The Representation Project

We are here to change the world.

No matter who you are or where you live, intersectional gender stereotypes are hurting you and those you love. Through film, education, and activism, The Representation Project awakens consciousness, spotlights the cost of these stereotypes, and invites everyone to build a more equitable future.

Millions of people have been touched by our storytelling and reached by our activism and resources. Jennifer Siebel Newsom founded The Representation Project in 2011 with her groundbreaking film Miss Representation, igniting a national conversation about sexism in the media. The Mask You Live In, Jennifer’s second documentary, showcased how harmful American masculinity can be for boys and young men. Her latest films-- Great American Lie (2019) and Fair Play (2022), tackled inequality in the American Dream and in the division of care and domestic work in households, respectively.

These documentaries on limiting gender narratives have been viewed nearly 30 million times, with our film curricula changing the lives of over 2 million students. Siebel Newsom’s prescience has born true: that storytelling opens hearts and minds like nothing else, shifting attitudes and behaviors. This is culture transformation at its best and creates a more equitable world where everyone can reach their full potential.

Why Its Urgent

Gender stereotypes are a public health crisis. Two-thirds of young women have disordered eating. One-in-three girls have seriously considered suicide, up significantly from a decade ago. Boys who hold traditional ideas about masculinity are significantly more likely to bully and harass others, and to suffer from depression and suicidal ideation.

The dangers to our youth link back to harmful messages. For girls, these stereotypes form the root cause of body hatred and shame, eating disorders, depression, low self-esteem and low leadership ambition. For boys, they are the primary driver of depression, dangerous risk-taking activities, substance abuse, suicide and violence. By getting in front of the message, we can change the outcome.

How We Do It

• We raise awareness through films— viewed over 30 million times worldwide.
• We educate students through our curricula, which has reached over 2.4 million students.
• We amplify the impact of our film and educational materials through hashtag campaigns (e.g., #AskHerMore, #NotBuyingIt, #EndRape, #RespectHerGame) that have reached 588 million people.

Together, we are bending the long arc of history toward intersectional gender justice. This is a person-by-person and community movement.

Please join us. We need you.