rates of depression in young women doubling in the last decade, and with the astounding rise in the number of women having eating disorders, getting cosmetic surgery, or just having a negative self-image, MISS REPRESENTATION squarely points its finger of blame at one main culprit: the media.

Reality TV shows that glorify the basest and most unrefined human behavior, newsmagazines with their Barbie-like commentators, and advertisers that pander to feelings of anxiety about body image, are just some of the targets of MISS REPRESENTATION. The government, too, has played a role by deregulating mass media outlets (remember “Family Hour,” anyone?) and limiting the power of the FCC. The truth is, nearly everything we see and hear– on television, in movies, or through the internet—is packaged and manufactured by huge media conglomerates, which have governing boards with only one woman for every 10 board members. Women only own about 6% of all radio and TV stations, and only about 10% of all producers, writers, and directors are female.

It is heartening to see such public figures as Condoleezza Rice, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Geena Davis, and Lisa Ling speak eloquently about not only the status quo, but also the danger of a future devoid of women’s voices. Many of the excerpts of news shows also speak volumes about how women are treated in the media; some are presented without commentary, as they amazingly portray the ignorance and sexual bias prevalent in so much of what is considered “broadcast entertainment” today.

The director recounts how, as a new actress just starting out, she was advised by her agency to omit from her resume’ the fact that she had an MBA degree from Stanford. It might limit her roles if she was thought of as “too smart.” In the world we live in, full of dangers both known and as yet undreamed of, is it right that women in America spend more on body image products and plastic surgery that they do on higher education? Is it right that the media machines we have created and condoned can engage in the “symbolic annihilation” of one of the countries’ great resources—our young women? MISS REPRESENTATION presents a thought-provoking and sobering case for change. Hopefully, it will be seen by many young women and perhaps awaken in them the same desire for social evolution that previously had been directed at buying the latest pair of jeans.

Showtimes
Saturday, November 12th at 7:00pm – Plaza Frontenac