For those of you who have seen the movie "Legally Blonde," you understand the basis of the story. A beautiful, young, sorority woman decides to apply to go to Harvard Law to prove to her ex-boyfriend that she can be the high standard women that he wants. Here is the conversation she has when she brings up going to Harvard with her parents:Elle's Mother: Honey, you were First Runner-Up at the "Miss Hawaiian Tropics" contest. Why are you going to throw that all away?
Elle: Going to Harvard is the only way I'm going to get the love of my life back.
Elle's Father: Oh, sweetheart, you don't need law school. Law school is for people who are boring and ugly and serious. And you, button, are none of those things.
What message is this sending? Her parents are telling her that she already is fun and beautiful and that is all she needs to get by in life and be happy. They believe that if she goes off to Harvard she will "throw it all away" and become boring and ugly. This is giving women the idea that all they need to be is a gorgeous trophy wife and that if they are good looking and fun there is no need to be smart. This is a terrible message to give to girls and women. It is saying as long as you look good, you’re set, and if you try to use your brain, you will become boring and ugly!Below is Elle's admission video into Harvard. In the video she is shown multiple times in a swim suit and always looking beautiful. The video does not quite show her educational level, yet her physical qualities. Yet, this video works for her and she is admitted into Harvard. This too is giving a distorted view of reality. This is telling women again that if their looks are up to scale, they will get anywhere they want.
CLICK HERE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oodEKfTqPIE
2 comments:
So who said you can't be beautiful and smart. The soroity steriotype says one is too shallow and dumb, the Harvard steriotype says one must be drab and boring to be smart. Although the admissions board in this clip had alterior motives, one should only be judged on their own merit.
I don't know that this movie was necessarily intending to make the basis of its appeal, or message revolve around sorority girls, or a bunch of "dumb" blonds. Although they are initially portrayed as mere socialites that care about nothing but the clothes on their back, the color of their hair and who they are dating the movie proves to offer a completely different message in the end. I am not rooting for this movie, as I thought it was actually pretty terrible but it seems to show young women (and perhaps even young sorority women who are trying to disprove stereotypes) that they can overcome what media, and other delegates of social standard dictate for them. Just because they like having blond hair, and going shopping or whatever else does not mean they are devoid of the skills to make a valuable and responsible contribution to society... you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, or a person by their affiliation.
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