Carlisle Jensen- Miss Representation

The film Miss Representation offers a view into the complex world of women and the media. The film is able to connect the issues of self-confidence, depression, self-loathing, and other self-objectifying issues that plague adolescent females, with the way women are portrayed by the media.

            What I found most interesting was the discussion on how the idea that for a women to emerge as a powerful and impactful as men in politics their must be a “psychological breakthrough”. The issue is not that women are not capable but that society expects them to be something they are not, and such assumptions lead to the idea that women are not meant to be leaders. As stated by Condoleezza Rice in order for a woman to rule in the political world America must first accept them and go through a “breakthrough”.  Woman are objectified by the media and this leads to self-objectification and ultimately the idea that as a women, you can’t be a powerful leader and it is not in your capacity as a women to lead. It is not just the images of stick thin, supermodels, or the overly sexualized goddesses, but just the roles women all aspects of the media. As film stated in Hollywood only 6% of movies have female roles and if it is a movie is from a female perspective it is a “chick flick” that still revolves around men. The Hollywood culture puts women in a sidekick role and trivializes women into less powerful roles. This leads to the assumption that women are not fit to be leaders or have a powerful position in life.

I also found it interesting how the film was able to address the public’s obsession with women in pop culture compared to men. The fact that women are only body parts to be scrutinized by the media, leads to the idea that women are objects and maybe even property of men.  Images of women are objectified and there is a focus on the body and beauty. These images are “toxic” to young girls who are seeking their identity. It is the TV star and movie stars who impressionable girls watch and look up to. If a movie star is put into such a narrow box of what is deemed beautiful then that image is translated into real life. I think reality TV is, as the film put it, a “backlash to the feminist movement”. How are young female viewers supposed to find value in their merit when all they see are the Kardashians and their mindless obsessions with materials and beauty? In my opinion reality TV stars are sold to the public in a negative way, and place value on looks, fame, and money, and not on anything of real value. It is also important to understand that no matter how annoying and outrageous reality stars are perceived, they are a constant image being projected by the media and therefore an example for young girls. Ultimately I found the film a chilling but accurate representation of how images of females in the media are affecting the everyday women and how society perceives them.