Miss Representation Page #6

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Devanshi's story

made me think about how early

girls face a deep gender bias

and how things have not changed

as much as we'd like to think.

One of the first things I did

when I became mayor

of San Francisco is

I appointed a female Police Chief

and then a female Fire Chief.

When they both show up

at the podium in a disaster,

a lot of national media

will look there and say,

"Where's the Police Chief?"

"She's right here."

"Where's the Fire Chief, then?"

"Well, she's right here."

People thought I was trying to

make some grand statement

when, in fact,

I was actually just hiring

the most qualified two candidates.

The incredible opposition

was coming mostly from women

and those that feel it's

too much, too soon, too fast.

They never would have questioned

that had they been men.

Little boys and little girls,

when they're 7 years old,

an equal number want to be

President of the United States

when they grow up...

about 30%.

But then you ask the same

question when they're 15,

and you see

this massive gap emerging.

So we have

this gendered socialization,

where politics

is considered to be for men.

Leadership is considered to be

a masculine pursuit,

and women are discouraged from

pursuing ambitious positions.

I think what happens is that

if you do not have women there,

then girls do not see

that they can be that,

so it's really what you see

that inspires your idea

of what's possible for you

in the world.

I do disagree with Sarah Palin

on a lot of issues,

but seeing her up onstage there

with her young family

and her young baby

was just beautiful,

and I thought, "You know what'?"

Maybe I could give this a shot

as well."

Having this opportunity to see women,

to see women leadership,

to see woman's leadership

in reality and on the screen

and in the television

is huge for women... huge.

Because you don't have that many

women really in leadership,

so the way that it gets done,

to a certain extent,

and the way problems get solved

often have to do with Hollywood

and the films that get made,

the documentaries,

the television shows.

Start where people are,

and people are watching television.

Siebel Newsom:

There are some examples

of films and TV shows

that portray powerful women,

but in general, the situation

in Hollywood is pretty bleak.

I decided to pursue acting

professionally at the age of 28

and was hopeful I could find

complex roles to play.

My first reality check came

when my agent told me

to lie about my age

and remove my Stanford MBA

from my rsum

because it might be threatening.

Well, I didn't do either,

but my confidence was really shaken.

My second reality check came

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