Mid Coast Medical Group–Women’s Health Care hosts film documentary on the media’s negative portrayal of successful women

MISS-Representation to screen June 21 at Frontier Café & Cinema

BRUNSWICK— The negative way women of power are portrayed in media today, and the pressure that puts on young women, is the subject of the documentary film MISS-Representation, which will have a special screening at Frontier Café & Cinema at Fort Andross, 12 Maine Street.

Hosted by Mid Coast Medical Group–Women’s Health Care, the film will be shown at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 21, and will be followed by a panel discussion.

“As a women’s healthcare professional, I think MISS-Representation has an important message for our community’s girls and women. We are frequently unaware of the powerful messages the media sends—and that we unwittingly accept—regarding women,” says Melissa J. Streeter, MD, an obstetrician/gynecologist with the Women’s Health Care group.

“To raise a generation of empowered, self-assured, and successful women we need to be able to consciously evaluate how we wish to be represented and portrayed. MISS-Representation is a great step in thisdirection.”

To reserve a seat for the screening, call 725-5222. A suggested donation of $10 per person will be accepted at the door. All proceeds will benefit Sexual Assault Support Services of Mid Coast Maine (SASSMM).

Miss Representation exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America.  The film challenges the media’s limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself.

A panel is composed of Lori Voornas, of the Radio Q97 Morning Show with Meredith, Jeff and Lori, moderator; Susan Hall Dreher, executive director of Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine; Jessica Johnson, a cosmetics industry expert; Amy Albert, chair of the Maine Down Syndrome Network’s Augusta Buddy Walk; Jennah Godo, MS; and Jessica Maher, Esq., an attorney with Moncure & Barnacle.

The panel will frame a discussion of the issues raised in the film and relate them to efforts which can be undertaken locally to bring about change.


MISS-Representation is by Jennifer Siebel Newsom and is a selection of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and the OWN|Documentary Club.