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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-02-06 Daily Xml
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MISS REPRESENTATION

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:40): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question about the film Miss Representation being screened by the YWCA and the University of Adelaide Women's Collective.

Leave granted.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Members may be aware of the American film Miss Representation which explores the impact of media representation of women. My question is: can she tell the chamber about an upcoming screening of this film?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:41): I thank the honourable member for her most important question. As members are aware, the documentary Miss Representation by Jennifer Siebel Newsom was first screened at the Sundance Film Festival and has since been shown on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

I am advised that children in the United States spend over 10 hours a day exposed to some form of media, including TV, magazines and obviously the internet, as well. I understand that, given this, the film argues strongly that mainstream media representations of women have an incredible and often very damaging impact on particularly young children. Obviously, adults who are exposed to this endless stream of media imagery are also affected.

One of the key messages of the film is that women and girls are so often judged largely on their appearance, in a way that is not yet as common for boys. It is easy to see how young girls consuming a steady diet—10 hours a day—of mainstream media could believe that the most important thing about them is the way they look and how boys could then also come to believe that the most important thing about women, or girls, is the way they look and that that is how they should be judged.

It is summed up very nicely by the 'you can't be what you can't see' catchphrase associated with the movie which, of course, points out that limited and sexist representation of women is a real barrier to women. The film explores how the media's representation of women in part has led to the underrepresentation of women and girls in positions of power and influence in the United States. The film also leaves audiences with information about how to improve gender equity and also representation.

Mr President, I am sure that you will agree that these are important themes. I know that you have a daughter yourself and I am sure that you worry about these things that might influence future opportunities for your daughter, as well as all young women in South Australia and Australia and, for that matter, around the world, and I know that these matters need to be further explored.

This is why I am pleased that I was able to provide funding to support a free screening of this film on 27 February organised by the University of Adelaide Women's Collective and the YWCA. It will be followed by a panel discussion in response to questions about the film and the sorts of issues that it might provoke.

I understand that further screenings of the film will also be shown during the 2013 Adelaide Fringe at the Mercury Cinema from 4 to 6 March. I am very pleased to advise that the Women's Information Service has been involved in the planning of the screening and will, obviously, continue to support the event by providing event management assistance to the organisers. They will also be promoting the event through WIS and Office for Women policy networks, including the WIS Facebook page. In addition, the screening of this film supports the implementation of the WIS digital engagement strategy and community engagement framework and promotes discussions around gender inclusiveness, gender analysis, women's leadership and women's participation.

I am sure that all members here would agree that these discussions are very important ones to have and I hope that members will consider attending one of the screenings, if they get the opportunity. I want to place on the record my appreciation of the YWCA and the good work it does, the University of Adelaide Women's Collective, a very active and fabulous group of women, and of course WIS for organising this important event.

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