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Marilyn Monroe — A Picture of Women’s History
History continues to repeat itself
Marilyn Monroe! An iconic beauty whose platinum blond hair, bright red lips, and signature beauty mark represented an era of pin-up girls and bombshells worldwide. How do you celebrate a woman’s contribution to our history without talking about this phenomenal woman whose name we all know? The Smithsonian Institute includes her in the list of “100 Most Significant Americans of All Times.”
“Beneath the makeup and behind the smile, I am just a girl who wishes for the world.” — Marilyn Monroe
She lived a life that represents the epitome of what Women’s History Month claims to be about. Sharing her story, her life, her truth, hidden behind the persona of “dumb blonde”, are tales of every woman’s diversity of experiences, yet the similar moments of gender inequality that we still encounter today. Marilyn was born in an era of repressions, when “super feminine women weren’t supposed to be smart.”
But doesn’t that still linger on today?
“No one ever told me I was pretty when I was a little girl. All little girls should be told they’re pretty, even if they aren’t.” — Marilyn Monroe
Even as infamous as her beauty was, Marilyn didn’t believe she was lovable or good enough and suffered self-esteem issues. Yeah, hard to believe, isn’t it?
Growing up in a turbulent, traumatic childhood, Marilyn was often seeking stability and love. Her mother had mental health issues, so Norma grew up without a stable foundation. She lived with relatives, neighbors, in an orphanage once, plus at least a dozen foster homes.
In later years, she revealed that sexual abuse occurred in at least three different instances, beginning at the early age of eight. At sixteen, in order to avoid returning to the foster care system, she dropped out of school to marry the 21-year-old neighbor boy and become a housewife. She would carry the feelings of abandonment inside throughout the rest of her life.
“I never wanted to be Marilyn — it just happened. Marilyn’s like a…
