“Miss Representation” documentary and panel discussion

(Benicia, CA) – A coalition* of educational and service community organizations are hosting a FREE screening of the documentary “Miss Representation,” followed by a panel discussion on Thursday, September 20, 2012, at 7 p.m., at California Maritime Academy’s Rizza Auditorium in Vallejo.  Although admission to the event is free, there is a $3 parking fee in the CMA parking lots.

 “Miss Represenation” is a documentary that premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.  It examines the ways mainstream media portrayals of women contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence.  As the MissRepresentation.org website explains, “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, the United States is still 90th in the world for women in national legislatures, women hold only 3% of clout positions in mainstream media, and 65% of women and girls have disordered eating behaviors.”