Miss Representation Page #11

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there has never been

a woman president?"

And then she said,

I will make a great president.

"I'm practicing my piano,

I'm doing my maths,

and my name is Alexandra,

which means 'leader of men."'.

Look at those eyes.

Oh, honey.

- Oh!

- Hello.

Hello.

- Oh, she's smiling.

- She's smiling.

Siebel Newsom:

On september18, 2009,

a began myjourney into motherhood.

My husband and I have

the same wishes for Montana

that any parents have

for their child.

We want her to pursue her

purpose and passions in life

and to understand

that what's really important

is who she is on the inside.

And it's critical to us

that all girls grow up in a world

where their voice counts,

where our culture embraces them

in all of their diversity,

and where they're afforded

equal opportunities

to succeed in life.

I keep coming back to my early years.

Too often, we girls and women

don't recognize

our own internal strength

I now know that we can't let

anyone or anything

take our power away from us.

What do you think, Montana'?

Are you ready'?

If you really want things

to change around you,

here's what you can do.

Measure yourself

by your accomplishments

and not by how you look.

If you and I,

every time we pass a mirror,

downgrade on how we look

or complain about our looks

if we remember

that a girl is watching us

and that's what she's learning.

Reflect on the ways

you might contribute to sexism.

I include myself in this.

We scrutinize the woman.

God, look how old she s gott

Look how Grey she's gotten.

"What is she wearing?"

I think that as women,

we need to stop

that destructive behaviour

that we inflict upon each other

and, ultimately, onto ourselves.

Support media that champions

accomplished women.

We need strong women role models

who are in the media

because they did something,

because they're doing great work,

not because they have

the most bangin' body

and they're

the Sexiest Woman of 2010.

They're the best philanthropist.

They're the best

in the medical field.

And it's not about the way they look.

It's about who they are inside.

Boycott magazines,

TV shows, and movies

that objectify and degrade women.

Speaking your mind

and criticizing media companies

when you think they're doing things

that are inappropriate

to your children

is not just your God-given right

as an American, as a parent,

but it's also entirely consistent

with the First Amendment.

Go see movies

written and directed by women.

And it's important

to go on opening weekend,

and Friday is best

because these are the numbers

that Hollywood tracks.

Write your own stories

and create your own media

about powerful women

in non-traditional roles.

My daughter, when she was 9,

she wrote this little screenplay,

and she shot a movie, you know

with our little video camera,

casting her friends.

It was just so much fun for her.

And it teaches them that

the media are a construction.

And they start to understand

that these are stories

that people are telling them,

and they can come up with

their own stories to tell back

and very often, they can be, you know

subversive stories, resistance stories.

Teach those around you

to look at the media critically.

Well, one thing

that I do with my kids is

I watch these shows with them.

I say, "Hey, did you notice"

there's only one female

in that group?"

And, "What if that character

had been a girl instead?"

And, "Why is she wearing that"

when she's trying to

rescue somebody?"

Ask your school to start

a media-literacy course

focused on gender issues.

We need media literacy

as much, I think,

as we need to learn to read.

Our responses should be,

"Whose perspectives

are framing this story?"

There are always more

than two sides to every story.

Are we being sold here'?

Don't be afraid

to challenge your friends

if you hear them saying

derogatory things about women.

King said it very eloquently.

"The problem today

is not the vitriolic words

"and the evil actions

of the bad people.

It's the appalling silence

and inaction of the good people."

Find healthy role models

and be a mentor to others.

Encourage women to become leaders.

And support them in the process.

If we see women

who we think would be excellent

at any political job,

whether it's dogcatcher,

school-board member,

or member of Congress,

we need to make that known.

"Whatever women do,

"they must do twice as well as a man

"to be thought of as half as good.

Luckily, that's not too difficult."

Woke up today

I looked around

And I had to smile

cause I understood

That my whole life's ahead of me

Don't know what'll happen,

but it's all good

'Cause no one can break me

They can't retain me

Don't matter if they try to

push me around

I ain't goin' down

'Cause this is my life

I'm feelin' all right

I'm gonna keep livin'

the way I like

No bringin' me down

Can't stand in my way

They can't change me

'cause I won't change

I got my dancin' shoes on

I think I'm gonna

wear 'em every day

Hey, hey, yeah

I think I'm gonna fly

through the galaxy

Explore the Milky Way

Hey, hey, he)

Maybe I'll be president

Maybe I'll be queen

Maybe I'll be doing things

the world has never seen

This is my life

Yeah, this my life

This is my life

This is my life

'Cause this is my life

I'm feelin' all right

I'm gonna keep livin'

the way I like

No bringin' me down

Can't stand in my way

They can't change me

'cause I won't change

This is my life

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