We are kicking off with a film screening - Miss Representation - which explores how the media’s misrepresentations of women have led to the under representation of women in positions of power and influence.

After the film we have a feisty panel to discuss the representation of women in media. Our panel includes:

• Eva Cox AO - is a highly respected feminist, academic, and activist, whose work has informed and inspired a generation of women. She has been an active advocate for creating more civil societies.
• Kate Southam - is a journalist with News Corporation, with the popular Cube Farmer career blog
• Yolanda Vega - is from Australian Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry
• John Bergin - Director of Social Media and Digital News, Sky News Australia

About the Film

Like drawing back a curtain to let bright light stream in, Miss Representation (90 min) uncovers a glaring reality we live with every day but fail to see. Written and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the film exposes how mainstream media contribute 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, and not in her capacity as a leader. While women have made great strides in leadership over the past few decades, women hold only 3% of clout positions in mainstream media (US statistics), and 65% of women and girls have disordered eating behaviors (US statistics).

Stories from teenage girls and interviews with politicians, journalists, entertainers, activists and academics, like Condoleezza Rice, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Margaret Cho, Rosario Dawson and Gloria Steinem build momentum as Miss Representation accumulates startling facts and statistics that will leave the audience shaken and armed with a new perspective.

(source: MissRepresentation.org)

A panel discussion of leading Australian females will follow the screening of the film.

The documentary Miss Representation, by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, and aired on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in October.

The film explores how the media’s misrepresentations of women have led to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence.

Find out more about the film at MissRepresentation.org