house party toolkit - the representation...
TRANSCRIPT
HOUSE PARTY TOOLKIT
The purpose of the House Party Toolkit is to help you plan a home screening of Miss Representation. In this resource, you will find a script to introduce the film to your friends and families, discussion questions, an infographic, key takeaways, and steps to get involved with The Representation Project. Thank you for choosing to screen Miss Representation. We hope that you find this toolkit to be a valuable resource that supports you, your friends, and family members in challenging limiting stereotypes. Be sure to visit therepresenationproject.org for additional tools and resources, and tweet The Representation Project using @TheRepProject and #MissRep to share your house party experience!
INVITE YOUR FRIENDSGo through your contacts and invite friends, neighbors, co-workers, teammates, etc. If you want, encourage
each guest to bring someone along. Make it a party!
MAKE SURE PEOPLE RSVP Tell your friends and family to contact you so that you know how many will be attending. Let people know that you will be hosting a discussion following the film, so
the event will last more than two hours.
PLAN FOR SNACKSYou don’t need to spend a lot of time or money on food. Consider having a potluck or making popcorn and other movie going snacks. Make sure you have enough plates, cups, and/or napkins for your guests. And don’t forget
the drinks (BYOB is always an option!).
GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TIMEMake sure your guests plan to stay through the whole film and following discussion. It’s good to give thirty minutes for the formal discussion and then more time to
talk after that.
PLAN A HOUSE PARTY FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN PLANNING YOUR PARTY
CHECK YOUR SET-UPMake sure your screen and viewing method work, depending on what you’re using, check your DVD player, streaming service, or wifi. Set up additional seating if
needed.
HAVE A GOOD TIME!Don't stress--it's just a get-together with friends and family. All you're doing is bringing your loved ones
together to relax and learn.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH USWe invite everyone to share their thoughts about the film via social media. Use @TheRepProject and #MissRep. Encourage people to update their statuses to say they are watching Miss Representation. Also, take pictures and share quotes on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us, [email protected] and let us
know how people participated!
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INTRODUCTIONFEEL FREE TO USE THIS SCRIPT TO INTRODUCE THE FILM
The organization released Newsom’s second film, The Mask You Live In, at Sundance 2015 to explore how America’s narrow definition of masculinity is harming boys, men, and society at large. The Representation Project has become well known for creating popular campaigns such as #AskHerMore, #BuildConfidence, and #NotBuyingIt, which have inspired millions of people to call out sexist advertisements and altered the advertising strategies of major brands worldwide. Each of us can join them by visiting their website and pledging to use our voices to challenge limiting stereotypes. While we are here, please feel free to post to social media and let others know that we’re watching Miss Representation, with #MissRep. And with that, enjoy the film!
Thanks for joining me for a home screening of Miss Representation. Written, produced, and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Miss Representation exposes how mainstream media and culture contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. We live in a society where media is the most persuasive force shaping cultural norms, and the collective message the media send to our young women and men is that a woman’s value lies in her youth, beauty, and sexuality, and not in her capacity as a leader. Miss Representation urges all of us to use our voice to challenge this limiting narrative and promote gender equality. In response to overwhelming public demand for ongoing education and social action in support of the film’s message, Newsom founded The Representation Project in April 2011. Using film as a catalyst for cultural transformation, The Representation Project inspires individuals and communities to challenge and overcome limiting stereotypes so that everyone, regardless of gender, race, class, age, sexual orientation or circumstance, can fulfill their human potential.
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1. What have you learned from the film? What parts of it stood out to you and why do you think those moments resonated with you? What surprised you about the film?
2. Did the documentary make you feel differently about the TV or films you watch?
3. Do you feel represented within media? What are some ways that you’d like to see the media better represent you?
4. How does media perpetuate stereotypes about women of color?
5. What stereotypes does the media perpetuate around age? Are they different for women than they are for men?
6. What did the film make you think about the “mean girl” effect? Did it make you think differently about how we treat other girls/women?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONSPRINT THIS PAGE AND USE IT TO LEAD THE POST-FILM DISCUSSION
7. What did you learn about how gender stereotypes affect men and boys?
8. What can businesses do to break down gender stereotypes in the workplace?
9. While policy and society are changing, as illustrated by the record congressional gains made by women in the 2014 midterm elections, studies continue to show that gender parity may be hundreds of years away. How can we speed this process up? What factors do you think may stand in our way? What type of policy changes should we be encouraging at the state and national level?
10. What is one step you can take to change the way media portrays girls and women?
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• The media is selling young people the idea that girls’ and womens'
value lies in their youth, beauty, and sexuality and not in their capacity
as leaders. Boys learn that their success is tied to dominance, power,
and aggression. We must value people as whole human beings, not
gendered stereotypes.
• While the 2014 midterm elections were celebrated because women
made a record gain of 104 congressional seats, that constitutes a
mere 19.4% of political representation for 50% of the U.S. population.
Studies estimate that full gender parity may not be reached for 500
years. As of 2015, only 37 women have ever served as governors.
• The media sends us a dangerous message that there is only one
version of a woman. We must shift this perception by celebrating
and championing a variety of girls and women. We can start this
transformation by celebrating diverse role models and elevating
more stories created by women.
• We must hold media accountable. Women hold 85% of consumer power in
America. We could put an offensive product out of business overnight!
• Specifically for parents: we must recognize that in many situations TV and
media act as the "other parent." It's important to be sensitive to the power media
has over our children's minds and perceptions of their places in the world.
• “The average child develops over eighteen to twenty-four years and full brain
development doesn’t really occur until you’re into your late twenties, so the
idea that kids at eight or ten or fifteen have the same level of intellectual and
emotional maturity as adults is nuts. They have different interpretive abilities.
They have different emotional abilities and they’re a much more vulnerable
class of society.”
- Jim Steyer, Common Sense Media
KEY TAKE AWAYSUSE THESE POINTS TO GET GUESTS ENGAGED IN YOUR QUESTIONS
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TAKE ACTIONAS AN INDIVIDUALChampion good media and challenge bad media. Use your power as a consumer to make change:• Stop reading magazines and watching movies and
TV shows that objectify and degrade women.
• Go see movies that are written and directed by
women. Visit womenandhollywood.com for more
information on which movies to support.
• Call out disturbing advertising and merchandising
by posting to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
with #NotBuyingIt. Celebrate media that portray(s)
women and men in a positive way by posting about
it with #MediaWeLike. You’ll join a grassroots
movement that’s convinced companies as varied as
GoDaddy, Disney, Bud Light, and Amazon to better
represent women and men.
Challenge people if you hear them saying derogatory
things about girls and women, assuming you can safely
do so. Start the conversation by explaining how these
comments discourage women from seeking positions
of power and influence. If they’re receptive, try inviting
them to watch Miss Representation with you.
Find healthy role models and be a mentor to others.
Encourage women to become leaders and support them
in the process.
USE YOUR VOICE! Write your own stories and create your own films that highlight powerful girls and women.Turn media upside down by using social media to spread
positive messages about girls and women. Post a link to
the Miss Representation trailer. Seek out handles that
promote gender equality on Twitter and Instagram such as
Miss Representation and The Mask You Live In. You can
help spread these positive messages by liking,
commenting on, and sharing them!
Pledge to use your voice to overcome gender
stereotypes on therepresentationproject.org. You’ll
receive weekly emails with small actions you can take
to make a big difference.
Encourage your friends and network to spread the
word and host a screening in their own home!
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AS A COMMUNITY Screen Miss Representation and The Mask You Live In with your community and educate others through
continued dialogue. Get started by visiting
therepresentationproject.org.
Purchase and donate the Miss Representation and
The Mask You Live In films and educational curricula for
local schools and universities to spark conversations
and action among students.
Create opportunities for mentorship and networking
through community events.
Use your vote to ensure female representation in public
office.
AS A BUSINESS Host screening events to educate employees and start
a dialogue around gender equity, unconscious bias, and
the benefits of changing culture. Get started by visiting
the corporate section at therepresentationproject.org.
Have an Ambassador from The Representation
Project speak and/or facilitate an audience discussion
post-screening at your company.
Implement employee participation in
The Representation Project’s corporate workshop.
Bring The Representation Project on board
to consult on media messaging.
Adopt and implement employment policies and
practices that eliminate gender discrimination in
areas such as recruitment, hiring, pay, and promotion.
Use the San Francisco Women’s Commission and
Calvert women’s principles as a model:
www.genderprinciples.org
Institute mentorship programs across companies
and build the pipeline of female leaders.
Choose suppliers, distributors, and business
partners that promote women as leaders and highlight
girls and women positively in their advertising.
AS POLICY MAKERSIntroduce and pass legislation that ensures equal
opportunities for girls and women.
Promote gender parity throughout the legislative
system.
Set standards for how girls and women are
portrayed in the media and advertising.
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Using film as a catalyst for cultural transformation, The Representation Project inspires individuals and communities to challenge
and overcome limiting stereotypes so that everyone, regardless of gender, race, class, age, sexual orientation, or circumstance can
fulfill their human potential. Because 100% of organizational overhead is covered by earned distribution revenues, all donations
directly fund on-the-ground staff and programs that are making our vision a reality.
Examples of where donations go include:
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SUPPORT THE REPRESENTATION PROJECT
For information on how to make ACH payments, wire transfers, or stock donations, please call The Representation Project’s development department at (415) 526-3000.
The Representation Project is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization (Tax ID: 45-161066)
To make a tax-deductible donation online, go to: therepresentationproject.org/donateor complete this form and mail it to:
The Representation Project
3265 Sacramento Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
*Please make checks payable to The Representation Project.
• Development of new media and educational tools for students, parents, coaches, caregivers, and mentors
• Designing and promotion of compelling media that reaches millions of people
• Translation of film and media content to broaden our global audience
• Expansion of social action campaigns, like #AskHerMore, #BuildConfidence, and #NotBuyingIt, which challenge the status quo
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WOMEN MAKE UP
50.8%OF THE U.S. POPULATION
THE UNITED STATES IS
33RDOUT OF THE 49 HIGHEST INCOME
COUNTRIES WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN IN THE NATIONAL LEGISLATURE
WOMEN ARE UNDER-REPRESENTED IN LEADERSHIP
WOMEN MAKE UP ONLY
4.6% OF S&P 500 CEOs
WOMEN COMPRISED
17% OF ALL DIRECTORS,
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS, WRITERS, CINEMATOGRAPHERS, AND
EDITORS WORKING ON THE TOP 250 DOMESTIC GROSSING FILMS
58%OF COLLEGE GRADUATES ARE WOMEN
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR WOMEN?
85%OF CONSUMER PURCHASING POWER IS HELD BY WOMEN
2XIN THE LAST TEN YEARS, RATES OF DEPRESSION
AMONG GIRLS AND WOMEN HAVE INCREASED
GLOBALLY IN 2014, THE NUMBER ONE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN TEENAGE GIRLS (AGES 15-18) WAS SUICIDE
AMONG CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS AGES 6-8,
1/2 1/3AND
OF GIRLS OF BOYS
FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE THINNER
WE
1/7WOMEN EXPERIENCE
SEXUAL DATING VIOLENCE
MORE THAN
CAN
CHANGE
THES
E STATISTICS