In Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Marilyn Monroe’s character, Lorelei Lee, has a best friend Dorothy Shaw. The movie follows Lorelai and Dorothy to Europe where they are being followed by a man who is there to try and prove that Lorelei is only engaged to her fiance, Gus, for his money. While Marilyn is playing the dumb and money-obsessed blonde woman who likes shiny things, her best friend was trying to convince her that she was worth more than that. Dorothy definitely still fits a stereotype. She is the more distinguished and intelligent brunette friend, but she also has more of a modern take on the world. She wants to find love, but she knows that it won’t come as easy as swindling a rich man. She wants real love.
In our “Monroe and Sexuality” reading, we discussed how Marilyn was known as a sex symbol. She was an object for the male gaze and was often acknowledged as an example of human existence in the 50s. Marilyn was seen as desirable and available. She perpetuates that idea in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes as she continuously flirts with a man she is clearly not attracted to because she knows he has access to extravagant jewels.
However, Dorothy is seen in a different light. She is quick-witted and loose-lipped. She says what she thinks and makes it clear that she isn’t going to take direction from anyone else. She also makes it clear that she doesn’t care about money and wants someone who will love her. She even falls in love with the man who was sent to spy on them. Dorothy’s call to fame is her solo act, a song called, “Ain’t There Anyone Here for Love.” I would argue that Dorothy is the more prominent sex symbol in this movie. She is confident, intelligent, and knows what she wants. It can be assumed that Dorothy and Ernie, the detective, spend the night together or at the very least share intimate moments with each other. Yes, Marilyn fits the stereotype of what the world thinks women want to embody. However, Dorothy is who I would rather idolize. I see her as a three-dimensional character who embodies ideals of independence and sex-positivity.
On the other hand, the actress who played Dorothy, Jane Russell, was also considered a prominent sex symbol in the ‘40s and ‘50s. She came from a military family in the midwest and started her career in the early ‘40s. She was a singer as well as an actor and even dedicated part of her career solely to music. Similarly to Marilyn, she was married several times, but she also adopted 3 children. She even founded WAIF, an international adoption agency to promote adoption in the ’50s.
Marilyn is no doubt a great American sex symbol who will always be recognized and praised. However, Dorothy and Jane have something that I found more important, which was the respect of their audience. Marilyn is remembered as a promiscuous playmate and I don’t think that she offers a well-rounded image that women should be seeking after. Dorothy has the audience’s respect because she is honest and real, which is something that should be idolized.