Country: Serbia

Partner organization which has initiated a good practice: U.S. Embassy Belgrade

Partner organization which has initiated a good practice: Belgrade City Library

Contact information: sandranikolic.ac@gmail.com

Format of dissemination: personal

Theme of the projects: A. Gender equality and diversity

Implementation of good practice

Program Miss Representation was organized in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade and consisted of screening of the documentary film “Miss Representation” and discussion that followed. The panelists were Dr. Prof. Caroline Heldman, Professor Occidental College in Los Angeles, Ms. Gordana Comic, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia, Ms. Natalija Mićunović, Director of the Gender Equality Directorate of the Serbian Government and Ms. Tanja Ignjatovic, NGO Autonomous Women's Center. Program took place in the American Corner Belgrade, which is one of the libraries in the net of Belgrade City Library.

Film director and screenwriter Ms. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film questions the limited and often disparaging portrayal of women and girls in the media, which makes it difficult to reach the top positions, and the average woman to feel powerful and confident.

"Miss Representation” includes stories of teenage girls and provocative interviews with politicians, journalists, entertainer, activists and professors like Condoleezza Rice, Lisa Ling, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Meadow , Jackson Katz, Jean Kilbourne and Gloria Stein . The film shows the startling facts that leave audiences shaken and gives it a completely different perspective.

In a society where the media in the most convincing way of shaping cultural norm , the collective message that our young women and men get that women's value and power lie in her youth, beauty and sexuality , and not in the qualities that make a good leader. While the women in the world have made progress in the last few decades as far as leadership, the United States remained in 90th place in the world when it comes to women's participation in the legislature - only 3 % of women in influential positions in the media, while 65 % of women and girls suffer from a problem of eating disorders.

The film screening was followed by a discussion on the current situation in

Direct impact

The main impact of this program is a spreading of information that one who improve during whole life should, and can be a part of political and business life, no matter if one is male or female. Also, there were given examples of possible steps that need to be taken in order to have more female representatives in the leadership positions. NGO Autonomous Women's Center offers possibilities for life long strengthening of needed skills which should follow the present and prepare leaders for the future.

Indirect impact

As one of the basic topics in the discussion were the media, and as guests of the program were very influential figures in cultural and political area, there were a large number of journalists. Their presence was a good opportunity for introducing of the AC work and capacities.