Larkin, Ann
Stephanie Tsank
ENGL: 1200
28 April, 2017
The Bluest Eye and Glass Menagerie:
The Impacts Race and Disability had on Beauty Standards
The Bluest Eye written by Toni Morrison in 1970 and The Glass Menagerie, written by Tennessee Williams in 1944, have become staples in American literature. Although written in different time periods, both stories reflect the same social norms and beauty standards that are too often thrust upon women of the same decade. The Bluest Eye and The Glass Menagerie eloquently showcase the ever present and evident perceptions and idealizations of western culture’s beauty standards through images and objects and highlights the helplessness and fragility that many felt.
The 1930’s, with great thanks, or lack thereof, brought a decade’s worth of depth and despair, as well as poverty. Around the same time, beauty began to become the sole desire for many young girls and women. Film actresses and influential white able-bodied women began setting the bar for what would be deemed to be the ideal standards of being beautiful (Martin, 2009).
Among these actresses, was blonde hair and blue eyed child star Shirley Temple. Temple reached her peak popularity during the Great Depression and plays a crucial role in the quest for beauty in the Bluest Eye, “I learn to worship Shirley Temple, just as I …show more content…
According to Bradley University’s the “The Body Project”, this is a common thing for disabled women struggle with self image and establishing relationships with others, “Disabled women themselves may come to internalize such views, which may create barriers to forming intimate relationships,” (Bradley University, N/A).In Tennesse William’s the Glass Menagerie, this concept is affirmed with disabled character Laura Wingfield says she doesn’t have many friends and doesn’t like the thought of remembering she is different from everyone
Stephanie Tsank
ENGL: 1200
28 April, 2017
The Bluest Eye and Glass Menagerie:
The Impacts Race and Disability had on Beauty Standards
The Bluest Eye written by Toni Morrison in 1970 and The Glass Menagerie, written by Tennessee Williams in 1944, have become staples in American literature. Although written in different time periods, both stories reflect the same social norms and beauty standards that are too often thrust upon women of the same decade. The Bluest Eye and The Glass Menagerie eloquently showcase the ever present and evident perceptions and idealizations of western culture’s beauty standards through images and objects and highlights the helplessness and fragility that many felt.
The 1930’s, with great thanks, or lack thereof, brought a decade’s worth of depth and despair, as well as poverty. Around the same time, beauty began to become the sole desire for many young girls and women. Film actresses and influential white able-bodied women began setting the bar for what would be deemed to be the ideal standards of being beautiful (Martin, 2009).
Among these actresses, was blonde hair and blue eyed child star Shirley Temple. Temple reached her peak popularity during the Great Depression and plays a crucial role in the quest for beauty in the Bluest Eye, “I learn to worship Shirley Temple, just as I …show more content…
According to Bradley University’s the “The Body Project”, this is a common thing for disabled women struggle with self image and establishing relationships with others, “Disabled women themselves may come to internalize such views, which may create barriers to forming intimate relationships,” (Bradley University, N/A).In Tennesse William’s the Glass Menagerie, this concept is affirmed with disabled character Laura Wingfield says she doesn’t have many friends and doesn’t like the thought of remembering she is different from everyone