For my first social justice fieldwork, my group watched a movie called Miss Representation. I personally thought this movie was amazing and incredibly informing. It really opened my eyes on how hyper-sexualized women are in our society. I think it’s disgusting how we are constantly portrayed as sex objects, just a pretty face, stupid, and inferior. And if we try to defy those stereotypes, it’s frowned upon, and seen as nasty. The movie had many statistics referencing how much money women spend on cosmetics, the number of women in a male-dominated career field, sexual abuse cases and much more. I think that these statistics made the movie even more impactful because it proved how inferior women in society’s eyes, with numbers; making it all too real. I really liked how the movie showcased many proud, successful women who have defied some of the stereotypes forced on women, and how they had no regrets about it. I think that that really stuck with me because it gave me hope that one day, women will be portrayed in this way, showing that women ARE much more than an image and that we CAN make a difference, just as much as men. I think that this message is really important for us to include in our teach in as it is more personal if it comes from us, rather than a film. As eighth graders I think it’s important to personally teach younger girls (and boys) about gender inequality and how we should change it.

Miss Representation Cover