Representation Project

Youth Programs: The Representation Project launched youth programs in 2017 to broaden the impact of its work in the lives of young people. The Youth Media Lab is an online space where 1,300 young people ages 14 to 24 learn how to create different media types (e.g., films, podcasts, blogs, etc.) and share their work with other young content creators for feedback. The Youth Media Academy is an intensive program that trains high school students in filmmaking. Participants make a short film - from concept to storyboarding, filming, and editing - while learning about gender justice issues. The organization has hosted youth summits to inspire young people and empower them to create a world free of gender stereotypes and norms. These summits have provided hands-on training to 600+ young people ages 14 to 24. In 2024, the organization launched the pilot of its peer-to-peer gender equity training program. The curriculum includes eight modules designed for high school and college students to challenge harmful gender norms and stereotypes.

Film: The Representation Projects first film, Miss Representation, exposes the ways in which mainstream media representations of girls and women contribute to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence. The second film, The Mask You Live In, explores how Americas narrow definition of masculinity is harming our boys, men, and society at large. The third film, The Great American Lie, examines how Americas upside-down value system--built on the extreme masculine ideals of dominance, control, and aggression--has glorified money, power, and rugged individualism, institutionalizing inequality, and undermining the ability of most Americans to achieve the American dream. The fourth film, Fair Play, looks at how the gender gap in domestic and care work in the home places an undue burden on women and harms children, families, and society. Fair Play comes with a comprehensive curriculum for high school and college students that equips them to effectively address sexism in the home. The organization is currently in production of Miss Representation: The Revolution a powerful follow-up to Miss Representation, and will be released in 2025. Miss Representation: The Revolution exposes tech-facilitated gender-based violence and addresses the growing backlash against womens progress, mental health, and agency. In addition to the distribution of the films, The Representation Project offers age-appropriate curricula that provide youth with the opportunity to explore and apply the concepts presented in the films. Tailored curricula are designed to engage youth at different stages of development through hands-on activities and guided discussions.