C I A F T O I B O M N I : B more than just an aesthetic WRITTEN BY OLIVIA STEIN The term “bimbo” has always carried a negative connotation. It is by definition, “a slang term for a conventionally attractive, sexualized, and unintelligent woman.” And society sends mixed messages. Women are expected to be attractive but not provocative, to be smart but not smarter than men, to wear make-up but not try too hard, to be pure but not a prude. On top of that, women are pressured to meet a nearly impossible standard of beauty and when they do, they are condemned for it. On screen, bimbos are perceived as almost entirely negative and can be spotted by their breathy voice and hyperfeminine, sexy appearance. Bimbos are depicted as shallow, stupid and superficial, and are mocked by society —especially by other women— for their appearance. The stereotypical bimbo has an even balance of being beneath other women in terms of her intelligence but above other women in regard to her sex appeal. The media’s depiction of these women has led society to not only envy bimbos, but to feel disdain for them, further exposing society’s inherent misogynistic views. Because the word is deeply rooted in sexism, the traditionally derogatory term has also been used to silence women. It has been used to imply that women with pretty faces don’t have opinions or voices, and even if they do, nobody
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DESIGNER JENNA BOERLIN wants to hear what they have to say anyway. Pop culture has denied bimbos of their own humanity by belittling them for openly embracing their looks and sexuality, and diminishing their identity down to only that. In 2003, the Chicks (formerly known as the Dixie Chicks), an all-female country western band, criticized George Bush and the long, drawn-out Iraq war. Angering their mostly right-wing fan base, the Chicks received heavy backlash. In the Taylor Swift documentary “Miss Americana,” details of this story are further discussed, including the media’s reaction to the “scandal.” In a video clip, political conservative Pat Buchanan says, “I think they are the ‘Dixie Twits.’ These are the dumbest, dumbest bimbos, with due respect, I have seen.” The Chicks were told over and over again to “shut up and sing,” and were dismissed as uneducated. The documentary goes on to explain how the country music industry has pushed the message that nobody wants to hear the thoughts and opinions of attractive female entertainers. In the film, Taylor Swift decides that her voice does matter, and she will not be silent. With this revelation, she concludes that smart and pretty are not mutually exclusive;
