Before making it big, Marilyn was simply Norma Jean
http://www.biography.com/people/marilyn-monroe-9412123
Without a doubt America’s greatest and most iconic sex symbol, Marilyn Monroe was a woman of many paradoxes and much intrigue. Every girl can admit that at one point we have used one of her numerous, quotes to describe the harsh pains of being a teenage girl. But what do we really know about the Blonde Bombshell? Most of us know her for her dumb blonde persona that she perfected, her drug habits and promiscuity (after all she was one of the first Playmates), at least that’s what I most associate her with. But who was Marilyn Monroe, and better yet, why should we care?
Monroe had a rather intriguing upbringing that is the root of many of her issues later in life. Born Norma Jean Mortinson to a mentally unstable mother and absent father, she spent the majority of her childhood shuffling between homes of distant family members and family friends, never finding a true place to call her own. To say it was a traumatic time is an understatement. The young girl faced abandonment, instability, and most likely sexual assault. Again, I don’t want to provide a full bio because that’s not the true focus of this blog, but I do recommend reading more about her life here. It really is a fascinatingly tragic one.
http://www.biography.com/people/marilyn-monroe-9412123/photos
It was no secret that Marilyn Monroe abused drugs and slept around, which has lead many to question whether or not she should be idolized along with her peers such as Hepburn and Kelly. While I don’t believe we should look to Monroe as a model of grace and elegance, I believe that we can learn some of life’s hardest lessons from her.
First, appearances can be deceiving. Before researching Marilyn, I just assumed that the dumb blonde was who she was, but it appears her acting skills were much better than we give her credit for. She was actually a very interesting person and made an effort to educate herself. She wrote poetry, and had interests in psychology, politics and literature. She even attended college for a short time. So next time you want to write someone off based on looks alone, remember that people can surprise you.
Sex was a large part of Marilyn’s life, and in many instances it served as a way for her to work through her issues and feel loved. Marilyn Monroe was one of the first Hollywood starts to solidify the belief that sex is a natural part of life, and that women should not be ostracized for engaging in it. Whether you hold this belief or not, I think Marilyn greatly contributed to sexual equality by challenging previous stigmas.
http://www.yeahmag.com/5-marilyn-monroe-quotes-youll-love/
Finally, I believe that one of the most beautiful things we can take away from Monroe is the ability to be vulnerable. It was said that Marilyn had an infectious personality and was not afraid to show those around her what was going through her head, the good and the bad. Her troubled upbringing stayed with her throughout her life. It caused erratic behavior, yet she never made any excuses for the person she was. She opened herself up to the world, a foreign concept in today’s harsh reality. With a society that almost requires us to build barriers for self-preservation, we sometimes forget that vulnerability is not necessarily bad. The most wonderful experiences we can have are when we let our guard down and allow people to see who we are.
I could continue on about what Marilyn’s legacy has taught us, and didn’t even begin to delve into her acting career, but I think the lessons above are the most important things we can take away from this icon. Whether or not you agree with how we should remember her, it’s safe to say that she redefined the role of women, and sex in society.
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/marilynmonroe/ig/Marilyn-Monroe-Pictures/1955-Monroe-Studio-Portrait.htm
I was aware of Marilyn Monroe’s backstory, however, I wasn’t aware of just how unfortunate it actually was. While I knew that she was famous for her affairs with famous men (ex. JFK), I always thought that she was also respected for her acting as well. Despite the fact that she wasn’t as elegant or as graceful as someone like Audrey Hepburn , she did project a certain air of confidence.
Something this blog post got me thinking about is how Marilyn Monroe would be viewed had she lived in our generation. I think so much has changed since the extremely modest era she lived in, that a lot of her habits would go relatively unnoticed, or at least viewed in a extremely less scandalous light. I definitely agree with you when you say redefined the role of women, and sex in society. In that sense I feel Marilyn can definitely be described as a feminist because her experiences were ones that feminism often speaks out on: sexual abuse, sexual victimization, and even a mother’s madness. While more promiscuous than women such as Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, I would say she’s a model of self assuredness and charm.
I actually did not know a lot of what you said about Marilyn Monroe! I always had an image of her being a very classy, intelligent woman… I had no idea she personified an image of a dumb blonde! With that said, it seems like the quotes that are always brought up as being her words are very generic – making me think that she did not actually say them (especially if she acted stupid all the time). The one thing I will say that I respect about Marilyn Monroe is the fact that she portrayed femininity and beauty without being the stick thin model we see nowadays. She can be seen as possibly bringing hope to those of us who have a little more meat on our bones.