Love Your Body through Missrepresentations

"We are a Nation of Teenage boys" - Carol Jenkins

These words made me think as I sat down to watch the film, Missrepresentation, created by a group of people campaigning for a change for women at an event on the second day of UTEP's Love your Body week.  The movie was a wonderful eye-opening documentary on how women are extremely objectified in today's media; and how a woman's appearance is more important than her mind. The film was an inspiring, bone chilling experience that helped create a realization of the downfalls in today's popular media, and how this media is hindering growth and empowerment for women. The documentary did not attack the opposite gender, rather it pitied them having to be raised in a world where they are taught to hide their emotions and are confused at the fact that not every girl can look like a super model. There were so many important women on the film with different occupations and different backgrounds that made you sit and realize that looking plastic isn't all there is to life. The inspirational phrases of these women were groundbreaking as the film perseveres for a better tomorrow on TV and the internet. After the film, Latinitas held a discussion with the audience to get their opinion on girls in the media. Mostly everyone participated with their take on how a girl should grow up in today's society. Overall, new friends were made and an awareness was spread in the hearts of those concerned about the future. 

The next day I had the pleasure of representing Latinitas at UTEP's Love Your Body Week.  I sat with other Latinitas out in the Student Union and yelled at people over the load zumba music. But we were able to lure them in with our enthusiastic charm. We gave people information on the media's portrayal of women and also about the magazine. We ate cookies and were successful in getting people to sign up to volunteer, all in the shade. 

Overall, there needs to be a greater awareness of how women are portrayed in the media and how it affects those who are actually paying attention. Missrepresentations really made an impact on me, and hopefully one day you'll be able to get a chance to watch it.