Are you Miss Represented?

Last Wednesday evening I had the privilege of attending a private screening of a sensational new documentary entitled Miss Representation. I say sensational for two reasons: one, because it's brilliantly produced (the handiwork of actress and campaigner Jennifer Siebel Newsom), and two because it highlights - with extraordinary poignancy - the way women are misrepresented by the media.

There is an 8 minute trailer you can view here but if you can get your hands on the full 1.5 hour film, watch it. I went through a range of emotions during the film....disgust, indignation, horror, sadness, concern. But above all else, a desire to pledge to 'be the change'.

The film makes the point that we appear to be living in a world not too dissimilar from a teenage boy's wet dream. A world where women are sexualised in adverts, films, even on the news* and with frightening consistency.

*See FOX News for countless examples, although living in the UK I think this is less of a problem

Rarely are we presented with strong, real females in the media, grounded and spirited women who have achieved great success in their own right. Even when a woman is praised for her achievements it's not long before the subject of her personal appearance or physical attributes are mentioned (as if this has anything to do with it?). 

Beauty, of course, plays a huge part in the way women are portrayed in the media and the pressure women feel today to look YOUNG, consistently POLISHED and SEDUCTIVE has never been greater.

Girls are taught from a young age that their value lies in their appearance (rather than their intelligence or ability) and this is reinforced on a daily basis with a steady barrage of images of 'hot' girls in music videos, films and adverts. The effect? Body dysmorphia issues are now recorded in girls as young as 7 or 8.

As a working makeup artist my thoughts are never far from these issues and whilst I will happily comment on a woman's natural beauty I'm conscious it should never be the principle focus. My work has always been about helping women to look and feel vital and energised (as opposed to sexy and beautiful) and it was with this desire in mind that I set up my consultancy, The Makeup Debate (I am giving a lunchtime talk at RBS on 7 August so do message me if you would like to attend).

So what can we do to begin to reverse the way women are presented to the world? Watch the film, take the pledge and let's continue to share stories of women who are achieving great things - there are so many out there!