The first documentary, Miss Representation focuses on the ways in which the media influences women and their place in society. In this documentary, Jennifer Siebel Newsom discusses her concern for society and the future generation of women after getting pregnant and giving birth to a baby girl. The documentary covers many issues concerning gender and sexism that impact women and the social expectations placed on women in society. Some of the main issues it focuses on are beauty in the media, women on TV, women in politics, and women in leadership roles.
Miss Representation begins by discussing the beauty standards placed on women by the media. Magazines and advertisement companies create impossible beauty standards for women by physically enhancing and editing women’s bodies and then portraying these women as the ideal type of woman. The media also places a great emphasis on women’s physical appearance, teaching women and men that a women’s physical appearance is all that
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According to the film, 16% of protagonists in films are women, a shocking statistic considering half the population consists of women. Whenever women are included in films and shows that contain a male protagonist, they are usually overtly sexualized and objectified for the male view. Many shows and movies portray women in leadership roles as mean and unpleasant, adding to the negative connotation of women in power. Reality TV shows also portray women as catty and selfish, encouraging the idea that all women hate each other and are enemies. The TV and film industries also further the idea that being physically attractive is all that matters in a woman. Most female characters in movies and TV shows are young, with 71% of women on TV being in their teens, 20s or 30s. The film and television industry also encourages women to modify their physical appearance using surgery in order to improve any imperfections they may
Beauty is a cruel mistress. Every day, Americans are bombarded by images of flawless women with perfect hair and smooth skin, tiny waists and generous busts. They are presented to us draped in designer clothing, looking sultry or perky or anywhere in between. And although the picture itself is alluring, the reality behind the visage is much more sinister. They are representations of beauty ideals, sirens that silently screech “this is what a woman is supposed to look like!” Through means of media distribution and physical alteration, technology has created unrealistic beauty ideals, resulting in distorted female body images.
The documentary, “Miss Representation,” is a film about how women are perceived in the media. It is written, directed, and produced by Jennifer Siebel Newsom. She is an actress and a film maker who advocates for women. In the beginning of the documentary, Newsom discusses her struggles as a young woman surrounded by the pressures of looking a certain way. This film is targeting mainly women of all age that has experienced her struggles. Jennifer Siebel Newsom effectively convinces the audience of “Miss Representation” that the media has molded women in a negative way through statistics, celebrities’ and younger generation’s testimonies, and clips from the media.
Beauty is often described as being in the eye of the beholder. However in modern western culture, the old adage really should be beauty is in the eye of the white makeup artist, hair stylist, photographer, photo shop editor, and advertiser. Beauty and body ideals are packaged and sold to the average American so that we can achieve vocational, financial, social, and recreational successes. Mass media and advertising has affected the way that women perceive and treat their own bodies as well as their self-concept. Women are constantly bombarded with unrealistic images and hold themselves to the impossible beauty standards. First, we will explore the role of media in the lives of women and then the biggest body image issue from a diversity stand point, media whitewashing.
In Miss Representation movie, Jennifer Siebel Newsom determined how the society and media affected to women these days. There are many countries which judge women that they are not important in society such as Vietnam, China, and even the United States. The media play an important role in society because it helps us to receive the news every day and entertains. But, the ways media portrayed are completely making the negative effects for women. People usually use the media to illustrate that women are weak and they should not be in the same level with men. Also, women couldn’t get into the high position in government because nobody would listen to them. Jennifer Siebel Newsom made this move because she was fearful that her unborn daughter will grow up in the
Miss Representation, a documentary film produced by Jennifer Siebel Newsom released in 2011, presents a contemporary issue which is the misrepresentation of women’s portrayal in mass media. The media is powerful in shaping audience’s belief in how to be feminine. Women are expected to be beautiful, attractive, and even sexual on the media to attract audience’s attention. Also, the film points out the existence of social system in which men are considered more powerful and dominant than women. Finally, the film tries to increase the awareness of female real value including capability, educational achievement, and leadership. Consuming the media wisely to eliminate gendered stereotypes can help young women build their confidence and be successful.
The most fashionable, sought after magazines in any local store are saturated with beautiful, thin women acting as a sexy ornament on the cover. Commercials on TV feature lean, tall women promoting unlimited things from new clothes to as simple as a toothbrush. The media presents an unrealistic body type for girls to look up to, not images we can relate to in everyday life. When walking around in the city, very few people look like the women in commercials, some thin, but nothing similar to the cat walk model. As often as we see these flawless images float across the TV screen or in magazines, it ...
However, as television and cinema have progressed, woman have been further and further reduced to caricatures of humans, filling only broad character tropes revolving around the much more interesting and complex life of a man, whom is usually a would-be romantic partner. With women as only a grand total of sixteen Erin Wagner WST 3015 Miss Representation Application Paper percent of all protagonists, the misrepresentation of women on screen teaches all
Women continue to be underrepresented in leadership roles, although women make up 51% of the total U.S. population, there are a small number of women representatives in films directors, producers, representatives in congress and high positions. The media images have become a reflection of the status in society and politics due to the public attitudes and opinion on women. As we continue to make progress, no policies or laws have been created or passed in order to stop the negative portrayal of women in the media. This subject is not new to the public, it has been a constant battle and the director Newsom brings a new light to subject by incorporating various speakers. The images of women continue to change but no radical and positive change will occur until women are behind the cameras and images that are being portrayed.
In modern society there is more and more digital editing without the knowledge of consumers. Currently there are various reasons for why women develop negative body image, low-self-esteem and eating disorders. According to Naomi Wolf in her novel “Beauty Myth”, one of the many reasons women obtain concerns with their bodies is due to the universal images of young female bodies presented through advertisements in fashion magazines. Advertisements in magazines are altering and shaping the desires of men and women. Magazines sell viewers images of beautiful, skinny, flawless confident young women. When people are constantly antagonized with the magazine industry’s ideal of “perfect beauty” the viewer’s then, subconsciously believe these images to be true and begin to form biases about what they themselves should look like and what other people must also look like. People who view magazines get mislead by advertisers because they are unaware that all the images displayed are digitally altered through Photoshop and airbrushing. Today’s magazines are formed completely on false ideals of flawless beauty and unattainable body images, to prevent women and men from falling victim to the magazine’s deceitful images we as a society need to become aware and educate ourselves.
Today, only 16% of protagonists in movies are female, and the portrayal of these women is
For as long as I can remember, women and men have almost always played completely different roles in films. Men are most likely more masculine than women in movies while females are more nurturing. In the article based on a research project written by Doug Meyers, the author informs is audience about the gender roles in films and compare women and men characteristics. As the article continues, the author pointed out something very important to me.
Overall, Miss Representation was an eye-opening documentary that included many facts about the consumption of media and how it impacts politics as well as ideologies. For example, the film introduced the topic and comparison of a face lift to the cost of education. This comparison should make the audience realize how much money women are willing to spend to maintain the standard beauty set by society. This documentary, however, does not focus on the impact that media has on men because there wasn’t one single fact given about men regarding their depression rates and such. However, I do think that this documentary is generally very important because it depicts that women’s voices should be heard and respected.
In this age, media is more pervasive than ever, with people constantly processing some form of entertainment, advertisement or information. In each of these outlets there exists an idealized standard of beauty, statistically shown to effect the consumer’s reflection of themselves. The common portrayal of women’s bodies in the media has shown to have a negative impact on women and girls. As the audience sees these images, an expectation is made of what is normal. This norm does not correspond to the realistic average of the audience. Failing to achieve this isolates the individual, and is particularly psychologically harmful to women. Though men are also shown to also be effected negatively by low self-esteem from the media, there remains a gap as the value of appearance is seen of greater significance to women, with a booming cosmetic industry, majority of the fashion world, and the marketing of diet products and programs specifically targeting women.
It’s 2015 and gender inequality both in front and behind the camera still exists. A meaningful conversation with an eye towards ameliorating the problem is long overdue. Gender inequality remains a major problem in the movie industry. Women have made major impacts in the industry, yet they have not gained gender equality. Hollywood is not a stranger to the disadvantages facing women. Besides a handful of notable standouts, women are struggling when it comes female driven films receiving wide release. The dismal reality is, women still face multiple difficulties in Hollywood.
The depictions of women in films have changed in time with society to ensure the films popularity.