Miss Representation

Miss Representation is a documentary made by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, an actress who was dismayed by the lack of quality roles offtered to her, and who speaks frankly about her own issues of self-worth (eating issues, compensating for early death of a sister, sexual abuse).

The film talks about how views of women--on film, in the media, as politicians and business leaders--are for the most part formed by men--male decision makers, male politicians, men who own media conglomerates, talk shows dominated by male trash talk hosts, and perceived male buying power in advertising. The documentary is made for women, by women, and only gives a shade of thought to how it affects men/boys (mostly in the attitude that "we," i.e. women, need to teach them better).

Many women in power positions (business leaders, journalists, politicians, activists, actresses) were talking heads, with a few men (a couple politicians, a filmmaker, some writers who have written on these issues). Some high school aged students, male and female, talk about their personal experiences, with the girls' stories obviously more forthcoming and troubling.

I don't think this film is telling us anything new although it is earnest and of course played into the sentiment of the audience it is made for. I thought it was odd that someone like Jane Fonda would be speaking for women considering some of the exploitative stuff she did during the Roger Vadim years. Even Gloria Steinhem was a Playboy bunny, wasn't she? Is this my showing a bias to women who (I assume) elected to portray themselves in this manner? One dismaying clip showed a female reporter on MSNBC I believe who wanted to go to a straight news story but her male cohort (and I think male producer also?) wanted to focus on some story about Britney Spears or Paris Hilton or something equally silly like that. She was visibly upset and frustrated, and I'm surprised she didn't walk out on this "news" segment.

Ultimately the film is "preaching to the choir" and could be better positioned to draw in and convince a male audience. It puts the onus on women to work to get everyone to change their attitudes, including ending women's proclivity to fight amongst ourselves (but again, an outcome formed by the male-dominated media), while at the same time blaming mostly men for how women are percieved as sex objects, domestic servants, dumb, lesser qualified, etc.