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>>> PRESENTATION OF "DIALOGUE" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS
MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA
MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE
MOORE FAMILY'S LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF
IDAHO.
>> COMING UP, WOMEN ARE 51% OF THE POPULATION OF THE UNITED
STATES, YET HOLD ONLY 17% OF THE SEATS IN CONGRESS.
DOES THE WAY THE MEDIA PORTRAY GIRLS AND WOMEN HAVE AN EFFECT
ON THAT LACK OF POLITICAL POWER?
WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT NEXT ON "DIALOGUE."
STAY TUNED.
>> THERE IS KNOW APPRECIATION FOR WOMEN INTELLECTUAL.
IT IS ALL ABOUT THE BODY, NOT ABOUT THE BRAIN.
>> YOU ALL SAW THE PHOTO OVER THE WEEKEND, HILLARY LOOKING SO
HAGGARD -- >> NANCY PELOSI, SHE WOULDN'T
ADMIT TO PLASTIC SURGERY.
>> THE FACT THAT MEDIA ARE SO DEROGATORY TO THE MOST POWERFUL
WOMEN IN THE COUNTRY, WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT MEDIA'S ABLTD TO
TAKE ANY WOMAN SERIOUSLY?
>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "DIALOGUE."
I'M MARCIA FRANKLIN.
YOU WERE JUST WATCHING PART OF "MISS REPRESENTATION."
THE DOCUMENTARY, WHICH PREMIERED AT THE
SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL AND AIRED ON OPRAH WINFREY'S "OWN"
NETWORK, USES CLIPS FROM A WIDE RANGE OF BROADCAST, FILM,
PRINT, ONLINE AND GAMING SOURCES TO SHOW HOW PEOPLE IN
THOSE INDUSTRIES ROUTINELY DENIGRATE GIRLS AND WOMEN.
THAT "MISREPRESENTATION" OF FEMALES, SAY THE EXPERTS IN
THE FILM, CAN IN TURN LEAD TO A LACK OF REPRESENTATION OF
WOMEN IN POLITICAL OFFICE AND IN THE BOARD ROOMS OF CORPORATE
AMERICA.
SO HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?
AND SHOULD SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT IT?
JOINING ME TO DISCUSS THOSE AND OTHER ISSUES IS THE
PRODUCER OF "MISS REPRESENTATION,"
JENNIFER SEIBEL NEWSOM.
SEIBEL NEWSOM IS IN BOISE TO SCREEN AND DISCUSS HER FILM
AND ITS SOCIAL ACTION CAMPAIGN AT AN EVENT SPONSORED BY "GO
LEAD IDAHO."
THAT GROUP ENCOURAGES WOMEN OF ALL POLITICAL VIEWPOINTS TO
ASPIRE TO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN ELECTIVE OFFICE,
CORPORATIONS, NONPROFITS, AND ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
AN ACTRESS, SEIBEL NEWSOM IS ALSO MARRIED TO THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA, GAVIN NEWSOM.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT YOUR FIRST TIME TO IDAHO.
WELCOME BACK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YOU SPENT TIME HERE AND IN MONTANA.
YOU KNOW THE REGION.
>> YES, QUITE BEAUTIFUL.
>> THE SUBJECT OF THE FILM WHICH I SHOWED IN THE PREVIEW,
IT IS NOT A NEW SUBJECT, UNFORTUNATELY.
I REMEMBER JEAN KILLBURN'S 1979 FILM, KILLING US SOFTLY AN AND
HER UPDATES WHICH REALLY STARTED SHOWING HOW THE MEDIA
AND ADVERTISING WERE DEPICTING GIRLS AND WOMEN IN DEGRADING
WAYS.
>> RIGHT.
>> WHAT DID YOU FEEL YOU HAD TO ADD OR SOMETHING NEW THAT MADE
YOU WANT TO DO THIS FILM?
>> I HAD TO CONNECT THE DOTS.
I THINK PEOPLE HAVE COME TO ACCEPT THE OBJECTIVE -- HOW IT
HAS CREEPED INTO OUR LIVES, ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO
CHILDREN AT YOUNGER AND YOUNGER AGES.
BUT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALLY CONNECTED THE DOTS ENOUGH, THE
OBJE OBJECT -- HOW THAT IS IMPACTED
WOMEN ASPIRING TOWARD NOT JUST LEADERSHIP -- LEADERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HOW THIS IMPACTS
THE REST OF THE WORLD.
I HAD TO FRAME AND CONNECT THE DOTS IN A WAY THAT WERE FRESH,
CONTEMN PO CONTEMN POUR -- CONTEMPORARY.
THERE WAS A LOT OF CONTENT THERE TO LEVERAGE, MAKE OUR
CASE.
>> MULTIPLICITY OF PLATFORMS, TOO.
>> OUR KIDS ARE CONSUMING -- WE ARE ALL CONSUMING, OUR KIDS,
WHOSE BRAINS ARE NOT FULLY FORMED UNTIL THEY'RE IN THEIR
MID TO LATE 20s, THAT IS WHAT -- ALL OF OUR BRAINS ARE
PLASTIC, BUT THAT OUR KIDS WERE SO VULNERABLE, CONSUMING THESE
VERY VIOLENT AND *** TV PROGRAMS, AND NEWS AND
INFOTAINMENT AT YOUNGER AND YOUNGER AGES.
WHAT IT HAS DONE, AS WOMEN HAVE MADE PROGRESS IN THE REAL WORLD
AND GAIN MORE POWER AND STATUS AND CLOUT OUTSIDE OF THE HOME
IN THE REAL WORLD, WE HAVE INCREASINGLY SEXUALIZED AND
OBJECTIFIED AND DEGRATED -- DEGRADED WOMEN IN THE MEDIA
SCAPE.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE POINTING OUT AND HOPE EVERYONE CAN WAKE
UP TO AND RECOGNIZE AND HOPEFULLY THAT IS THE FIRST
STEP IN AFFECTING CHANGE.
>> IRONIC, WOMEN HAVE GAINED SOME RIGHTS, WE SEE AN
INCREASING BACKLASH PERHAPS -- >> SURE.
>> IN THE FORM OF THIS.
LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THESE CLIPS.
ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT YOUR FILM, TAKING CLIPS
FROM DIFFERENT PLACES AND PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER.
LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE COMME
COMMENTATORS -- >> BOTH YOU AND SARAH PALIN ARE
GOOD-LOOKING WOMEN, ATTRACTIVE YOUNG, RELATIVELY YOUNG WOMEN.
>> U.S. SUPREME COURT COURT -- SHE IS NOT THE TYPE OF FACE YOU
WOULD WANT IT SEE ON A $5 BILL.
>> SEND A BUNCH OF VACUUM CLEANERS TO HELP THEM CLEAN UP
AFTER THE MEETINGS.
>> LOOK AT THESE UGLY -- >> WHEN SHE RAISES HER VOICE, A
LOT OF WOMEN DO, AS I SAY, IT -- IT REACHES A POINT WHERE
HUSBAND IN AMERICA HAS HEARD IT AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER.
>> GET A WOMAN IN THE OVAL OFFICE, MOST POWERFUL PERSON IN
THE WORLD, WHAT IS IS THE DOWN SIDE?
>> YOU MEAN BESIDES THE PMS AND MOOD SWINGS?
>> I IMAGINE WHEN YOU SCREEN THAT SECTION OF THE FILM,
PEOPLE HAVE SEEN REACTION, PEOPLE LISTENING IN OUR CONTROL
ROOM DID WHEN THAT WAS PLAYED, A COLLECTIVE INTAKE OF BREATHS.
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE AND HOW COMMON
YOU THINK IT IS NOW.
YOU I AM SURE HAVE SCREENED HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF CLIPS
TO DO RESEARCH FOR THIS.
IS THIS JUST KIND OF A SMALL SLICE OR DO YOU THINK THAT IT
IS INDEMIC?
>> THIS IS ENDEMIC.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT -- BECAUSE IT IS PUT TOGETHER THIS WAY --
THE POINT WE WERE MAKING.
WE PUT IT TOGETHER SO THAT PEOPLE COULD SEE IT.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HEAR THIS ALL OF THE TIME, NOT JUST ON THE
MEDIA, BUT INCREASINGLY BECAUSE MEDIA NOT ONLY INFORMS CULTURE
BUT DICTATES CULTURE AND CULTURE IS LEARNED, PEOPLE ARE
LEARNING SEXISM THROUGH THE MEDIA.
AND THIS -- WHAT -- THE ACT OF PUTTING ALL OF THESE CLIPS
TOGETHER HAS MADE PEOPLE GO WOW.
BECAUSE IF THEY SAW ONE BUT DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THAT THAT ONE
ACTUALLY HAD AN IMPACT AND REACHED A HUGE POPULOUS, THAT
FOR THE MOST PART, ACCEPTED IT AND JUST MOVED ON OR SHRUGGED
THEIR SHOULDER OR TURNED THEIR BACK.
PERHAPS THE PERSON WENT SO FAR TO SWITCH THE CHANNEL.
FOR THE MOST PART, A DISCUSSION WASN'T HAD IN TERMS OF THE
VIEWER SHIP AND NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT THAT WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF THE WOMEN'S MEDIA CENTER THAT WENT OFF AND AFTER
SOME OF THE MEDIA, BOTH DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN
MEDIA -- >> THOSE ARE CLIPS FROM
PRIMARILY CONSERVATIVE PROGRAMS.
DID YOU SEE THAT BEING USED BY LIBERAL COMMENTATORS --
>> YEAH, SURE.
THERE IS A SECTION OF THE OBJECTY -- I'M MARRIED TO A
DEMOCRAT.
MY PARENTS ARE MORE CONSERVATIVE.
BUT I MADE A CLEAR POINT IN THE DOCUMENTARY TO MAKE THE FILM
NONPARTISAN.
BUT I WOULD BE LYING TO YOU IF I DIDN'T SAY THAT THE
REPUBLICAN COMMENTATORS HAVEN'T DEMEANED AND RIDICULED WOMEN
MORE PER SE PERHAPS THAN THE LIBERAL COMMENTATORS, AND THAT
IS JUST THE REALITY IF YOU LOOK AT THE FACTS.
AND NOT SOMETHING THAT I THINK AS A CULTURE, I THINK, DON'T
CARE WHAT YOUR POLITICAL PARTY IS.
I THINK THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW, YOU KNOW, HOW WE
ALL TREAT WOMEN, WHETHER WE IN THE LANGUAGE -- AND THE
LANGUAGE WE USE AROUND WOMEN.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, TOO, WE NEED TO STOP FOCUSING ON WHAT
WOMEN LOOK LIKE AND FOCUS ON WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
AND THERE IS A LOT OF -- PART OF THE CULPRIT AND PART OF THE
PROBLEM IS THAT WE WOMEN HAVE SOMEWHAT BOUGHT INTO THE SORT
OF SELF-OBJECTIFICATION -- IT HAS INCREASINGLY BEEN PUT ON US
AND EMPHASIZED, VISA -- >> IN THE TIP AND TEASE WE
SHOWED, WOMEN COMMENTATORS MAKING THESE COMMENTS TO OTHER
WOMEN.
>> RIGHT.
AND TO ME THAT IS HORRIBLE, HORRIFIC.
NONE OF US ARE PERFECT.
BUT WE HAVE TO EMPOWER EACH OTHER.
WE HAVE TO NOT JUDGE EACH OTHER.
WE HAVE TO NOT HOLD EACH OTHER TO THIS DOUBLE STANDARD.
ON THE NEXT FILM THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT -- IT DOESN'T JUST
LIMIT IT TO THE MEDIA SPHERE BUT THE MESSAGES BEING XHUN --
COMMUNICATED TO OUR YOUNG MEN IN PARTICULAR AND THE PATH TO
WHAT IT IS TO BE A MAN IN OUR WORLD.
BUT IT -- IT IS -- ALL AROUND.
>> LET'S GO BACK TO THE COMMENT ABOUT CONNECTING THE DOTS AND
THE PRIMARY MISSION WITH THE FILM.
SO, HOW DOES THE OBJECTIFICATION OF WOMEN
TRANSLATE INTO RUNNING FOR OFFICE, FEWER GETTING ELECTED?
>> HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, WHEN -- WHEN WE DEVALUE WOMEN,
WHEN WE -- LET ME -- SO MANY WAYS THAT I CAN ANSWER THAT.
LET ME START WITH THIS.
FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU CAN'T SEE IT, YOU CAN'T BE IT.
THAT IS FIRST AND FOREMOST.
MAINSTREAM MEDIA, HYPERSEXUALIZES WOMEN AND
INCREASING OF THE DOUBLE STANDARD.
YOU ARE EITHER/OR, STEREOTYPED.
YOU ARE EITHER SMART OR YOU'RE INTELLIGENT.
AND IF YOU ARE -- AND THERE IS SO MUCH DAMAGE JUST IN
STEREOTYPING BECAUSE OF WHAT IT DOES IS IT LIMITS WOMEN.
SECOND OF ALL, THERE IS BAD BEHAVIOR THAT IS JUST ACCEPTED
AND TREATED AS THE STATUS QUO AND NORMALIZED IN OUR CULTURE.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MEN AND WOMEN SPEAKING UP AND OUT
AGAINST IT.
MEN NEED TO DO IT INCREASINGLY SO.
MEN IN LEADERSHIP, RUNNING MEDIA COMPANIES, THEY HAVE A
TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED AND OWE IT
TO ALL OF US, NOT JUST TO THOSE WHO WATCH THE SHOWS, BUT TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC AND TO AMERICAN CITIZENS AND TO THE REST OF THE
WORLD WHO IS FOLLOWING US AND LOOKING AT HOW WE TREAT WOMEN
AND FOLLOWING SUIT IN SOME CASES, THEY NEED TO REALLY
REPRIMAND AND REIGN IN THE AGGRESSIVE -- MALE VOICES.
LASTLY WOMEN, WHERE WE'RE COMPLICIT, BUY INTO THE NOTIONS
OF WHAT IT IS TO BE A WOMAN.
GET THE PLASTIC SURGERY.
DO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT PUT OUR VALUE IN OUR YOUTH, BEAUTY,
SEXUALITY AND NOT IN OUR LEADERSHIP OR CAPACITY TO LEAD
AND WE GET DISTRACTED.
I GO TO HIGH SCHOOLS AND GO TO GIRLS.
WHY ARE YOU WEARING MAKEUP?
HOW MUCH TIME DID IT TAKE YOU TO PUT ON THE MAKEUP AND WHERE
DID YOU GET THE MONEY FOR THE MAKEUP?
FIRST OF ALL, THEY NEED TO LEARN FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE,
TO READ, STUDY, ANALYZE AND IMPROVE THEMSELVES AND NOT GET
STUCK FOCUSED ON THEIR LOOKS.
IT DISTRACTS THEM FROM ULTIMATELY ACHIEVING GREAT
THINGS IN THE WORLD AND MAKING A HUGE CONTRIBUTION.
>> COULD IT BE WHEN WOMEN SEE POWERFUL WOMEN LIKE MADELINE
ALBRIGHT OR HILLARY CLINTON ON CONDOLEEZZA RICE -- I -- I
DON'T WANT ONLY ME OR MY FAMILY TO BE SUBJECTED ABOUT THESE
COMMENTS.
THEY FIND A WAY TO CONTRIBUTE IN SOME OTHER WAY PERHAPS IN
THE COMMUNITY THAT IS NOT SO HIGH PROFILE.
>> BY THE WAY, THAT IS EXCELLENT.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THAT IN WOMEN.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A VOICE IN THE
TABLE OF POWER.
WE'RE ON AVERAGE 12 TO 14% REPRESENTATION ON CORPORATE
BOARDS, 17% OF CONGRESS.
NEVER HAD A FEMALE PRESIDENT -- >> INTERESTING, ALL OF THESE
OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE -- >> HAVE SURPASSED US IN SO MANY
WAYS, WE ARE SUPPOSABLY THIS GREAT DEMOCRACY.
WE'RE NOT THIS GREAT DEMOCRACY.
WE COULD BE.
I BELIEVE WE WANT TO BE.
BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL STUCK AND MAKE IT
COMPLETELY -- LITERALLY, THERE HAS TO BE A -- A SYSTEM AND A
MECHANISM AND SUPPORT TO ENSURE MORE WOMEN INTO LEADERSHIP,
MORE WOMEN INTO THE PIPELINE.
BECAUSE OF THE DISSERVICE THE MEDIA IS DOING TO WOMEN,
ASPIRING TOWARD LEADERSHIP, NOT
-- THE BOYS CLUB MENTALITY, NANCY PELOSI IN A POWERFUL
POSITION, ASIDE FROM HER, THERE ARE MORE WOMEN IN POWER ON THE
DEMOCRATS, BUT THERE IS A MECHANISM INTO LEADERSHIP.
WE AS AMERICANS STILL SEE LEADERSHIP AS A MALE SPHERE, AS
A MASCULINE TRAIT.
INCREASINGLY THE STUDIES ARE IMPROVING THAT THE BEST LEADERS
HAVE THE MORE FEMININE TRAITS IN THEM, WHICH OBVIOUSLY MEN
HAVE AS WELL, THEY EMBRACE, MORE EMPATHETIC -- MEN AND
WOMEN HAVE THAT.
IT IS MORE -- IT IS A FEMININE TRAIT SORE CELEBRATED AND
SEEN -- MORE CELEBRATED AND SEEN IN WOMEN.
YOU SEE IT IN MANY OF OUR CURRENT MALE LEADERS.
THE MORE WE AS A SOCIETY CAN START TO SEE LEADERSHIP NOT
JUST AS A MALE DOMAIN, THE MORE PROGRESS WE WILL MAKE.
>> YOU MENTIONED TALKING TO STUDENTS, ONE OF THE MORE
INTERESTING PART OF THE DOCUMENTARY, COMMENTS YOU GOT
FROM YOUNG WOMEN TALKING ABOUT PRESSURES THAT THEY FEEL TO
LIVE UP TO SOME IMAGE.
>> THERE IS THIS CONCEPT OF THE PERFECT WOMAN WHO LOOKS THE
CERTAIN WAY AND BECAUSE WOMEN MAY NOT LOOK THAT WAY, THEY'RE
SCRUTINIZED.
>> IN 5th GRADE, WORRIED ABOUT MY WEIGHT --
>> ME BEING A SMALL PERSON, MY OLD SCHOOL, PEOPLE THOUGHT I
WAS LIKE ANOREXIC OR SOMETHING --
>> I STRAIGHTENED MY HAIR TO FIT IN WHEN I HAVE NATURALLY
CURLY HAIR.
>> CLOSE FRIENDS, IN BETWEEN BREAK PERIODS, THEY WOULD GO TO
THE BATHROOM AND PUT ON 10 POUNDS OF MAKE-UP AND COMB
THEIR HAIR AND DO ALL OF THIS PAMPERING AND YOU ARE AT SCHOOL
TO LEARN.
>> WHEN IS IT GOING TO BE ENOUGH?
I HAVE A YOUNGER SISTER, AND SHE IS LIKE -- SHE GETS TEASED
IN SCHOOL BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE PERFECT BODY, AND IT
IS HARD FOR ME TO SEE THAT.
SO IT IS LIKE WHY -- SO MY LITTLE SISTER WON'T BE GETTING
HURT BY THE MEDIA.
HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR SOMEBODY TO TAKE A STAND?
>> THEY'RE AWARE.
>> YES.
>> OF WHAT IS GOING ON.
DID YOU SENSE ANY POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS FROM THEM OR TALK TO
THEM ABOUT WHAT THEIR ANSWERS TO THIS MIGHT BE?
>> I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC.
THERE ARE YOUNG WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AROUND THE WORLD
WHO ARE CHALLENGED BY THE ISSUES, BUT THEY'RE NOT BUYING
INTO THEM, INTO THE LIMITING NOTION OF THEIR VALUE IN OUR
CULTURE.
AND THEY'RE SPEAKING OUT AND USING THEIR VOICES AND STARTING
THIS REPRESENTATION CLUBS OR THEIR OWN CLUBS.
THEY ARE CHAMPIONING OUR CAMPAIGNS.
WE STARTED A NONPROFIT MISREPRESENTATION, AND THE NOT
BUYING IT CAMPAIGN WHERE LITERALLY YOUNG PEOPLE, PEOPLE
OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE, MEN AND WOMEN ARE CALLING OUT SEXIST
MEDIA, WHETHER IT IS KARL'S JR., WHOEVER IT IS, DEGRADING
WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE ADVERTISING AND COMMERCIAL, AND
THEN AT THE SAME TIME ON THE OTHER HAND CELEBRATING REALLY
HEALTHY MEDIA THAT DESERVES OUR ATTENTION AND OUR SUPPORT.
SO, I THINK THEY HAVE BECOME THE -- THEY ARE BECOMING THE
CHANGE WE WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD.
I THINK THEY'RE BECOMING -- THEY'RE ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE
THOSE CHANGE-MAKERS.
>> WOMEN'S ECONOMIC POWER, GIRLS AND WOMEN ECONOMIC POWER
IS ONE WAY TO START CORRECTING WHAT YOU SEE AN A PROBLEM BY
NOT BUYING THINGS THAT -- >> YES.
>> COME FROM COMPANIES -- >> YES, AND GENDER MEDIA
LITERACY IS ANOTHER -- THE OLDER GIRLS ARE GOING INTO
SCHOOLS AND SPEAKING WITH YOUNGER GIRLS AND SAYING, HEY,
LIKE, YOUR VALUE IS YOUR TALENTS AND YOUR INTELLIGENCE,
PHILANTHROPY, YOUR INVESTMENT IN BEING A BIG SISTER, IN
BEING -- IN HELPING THE FOLKS IN THE ELDERLY HOMES.
>> YOU MENTIONED MEDIA LITERACY.
YOU ARE THE -- THIS PHRASE -- THE SECOND LADY OF CALIFORNIA,
BUT MARRIED TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, GAVIN NEWSOM.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ON A LEGISLATIVE BASIS --
>> SURE.
>> REQUIRING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MEDIA LITERACY.
>> THAT IS SO CRITICAL FOR CALIFORNIA AS A START AND
OBVIOUSLY THE REST OF THE COUNTRY BUT THINKING ABOUT ALL
OF THE MEDIA THAT IS MADE IN CALIFORNIA.
WE DO JUST -- WE HAVE LAUNCHED A PUBLIC -- CALIFORNIA PUBLIC
MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL CAMPAIGN WHICH BASICALLY WE'RE
GIFTING THE MISREPRESENTATION WITH THE HELP OF SOME LOCAL
PARENTS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, CURRICULUM TO PUBLIC MIDDLE
SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ABOUT
1,000 COPIES.
WE HOPE OTHER STATES WILL FOLLOW SUIT.
THAT IS SOMETHING.
I 100% AGREE.
MY HUSBAND, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, A WEIRD SITUATION
WHERE HE DOESN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY OR THE CLOUT THAT ONE
WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THIS
STUFF.
SO, HIS EDUCATION FOCUSES ON A HIGHER LEVEL, BUT THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT ULTIMATELY, IF HE BECAME GOVERNOR, WE COULD
TOTALLY DO.
>> AND IS THAT A -- >> I MEAN, YEAH, NO, I
HONESTLY -- YOU KNOW, THERE IS -- I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD
EVEN BE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
BUT I BELIEVE IN HIS VISION AND I JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW,
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF, AND
EDUCATION IS CRITICAL.
IT STARTS YOUNG.
IF WE CAN TEACH YOUNG GIRLS AND YOUNG BOYS WHO ARE BEING FED
REALLY DAMAGING MESSAGES ABOUT THEIR ROLE AS A GIRL AND ROLE
AS A BOY AT EARLIER AND EARLIER AGES, IF WE CAN EMPOWER THEM
WITH THE SPECTRUM OF WHO THEY CAN BE, AND NOT LIMIT THEM TO
THE STEREO TYPES THAT FOR BOYS ARE INCREASINGLY GEARED TOWARDS
CONTROL, VIOLENCE, DOMINANCE, MAKING MONEY.
FOR GIRLS, HYPERSEXUALIZATION AND THEY'RE PRINCESSES.
>> YOU SHOW IN THE FILM, EVEN WHEN WOMEN ARE STRONGER, AND
SUPERHEROES, IT IS STILL A HYPERSEXUALIZATION.
>> 100%.
>> DO YOU FEEL YOU ARE OFTEN THE VICTIM OF STEREO TYPES TOO
BECAUSE YOU ARE BLONDE AND SLIM AND YOU ARE FROM A DOMINANT
PART OF THE CULTURE?
WHEN YOU GO AND VISIT, AFFECT THE MESSAGE THAT YOU ARE ABLE
TO GIVE ABOUT BEING YOURSELF?
>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE HEARD BOTH.
I'VE HEARD THAT -- I'VE BEEN CRITICIZED EVEN WHEN I HAVE
BEEN PREGNANT.
WHY ARE YOU -- YOU LOOK LIKE YOU OBJECTIFY YOURSELF.
I THINK WELL, I'M AT SUNDANCE, DIRECTOR OF THE FILM, STANDING
BEHIND A PODIUM, I'M PREGNANT AND I'M WEARING JEANS AND SORRY
THAT I'M WEARING THESE BOOTS THAT ARE HIGH.
RIGHT NOW I'M WEARING FLATS.
I WILL NOT SHOW THEM TO YOU.
AND, YES, I HAVE BLONDE HAIR.
I HAVE OFTEN CONTEMPLATED DYING IT -- I HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN
HELD TO ITS OWN STANDARD.
I HAVE HAD MEN IN THE AUDIENCE SAY HOW COME YOU ARE NOT
DRESSED IN A SUIT?
IF I WAS WEARING A SUIT, YOU MIGHT TAKE ME MORE SERIOUSLY?
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT OUR OWN INTERNAL SEXISM.
>> I HAD A LOT OF WOMEN SAY THAT THEY DIDN'T FEEL LIKE MY
STORY SHOULD BE IN THERE.
GRANTED THEY DIDN'T ALL KNOW MY STORY, BUT THEY -- UPON KNOWING
ME OR MEETING ME, ASSUMED, BECAUSE I WAS A WHITE WOMAN AND
I HAD AN EDUCATION, I WENT TO STANFORD, I WAS THERE FOR A
PRIVILEGE.
AND IT TOOK -- AND AGAIN, THAT IS PRIVILEGE.
BUT I ASSUMED -- IN THE BEGINNING, I WAS WONDERING, YOU
HAVE NEVER BEEN TO MY HOUSE.
IT WAS THIS -- I KIND OF AWAKENED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT
WAS TO BE A WHITE WOMAN WITH AN EDUCATION.
AND I'M -- AFTER HAVING MADE THE FILM, MANY PEOPLE WERE VERY
APPRECIATIVE AND GRATEFUL THAT I TOLD MY STORY BECAUSE THEY
FELT LIKE THESE WERE THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE COULD RELATE
TO.
>> AND I SHOULD SAY, IN THE STORY, YOU TALK ABOUT SOME --
TRAGIC THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO YOU AS A YOUNG PERSON THAT YOU
INTERNALIZED AND THEN, IN TURN, BATTLED WITH, EATING DISORDER
AND YOUR SENSE OF WHAT WAS PERFECT.
>> AND *** ABUSE -- 60 TO 80% OF WOMEN WHO EXPERIENCE
EATING DISORDERS HAVE BEEN ABUSED SEXUALLY.
IT IS INTERESTING.
MOST PEOPLE JUST WANT TO GO TO THE EATING DISORDER AND FORGET
ABOUT THE *** ABUSE AND I SHARE THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A
HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM IN OUR COUNTRY.
AND THEY'RE CONNECTED, BUT WOMEN ARE TREATED AS
SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS AND IN DIFFERENT WAYS DISRESPECTED OR
DEMEANED, AND WE HAVE NOT DEALT WITH THAT.
>> I RECOMMEND TO PARENTS, TURNING THE TV OFF.
I RECOMMEND WATCHING MEDIA WITH THEIR KIDS.
AND I RECOMMEND HAVING HEALTHY DISCUSSIONS AND OFTENTIMES
UNCOMFORTABLE DISCUSSIONS AROUND THE MESSAGES BEING
COMMUNICATED TO OUR KIDS AND OURSELVES, IN THE MAINSTREAM
MEDIA.
>> DID YOU GET A BACK LASH FROM THE MEDIA COMPANIES OR
COMMENTATORS WHO CLIPS YOU USED IN THIS FILM?
>> REAL SUBTLE STUFF.
BUT I THINK MORE AND MORE PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT WE JUST
SPOKEN THE TRUTH.
WE DIDN'T PLAY GOTCHA.
WE TOOK PUBLIC INFORMATION AND SHARED IT.
SOME OF THE PROGRAMS HAVE HAD US ON.
VERY FEW HAVE.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT WILL COME OUT AND HAUNT ME LATER, YOU
KNOW, IN LIFE, BUT I THINK IT IS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE
DAY, YOU HAVE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG.
YOU KIND OF -- THERE HAS TO BE AN ELEMENT OF DISCOMFORT, AND
RECOGNITION OF NONE OF US ARE -- WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES,
AND I THINK A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE -- THIS IS THE THING.
A LOT OF MEN HAVE GROWN UP IN A WORLD WHERE THEY DIDN'T KNOW
THAT IT WAS WRONG TO SEE WOMEN AS OBJECTS.
THEY HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO OBJECTIFY US IN SOME SENSE.
THEY HAVE BEEN EDUCATED TO SEE US AS SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHITE WOMEN MAKE 77 CENTS ON THE
MAN'S DOLLAR.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN 63, LATINO 57, GIVE OR TAKE A FEW
CENTS.
SAME JOB, NOT PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME WORK, SAME SITUATION,
YET THAT IS OKAY.
WE HAVE NOT PASSED THE EQUAL PAY ACT.
IN THIS COUNTRY, WHY SHOULD MEN NOT SEE THEMSELVES AS SUPERIOR
AND NOT WANT TO OBJECTIFY WOMEN?
I UNDERSTAND.
AND SO IT IS REALLY NOT -- IT IS JUST LIKE WE JUST HAVE TO
TEACH THE INDIVIDUALS PERPETUATING THIS IT IS NOT
OKAY.
ONCE THEY HAVE LEARNED THAT OR SEEN OTHER MEN IN THE CULTURE
LEARN THAT, THEY BETTER NOT KEEP -- THEY BETTER NOT
CONTINUE THAT BEHAVIOR.
>> I'M SURE YOU ARE GOING TO HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE.
>> IN A LOVING WAY.
>> IMPORTANT TO HAVE BOYS AND MEN IN THE AUDIENCE FOR YOUR
FILM SCREENINGS, I'M SURE.
AND I WANT TO MENTION TO FOLKS OUT THERE THAT IN ADDITION TO
WHAT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT YOUR NEXT PROJECT WHICH WILL LOOK AT
SOME OF THE ISSUES AROUND BOYS, FOLKS CAN SEE ANOTHER FILM YOU
WERE THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF, INVISIBLE WAR, ANOTHER
IMPORTANT SUBJECT ABOUT *** WITHIN THE MILITARY RANKS.
>> YES.
AND ANOTHER JUST EXAMPLE OF HOW WE NEED TO SHED LIGHT ON THE
TRUISM, WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING.
INVISIBLE WAR, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN ARE BEING ***.
THIS IS AN A REAL PROBLEMING INFECTING OUR CULTURE.
INFECTING, NOT JUST THE VETERANS, BUT THOSE WHO LIVE IN
COMMUNITIES WITH THESE PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED A VERY
INTENSE FORM OF VIOLENCE AGAINST THEM.
AND, AGAIN, EXPOSURE -- WE'RE ALL ABOUT EDUCATION, EXPOSURE,
INSPIRATION FOR CHANGE, AND ULTIMATELY TRANSFORMING
CULTURE.
AND I BELIEVE -- I DO BELIEVE THAT WE ALL WANT A BETTER WAY,
NOT ONLY FOR OURSELVES, BUT OUR CHILDREN AND FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
SO, IN THE END, I'M ACTUALLY OPTIMISTIC, OPTIMISTIC THAT ONE
STEP AT A TIME WE CAN ALL SORT OF UNLEARN THE UNHEALTHY WAYS
OF BEING AND WAYS OF TREATING WOMEN AND WAYS OF DEMEANING AND
OH PRESSING OTHER PEOPLE.
AND ULTIMATELY FIND A BETTER WAY FOR ALL OF US.
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO JENNIFER SIEBEL NEWSOM, THE
PRODUCER OF AMONG OTHER FILMS, "MISS REPRESENTATION," SHE WAS
IN BOISE TO SPEAK TO A GROUP CALLED GO LEAD IDAHO.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THAT GROUP AND ON THE FILM, GO TO
THE WEB SITE, CLICK ON "DIALOGUE" AT idahoptv.org.
>>> PRESENTATION OF "DIALOGUE" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS
MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA
MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE
MOORE FAMILY'S LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF
IDAHO.
>> CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE.
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