Skip to main content

Deep Dive: Miss Representation (2011)

Play Trailer

Film Lens

Miss Representation
Miss Representation is a 2011 documentary directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom that examines the portrayal of women in mainstream media and its impact on their representation in leadership roles. The film features interviews with notable figures such as Jane Fonda, Rachel Maddow, and Katie Couric, who share their experiences and advocate for improved media representation of women. The film intertwines personal stories from teenage girls with these interviews to illustrate the need for positive role models in media. The documentary also supports social action campaigns through The Representation Project, which aims to address the under-representation of women in both media and politics. It encourages viewers to engage in policy change and promotes hashtags like #RepresentHer and #DisruptTheNarrative to foster discussions around gender representation. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2011 and has since been influential in raising awareness about gender misrepresentation.

Why Watch

  • •Meet influential women like Jane Fonda and Rachel Maddow.
  • •Find out how media shapes young women's aspirations.
  • •See raw stories from over 109 subjects, including teenage girls.

Did You Know

•The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2011.
•Over 109 subjects appear in the film, sharing their personal stories.
•Gloria Steinem's quote, 'If you can't see it, you can't be it,' gained traction after the film's release.

Perfect For

Media studiesWomen's rights activismTeenage empowerment