Decoding Marilyn Monroe’s Iconic Sex Symbolism: Exploring the Driving Forces
Abstract
Marilyn Monroe, a famous Hollywood star known as her own “sex symbol”, epitomized the ideal feminine image, especially in postwar America. Discussions about Marilyn Monroe commonly revolve around the male gaze, but frequently ignore the analysis of women’s impressions and opinions of Marilyn Monroe. This research acknowledges the impression of Marilyn Monroe under the male gaze and explores the underlying reasons. Additionally, it analyzes the phenomenon of Marilyn Monroe being recognized and admired by women. The primary focus is on the factors that formed Marilyn Monroe’s sex symbol and the driving forces behind it. This article incorporates a wide range of sources, including but not limited to publications, videos, artwork, and peer-review articles. The findings of this research demonstrate that Marilyn Monroe is not exclusively an object of the male gaze; she is also regarded as an ideal image by female spectators. This phenomenon can be attributed to postwar consumerism ideology and prevailing gender stereotypes. This article offers a relatively new perspective that challenges conventional stereotypes of Marilyn Monroe’s image.
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