A powerful documentary film is set to screen next week in Sechelt aimed at ending sexism in the media.
Written and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Miss Representation exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media's limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself.
The film screens on Tuesday, March 27, at 7:30 p.m. at the Raven's Cry Theatre in Sechelt. A community/panelled discussion will follow the film's screening. Coast Reporter associate publisher Cathie Roy, Charlene Smith, Margaret Page and Dorothy Riddle are the panelists.
Miss Representation includes stories from teenage girls and provocative interviews with politicians, journalists, entertainers, activists and academics like Condoleezza Rice, Lisa Ling, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Rosario Dawson, Jackson Katz, Jean Kilbourne and Gloria Steinem. The film offers startling facts and statistics that will leave audiences shaken and armed with a new perspective.
In a society where media is the most persuasive force shaping cultural norms, the collective message that our young people overwhelmingly receive is that a woman's value and power lie in her youth, beauty and sexuality - not in her capacity as a leader.
While women have made strides in leadership over the past few decades, the U.S. is 90th in the world in terms of women in national legislatures, women hold only three per cent of clout positions in mainstream media, and 65 per cent of women and girls have disordered eating.
MissRepresentation.org is igniting a cross-generational movement to shift the cultural mindset of communities, interrupt and stop patterns of sexism, change the way women and girls are represented in the media and ensure a tipping point that will lead to gender parity in leadership.
All tickets are $10 (including HST) and are available at: Shanti Gifts in Wilson Creek, Cactus Flower, Tsain-Ko Gift Shop and the theatre. Call the theatre at 604-885-4597 to have your tickets held.
Net proceeds from the event will be donated to Yew Transition House.
- Submitted
