Barbie dolls, Marilyn Monroe, and other symbols of the 1950s all promoted certain ideas about sexuality and beauty. Because they upheld dominant ideals about gender roles, reaffirmed traditional beauty standards, and encouraged a constrained and skewed understanding of race while also presenting subtle challenges that gave a sense of familiarity within the established societal framework, these messages were able to remain popular during conservative times in popular culture.
First, 1950s beauty pageants emphasized conventional gender roles and ideals of beauty, upholding the prevailing image of femininity at the time. The victors, who were often white, thin, and aesthetically pleasing, supported society norms and fostered the notion that a woman's value was determined by her outward looks. Beauty pageants supported the popular themes of conservative times by sticking to these dominant representations of femininity and beauty. Nadel asserted that beauty pageants furthered racial tensions by providing a purposefully distorted view of reality.
Second, the 1950s saw the introduction of Barbie dolls, which represented and supported the time's accepted ideals of beauty. Barbie served as the idealized embodiment of femininity because of her slender body, flawless features, and stylish attire. Since Barbie's
…show more content…
By embracing her curvy body and blonde hair, she disproved the idea that beauty had to be just blonde and svelte. Due to her confidence and sexual allure, Monroe's sensuality and charm also challenged preconceived notions of what it meant to be a traditionally feminine woman. Her success, however, might be linked to the fact that she continued to uphold the prevailing sexual and aesthetic norms of the day. During the conservative period, Monroe became well-liked for her capacity to simultaneously subvert and adhere to prevailing