It made me want to cry—or scream—-or both.
That’s how I felt watching the trailer for the upcoming film Miss Representation—about the depiction of women in the media. (If you haven’t seen it yet, click and watch right this minute; then read the rest of this. )
Not hard to see why it strikes a chord; why women are sending it flying around Facebook.
Beautifully done, including interviews with an amazing array of accomplished women, to me what stands out is the feeling of deja vu. And not just because Gloria Steinem is interviewed.
What she helped to lead was called the women’s “movement”. The movie trailer makes you wonder whether we’ve really moved forward –or back.
In a poignant way, it illustrates much of what we’ve gained—and lost. And it’s hard not to see the irony in the phrase women’s “liberation”—from the days when women were freed from girdles and burned their bras—-to today when women are stuffed in Spanx and silicone.
Not to mention how confusing the messages are for our daughters. And our sons.
I would venture to guess that some of the same women posting the trailer on Facebook are getting regular botox injections and buying their toddlers sexy costumes for Halloween.
Women—at least, most of us– have always wanted to look beautiful, young and sexy. And there’s nothing wrong with that. The problem is a matter of priority and degree. The sexualization of women is so pervasive and insidious that it’s become grotesque—and it practically extends from birth to death.
We’ve come a long way, baby?
Today the tiny female hand still grasping a baby bottle might be already wearing nail polish. And with women getting cosmetic surgery into their 80’s, beauty products will have to be pried out of our cold dead hands.
It’s typical– even trendy –to blame the media. Though women are still under-represented at the highest levels, there are far more women in all areas of the media; yet things have still gotten worse.
It’s not only them, it’s us.
While I agree that the media bears some responsibiity, my view is that change will not come from the top— but from the bottom. (I’m not talking Spanx). And that won’t happen while we continue buying the products—and by extension, the message.
I wish I had better answers; This is a complex problem involving economics, politics, sociology, psychology and biology—that can ‘t change overnight. But maybe, just maybe, American women are wising up and will start rising up.
That’s part of the strategy behind the film whose website includes a pledge to sign, promising to help create change. ( I signed and hope you will too.)
Hopefully Miss Representation will be an important start. Although I hesitate to use the word start….the more important question is when and where it will end.
Also posted on the Huffington Post
Debbie Moore says
As the mother of a 14 year old female that doesn’t care squat about fashion, it is an on-going push back against the tides of the mainstream. We looked at Halloween costume today. Once one outgrows children’s costumes, the only option is to be the prostitute version of a character. I am thrilled this film has been made.
Magpie says
Thanks for posting. I’d seen it flying about FB bit hadn’t had the space/time to stop and watch til now.
I think a lot about these things, as a professional, a WOHM mother, the parent of an almost 8yo girl, as a graduate of a women’s college. I’m simultaneously dismayed and hopeful.
V-Grrrl @ Compost Studios says
The media is powerful, but is it more powerful than the world we create for our kids? Our influences? Ourselves?
I kept television out of my house until my kids were in elementary school. We have only ever had a DVD player–no cable, no network TV. My kids (a 16-year-old boy, a 14-year-old girl) consume media on the computer, on their phones, but I like to think they are informed consumers.
Teaching them to always question the message, the motivation of the sender, the benefit or cost of the prodouct or the promise empowers them, not just in consuming media, but in personal relationships, day to day activity, in their goals and thinking.
The worst part to me isn’t the prevalence of the media, but the passive consumption of it that we accept and promote culturally. The way consuming media is a way to “tune out” and not “tune in,” an excuse not to think rather than to provoke thought.
We all share responsibility for shaping how we consume media. I think men are regularly demeaned by the media too and presented with messages that aren’t healthy to them as individuals or to our culture. I would like to see more women in “positions of power,” but more than that, I would like to see the ones who are not interested in taking a path through politics acknowledged for the power and influence they exert in their homes, schools, communities, workplaces.
Darryle Pollack says
Consider yourself lucky that your daughter doesn’t care about fashion….yet. Although that doesn’t exempt girls from the feelings about being female. As for the costumes; it’s pathetic that sexy costumes are even made for such young ages—but Halloween is just one day and some of the clothing sold for every day is just as bad in my opinion. I’m also glad for this film—I just hope people won’t just watch it, but also act on it. Thanks, Debbie.
Darryle Pollack says
Thank YOU for watching, and for commenting. I think it’s hard to be a thoughtful woman and NOT think about these things, maybe especially for mothers of daughters. I have thought about it for years, sometimes feeling as if I’m living in the Twilight Zone as I’ve seen so many things seem to go backwards from all that we hoped would change. I wish I felt more hopeful—but have my fingers crossed that this film will start a real backlash—or a woman’s movement part II.
Darryle Pollack says
Thank you! Such a thoughtful, beautiful message—and such a challenging one to think about. I especially appreciate what you said about tuning “in” rather than tuning “out”.
I think we can shape our kids’ values and hopefully teach them to question what they see; but as events across the world have shown, the power of the media, including social media, is expanding even as I write this. The world has changed SO much in recent years that I just don’t think parents have the influence we once did over messages that our kids receive from other sources–including the media—even at young ages. I do think women wield power in different ways, including those closer to home as you mentioned—and agree on the importance of acknowledging that—not only for the message it would send to those women but also to their children and their communities.