11316136 February 1, 2015

Michaella Claire P. Layug

GENDERS A52

Miss Representation is a documentary film which shows how the media is considered as a big contributor that
strongly influenced the way women are viewed and treated in society. You can't be what you can't see is one of
the quotations included in the film which I believe encompass the effects of the issues affecting women today.
Women are often portrayed as subordinate next to men, they are often objectified and most of the time seen as
incapable of many things. Women of todays generation slowly accept that they are powerless but as also
mentioned in the documentary one of the ways that women give up power is thinking that they dont have any,
even girls at very young ages experience gender bias they dont strive to be better individuals because they see
how the media portray women. They dont or maybe they rarely see women as people who excel in the field of
politics, women who are excellent intellectuals and other outstanding roles which is why they believe they can
never be one themselves thus, proving the statement aforementioned above. Some of the issues tackled in the film
dwelled on the inequality experienced by women, how they are seen physically instead of intellectually, how they
are lacking potential in the field of politics in comparison to male leaders and how the media always sets a standard
of perfection that seems unreachable thus, causing women to think less of themselves.

Growing up in this generation I really have no choice but to be a part of the discrimination that women face today,
not only do I witness it but I am also inevitably part of the gender trapped under what they call the glass ceiling.
Personally, there have been times that I myself felt objectified by mostly the opposite gender. People would say
that what you wear is a factor of how others see you and for me I believe this is not the case, no matter what type
of clothing you wear, men will always see you as a woman and being a woman means you become an object of
desire instead of an individual with unique capabilities unlike men who are often recognized because of their
potentials.

Most of the issues discussed were of womens concerns but what is not given attention by many is that men are
also affected and concerned with these matters. Men are also fathers, brothers, grandfathers, uncles or guardians
of women. Certainly men wouldnt want a woman thats part of their family to be held back because of the invisible
borders created by society through media which is extremely powerful nowadays. A father wouldnt want to see
his daughters efforts go to waste just because shes a SHE, a brother would not be happy seeing his sister hurting
herself just because shes not pretty enough, a grandfather would not want to see his eldest granddaughter not
making it to the schools varsity team because shes not good enough.

Women, despite of everything we have been through as a gender have managed to emerge and perform to the best
of our abilities to break free from the different ways of discrimination administered by society. I am proud of what
women have achieved and hopefully this will continue to progress until we are fully seen for what we are and what
we can do.