Gavin Newsom’s wife sparks scrutiny for profiting from her gender films shown in California schools

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA: California Governor Gavin Newsom’s wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, landed in hot water for making money from promoting her documentaries about gender and masculinity in classrooms across the state.

Siebel Newsom is a filmmaker and the founder of The Representation Project, a non-profit that produces educational materials and documentaries focusing on gender issues.

Over the years, several of her films have been recommended for classroom use in California schools through official education guidance.

However, the situation has drawn scrutiny because the programs promoting the films were tied to state education initiatives, while her non-profit film company generated significant revenue from screenings and educational licensing.

Gavin Newsom appears in some of Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s films

Jennifer Siebel Newsom directed a series of documentaries addressing gender inequality, masculinity and economic issues. Among them are ‘Miss Representation,’ ‘The Mask You Live In,’ and ‘The Great American Lie.’

Her husband, Governor Gavin Newsom, also appears in some of the films as a speaker, discussing social and economic issues.

In one interview discussing her work, Siebel Newsom explained why she turned the focus of her films toward boys and men.

“I turned the lens on boys and men and looked at the boy crisis in America and how we were failing our boys and men with this sort of rigid notion of toxic masculinity,” she said.

In ‘The Great American Lie,’ Gavin Newsom appears alongside activists, politicians and academics discussing inequality in the United States.

“We have the ability to step up and solve big problems … it’s just a question of prioritization, of political will,” Newsom says in the film.

The documentary has been shown in schools and universities as part of educational discussions around gender and social issues.

The Representation Project films used in around 1000 public schools in California

The Representation Project, founded by Jennifer Siebel Newsom in 2011, licenses her films and related curriculum to schools, universities and organizations.

According to its website, the non-profit charges between $49 and $1,500 for screenings and licensing packages.

A 2014 tax filing from the organization stated that its films and related curriculum were used in approximately 1,000 California public schools.

In 2019, California’s Board of Education recommended several of Siebel Newsom’s films in health education guidance shortly after Gavin Newsom became governor. The guidance later became part of the state education department’s curriculum recommendations.

The guidelines sparked debate at the time because they included discussions about gender identity.

In 2020, the California Department of Education also partnered with several groups including Siebel Newsom’s state-sponsored Office of the First Partner to promote social-emotional learning programs in some schools.

Her films were again recommended as part of those initiatives, raising eyebrows about a potential overlap between Siebel Newsom’s public role and her financial interests. 

Critics question impact of gender-related classroom programs and educational priorities

Some lawmakers and critics have questioned whether the focus on gender-related curriculum is appropriate given the state’s academic performance challenges.

Assembly member David Tangipa pointed to declining reading and math scores while criticizing the use of such material in classrooms.

“We’ve seen literacy rates at the lowest that we’ve ever had in the state. And we’ve seen math rates at the lowest we’ve ever had in the state,” Tangipa said.

He also argued that the programs could influence students in ways that go beyond education.

“This is a very clear attempt to indoctrinate the next generation of Californians,” Tangipa added.

Education data cited in the debate showed that 44 percent of California’s 11th graders did not meet reading standards in 2024. Nearly 70 percent were below standard in math.

The Representation Project has reported more than $3 million in revenue from screenings and film sales. According to IRS filings, the non-profit paid Siebel Newsom a salary of $150,000, along with additional reimbursements that could reach another $150,000 annually.

Her for-profit company, Girls Club Entertainment, produces the films from the Newsom family’s home in Kentfield, California.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s films continue expanding to schools nationwide

In addition to screenings in California classrooms, Siebel Newsom said her films have reached audiences far beyond the state.

A 2021 impact report stated that about 5,000 schools across all 50 states had shown her documentaries, reaching approximately 2.8 million students.

The Representation Project also provides curriculum materials to accompany the films, including classroom discussions and activities designed to address topics like gender identity and social privilege.

Some of the teaching materials include exercises that explore differences related to race, gender, orientation and socioeconomic status.

Meanwhile, Siebel Newsom continues to work on new projects. According to a 2024 interview, she is developing a film centered on climate issues and what she described as “Mother Earth and the feminine.”

A planned sequel to ‘Miss Representation,’ titled ‘Miss Representation: Revolution,’ has also been in development, though its release timeline remains unclear.