I have to be honest with you – I’m tired of seeing blog post after blog post depicting the fallacies of the media. I’m tired of reading about sexism, objectification, and disrespect. I’m tired of feeling hopeless about the state of gender representation in the media.

Luckily, Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s new, edgy documentary Miss Representation has given me a reason to wake up and smell the feminism.

The 90-minute documentary combines the alluring anecdotes of teenage girls across the nation with compelling interviews from prominent female leaders, including Nancy Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, and Dr. Condoleezza Rice. It explores the varied messages the media sends to young girls and teens alike – messages that portray low self-esteem, dependency, and worth based solely on attractiveness. Siebel Newsom exposes the media’s sexist objectives and explains just how videos, TV shows, and advertisements alike deter young women from becoming the strong, confident leaders they all have the potential to be.

Wait. Sounds depressing, right? Though this documentary does point out the flaws of the media, it goes above and beyond in inspiring its audiences. Across the nation, colleges and universities are ordering the film to be screened in a public forum.

The Oprah Winfrey Network will be premiering the documentary on Thursday, October 20th at 9/8c. This is a pivotal film in exposing the oftentimes corrupt agenda of the media – and by watching it, talking about it, and sharing it with others, you can help it gain national acclaim.

Check out the web site to take the pledge to see the film, spread the word, and challenge the media’s limited portrayal of women and girls. You can even host a screening!

Tune in tomorrow and let us know what you think. Does Miss Representation accurately portray the media? How can we work to change the messages the media sends?

–Hailey

[Ed. note: a lot of us here at the About-Face offices have seen screenings of Miss Representation already and are practically falling over ourselves to recommend it to others--it's amazing! We're even teaming up with up the filmmakers to promote our most recent Take Action, and our executive director, Jennifer Berger, will be on a post-screening panel in Palo Alto on November 16. This is a must-see film!]