Marilyn Monroe was constantly characterized as a “dumb
blonde” throughout her life. Yet in actuality, she was extremely curious and
was always seeking to learn more. She spent much of her time reading and would
enjoy conversations with intellectuals whenever she had that chance. Society
and the media, though, found it easier to ignore her intelligence. I don’t think
Marilyn Monroe explicitly try to hide her intelligence, but it also wasn’t
something she advertised. In her heyday, the 1950s, it was probably easier for
a woman to become popular simply by being a “pretty face.” If she tried to show
off her intelligence, it is possible that she might not have been successful. Men
generally want to feel dominant over women and among their peers. An
intelligent woman would pose a threat to a man’s dominance. I think Monroe
likely hid her intelligence because it was easier for a woman to use her beauty
to become popular rather than her intelligence.
I think Scarlett Johansson is hiding part of her
intelligence in order to become more popular and successful. She is often
casted in Hollywood movies as some sexy female character, so it is clear that Hollywood
wants her to be a modern sex symbol. However, I think she manages to keep her
true self separate from the roles she plays. While her characters are generally
sex symbols, Johansson does not seem to desire that lifestyle. Yet it is easier
for a woman in today’s culture to be successful in the movie industry by
playing mindless characters that let the men take charge, simply because that
is what we are used to. Back in 2013, it was apparently a big deal when she
announced her SAT scores were “above average.” The fact that this surprises our
culture just exemplifies our mental image of her as another “dumb blonde.” Johansson
manages to play the part of a “dumb blonde” very well for the most part, but it
is likely still an act. She probably understands that Hollywood directors and
producers are trying to sexualize her, and tries to use this to her advantage. Her
roles in movies often have a surprising amount of control over men, which shows
that she is conscious of her influence on society.
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Great idea picking Scarlett Johansson! I definitely see her casted more often than not in very sexy roles, but see a difference when she is caught living her everyday life. I agree that she is casted in those roles because producers are using her as a sex symbol, but I am sure she is smart enough to realize this on her own. She does compensate for these "dumb blonde" roles when she acts as a superhero in "The Avengers" or in "Lucy," for example.
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