Miss Representation

The Legislative Women’s Caucus, the California Commission on the Status of Women, and Manatt Phelps Phillips, were honored to host a Sacramento screening of “Miss Representation,” directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom.  It is an this remarkable documentary and were thrilled that Ms. Siebel Newsom was present at the screening to discuss her film.

The Legislative Women’s Caucus prides itself in ensuring equity for all women through policy and advocacy.  It is equally important to make sure there is equity in how women are portrayed in our society. 

Written and directed by Ms. Siebel Newsom, “Miss Representation” exposes how mainstream media contributes to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence.  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.

In a society where media is the most persuasive force shaping cultural norms, the collective message that our young women and men overwhelmingly receive is that a woman’s value and power lie in her youth, beauty, and sexuality – not her capacity as a leader.  While women have made strides in leadership over the past few decades, the U.S. is 90^th in the world in terms of women in national legislatures, women hold only 3% of clout positions in mainstream media, and 65% of women and girls have an eating disorder.