Blog Post #6: sociological analysis of Miss Representation

The documentary Miss Representation provides insight to the human rights issue of gender equality and feminism, emphasizing the repercussions of a social construct that is defined by hierarchy and varying power levels that are placed upon certain groups of individuals due to their differences. With relation to sociological analysis as a look into human interactions and personal relationships, Miss Representation attempts to break down the stigma attached to social influences on an individual’s self-concept and their relationships to the people around them. It touches on body image issues for males and females, which are especially relevant among youths. The film shows both male and female teens describing their stories and opinions on why misrepresentations -- images of how one “should” be -- in the media have such a negative effect on kids and minimize their ability to become their full potential as adults and future citizens of a future society. Especially since young girls and boys and teenagers are still developing physically and mentally, they are experiencing a critical stage in their lives when they are extremely susceptible to external influences. At this time of their lives, they experience the most peer pressure, bullying, and identity issues as they try to discover exactly who they are and how they fit in among their peers and others in the world around them. In the text, Berger identifies a few basic concepts of sociological analysis that is relevant, especially since Miss Representation is a documentary that fights for a mission. With regards to children and teenagers, alienation is a concern that sways youths to make (or not make) certain important social and relational decisions that largely determine where they end up in the future. The focal point of the film is to influence teens and young adults to decrease the stigma of social representations in the media. Furthermore, the documentary discusses the importance of intellect and explains how the media negatively misrepresents intellectual and politically powerful women as compared to a standardized image of an “attractive” woman.