Miss Representation: A Critical Analysis of Media Culture and Women Representation

This article provides a critical analysis of the documentary film Miss Representation directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom. The film exposes the negative image of women in media culture prevalent in America and its impact on women representation in society. The article highlights the arguments presented in the film and its diverse range of women showcased, starting from politicians to CEO’s.

Running head: CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Cultural Anthropology
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Miss Representation is a documentary film directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom. The
main aim of the film is to expose the various practices of media and its culture that show a
negative image of the women in the society. The film shows that the females are
underrepresented in the American society due to the media culture that is prevalent in the
country (About The Film - The Representation Project). The film focuses on the way in
which media portrays the females in a disparaging manner and hence it makes it impossible
for the women to feel powerful and motivated. The modern world is shaped by the products
of the media and hence it is essential to note that any message that is given out by the media
has an essential impact on the society and its thinking pattern. The film puts light on the issue
of perception that has been developed by the media about the women. The women are often
represented as mere objects of attraction and it is showed that the value and power of a
woman lies in her beauty and youth. The leadership and intelligence are qualities that are not
even attributed to the women. The country of America has witnessed female leaders
delivering to the best of their capacities and many a times better than their male counterparts,
however, the country is placed at 33rd rank amongst the 49 countries with highest income and
representation of the women in national legislature. The film industry has only a 17% of its
strength in women in the form of directors, writers, editors, cinematographers and executive
producers (Kaplan). The film has stories that are narrated in a way that hits the audience and
makes them think hard about the prevalent situation in the society. The film showcases
interviews of teenage girls who have been suffering in the society due to the unfair attitude
that is prevalent among people regarding the females. Some of the provocative interviews
from politicians, entertainers, journalists are put in the film and it makes the people think
about the situation of women representation in the society. The film aims to provide a new
perspective to the people as they feel the need to act against such practices in media. The film
sums up that the women have to stand up on their own and show the world that they can

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prosper and progress and hence the image created in the media is absolutely bogus and unreal
in nature.
The film is one of the hardest hitting works that reflects a critical problem that is
prevalent in the society. The objectification of the women body and the consequences that are
taking place due to such practices are being amply showcased in the film. Every women is
suggested to see the film and hence the film has been screened throughout the country. This
is not just a film it is a reform in the ways of thinking of the people that has been in initiated
by the director Siebel Newsom. The arguments presented in the film are absolutely brilliant
and one of the best among them is the argument by Jennifer Pozner. Jennifer is the Executive
Director of Women in Media & News and author of Reality Bites Back, says that the reality
shows have deteriorated the image of the women even more. In such shows the women are
shown as gold diggers and unfaithful in nature and they constantly thrive to be with a man
with whom they must have spent just 15 minutes. The portrayal of the females a mere eye
candy in the various TV shows and films have been rightly mentioned in the film. The film
rightly points put that the American media tries to convince the people that there is a fixed
ratio of the women figure and anyone outside that said ration is out of shape and hence
unattractive in nature (Grogan). The idea has been constantly given out by the media and
even teen age girls are disgusted of their figures of they do not match with the description of
perfection as given out by the media. This is all a systematic annihilation from the media to
incorporate such thoughts into the minds of the people and under represent the females in the
global sphere (Dakanalis and Riva). The film enlightens the audience about the deregulation
of the television in the 1980s and the effect media started having in forming an image of the
women from then on. The film showcases a diverse range of women, starting from politicians
to CEO’s and hence the description of the situation that is prevalent is extremely well
executed

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Reference
About The Film - The Representation Project. The Representation Project, 2018,
http://therepresentationproject.org/film/miss-representation/about-the-film/. Accessed 31 Mar
2018.
Dakanalis, Antonios, and Giuseppe Riva. "Mass media, body image and eating disturbances:
The underlying mechanism through the lens of the objectification theory." Body image:
Gender differences, sociocultural influences and health implications (2013): 217-36.
Grogan, Sarah. Body image: Understanding body dissatisfaction in men, women and
children. Taylor & Francis, 2016.
Kaplan, E. Ann. Women & Film. Routledge, 2013.