The 11th Annual Women’s Conference was held this Saturday.

The conference attracted 36 registrants, and the theme this year focused on the depiction of women in media. Attendees discussed how film, television, and advertising can all impact body image and how media can set unreasonable physical standards for women.

Morgann Machalek was one of the women who helped organize the event, and she says that watching one of the media critiques screened at a conference was a powerful reminder of how pervasive negative depictions of women are.

Additionally, the group discussed topics such as health, aging, and work-life balance. The conference also featured panels that allowed local women to discuss their professional backgrounds, personal experiences, and even art that they make.

The conference was held at the Grand Aleutian, with help from the Ounalashka Corporation, USAFV, and Iliuliuk Family and Health Services. The conference raised nearly $2,000, and those proceeds will go to the Breast Cancer Detection Center for mobile mammogram screenings in Unalaska.