Jennifer Siebel Newsom's Documentary: Miss Representation

“Writer/Director Jennifer Siebel Newsome brings together some of America’s most influential women in politics, news, and entertainment to give us an inside look at the media’s message. Miss Representation explores women’s under-representation in positions of power by challenging the limited and often disparaging portrayal of women in the media. As one of the most persuasive and pervasive forces in our culture, media is educating yet another generation that women’s primary value lies in their youth, beauty and sexuality—not in their capacity as leaders.”
I’m looking forward to this film, which is set to premiere at the documentary competition in the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. I recently completed The Op-Ed Project at the Hub in San Francisco. It was a truly eye-0pening experience to see the stats on public voice in the media:
80-90% of contributers to key opinion forums are men
85% of Hollywood producers are men
83% of congress are men
The project gives accomplished women the tools to speak their minds and showcase their expertise in the public space. They are paired with mentors who help them get their voices heard. I encourage all women to take this workshop. I truly hope that by connecting and empowering each other, we are able to expand the national conversation beyond the opinions and vision of just a portion of the population.