Marilyn Monroe is byfar one of the most beloved stars in Hollywood history. But her glamorous life ended in tragedy, and the reasons are still debated. She was found naked and lifeless in her Los Angeles home next to a bottle of sleeping pills. The accepted theory is that she took her own life, but why would a gorgeous, wealthy, megastar commit suicide? Not only did she appear to have a successful carrer, but she was engaged to be married to another wealthy individual. Other theories suggest that Monroe was murdered, possibly as a result of jealousy or with her affiliation with the Kennedy family. Although history will state that she took her own life, I believe that the a glamorous icon's death is a glamorous conspiracy.

This is the perfect example of how society dictates what is and isn't acceptable for women. Superstar Kim Kardashian has been all over the tabloids for her weight gain due to pregnancy. She's pregnant! Of course she's going to gain weight. This tabloid even takes it a step further in suggesting that being overweight is a character defect. The media tries to make Kardashian feel ashamed of her weight, the same way it tries to shame the rest of America. The sooner we realize this fact, the sooner we can seek change and accept each other as we are.
Image taken from huffingtonpost.com

This has become one of the most meaningful quotes that I have come across, especially as I deal with the struggle of being considered beautiful in society. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross explains that beauty relies on a number of different factors; it isn't solely determined by physical appearance. I have found this to be true in my perception of beauty with others. When I think of the most beautiful people I know, I see the kind faces of my mother and grandmother. Their strength and compassion has made them so attractive that their physical appearance is simply a reflection of their beautiful personalities. It is important to remember this as we deal with society's standards of beauty, so that we don't forget what makes us truly beautiful

As part of my service learning assignment, I sifted through the mountain of clothes in my closet in search of garments that have gone unworn for a while. I found several shirts and a few dresses that I don't plan on wearing anymore. I almost quit when I knew I had reached the minimum requirement for donation, but I continued to sift when I thought about those less fortunate than me. My family constantly struggled with money when I was growing up, so I didn't have a ton of nice clothes as a pre-teen. In middle school, style feels like one of the most important thing in the world. I was teased because my style was very simple and I never wore the brand names. As I sifted through my clothes today, I found shirts from Abercrombie and Fitch, Aeropostale, and Hollister. I considered how important these shirts would have been to me as a young girl and decided to donate them. As I took my clothes to Goodwill, I saw families who were obviously financially strapped. I feel good about my decision to surrender my nice clothes because I know that there is both a girl who will enjoy them, as well as a parent who will be able to purchase them.

 Major Writing 2 inspired me to re-read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein as it is one of my favorite books. I came across a section in the beginning that foreshadows Shelley's theme of loneliness and rejection in society that I hadn't previously considered. In Robert Walton's second letter to his sister, he talks about the heartache he experiences as a result of solitude. He specifically says, "I have no friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with the enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate my joy; if I am assailed by disappointment, no one will endeavor to sustain me in dejection...I desire the company of a man who could sympathize with me; whose eyes would reply to mine. You may deem me romantic my dear sister, but I bitterly feel the want of a friend" (Shelley, 6). This same feelings are expressed by Frankenstein's monster, as he has no one to share his life with. He is rejected by society because of his appearance, and he is forced to live his life in isolation and sorrow. Acceptance and collaboration by and with others is an inherent human need. If this need is not met, humans are incapable of reaching self actualization. As one human race, we should seek to support one another and provide love and compassion whenever we have the opportunity. We need to reject the standards set by society, not the people who fail to meet them.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2012. Print.

    Technology has become a major source of communicating one's ideas. In fact, it has become the most efficient way to spread information to a mass number of people all over the world. Because of this, it is important to be knowledgable about blogging and the internet. Before this assignment, I had no idea how to blog. It's exciting, however, to know that this blog is available to people everywhere, and my ideas have the potential of reaching someone who is interested in them.

    Megastar Lady Gaga has recently announced that she has struggled with anorexia and bulemia since the age of 15. This has shocked many of her fans because it seems to contradict her "Born This Way" attitude. However, I admire Gaga for her courage to show her true human self to society. By sharing her experience, her fans can see themselves in a more realistic manner as they recognize that no one is perfect. Lady Gaga has also launched a campaign on her website called "A Body Revolution 2013" where she shares her internal battle and encourages others to do the same. Although some critics have accused her of pulling a publicity stunt, I believe that she is making a positive contribution to society. Even if her intentions are to draw attention to herself, the result is that young women feel as though they can reveal their true identities. Society will thank you for this, Lady Gaga!

I had never considered the irony of it before, but this quote is so true. Why is society concerned with unfair advantages in sports but not in everyday life? Many men feel as though superathletes have no place in society because their image is unattainable. In my opinion, the exact same argument can be made for women who are portrayed as flawless. This image is unattainable, and it has caused discontent among millions of women. If society wants its role models in sports to be more 'real', society should strive to have all of its role models look and act like the average human.

I have been reflecting upon Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and
how it relates to problems in society today. Many times, our first impression of
someone depends solely on his or her physical appearance, and we become closed
minded without even realizing it. Society has predetermined expectations of how
we should look, and when someone doesn’t fit the criteria, they are often
ostracized. This is what happened to Frankenstein’s monster; he was completely
rejected by both society and his creator because of his looks. In
underprivileged areas of the world, impoverished families often can’t afford
shoes for their children. These kids are considered different to those who are
more fortunate, and sometimes feel left out. Tom’s helps provide clothing and
footwear to these kids so that they don’t have to feel different. By promoting
Tom’s shoes, we also promote equality and treating people with dignity despite
physical appearances.

This is a great question! I'm not sure how society came to the decision that women must be unrealistically thin, but this photo is a perfect example of the transformation. The top four photos depict the ideal woman's figure but appear to be undernourished and skeletal. The lower photos are obviously decades old and show healthy, beautiful women. There is so much pressure to look a certain way, and women will always fall short because that 'way' is constantly changing. This image portrays how powerfully pop culture influences body image nationwide.