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, info@therepresentationproject.org 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.

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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