Moral Choices And Marilyn Monroe

For any beautiful woman who aspired to be an actress or model in the 1940s and 1950s, it was an accepted and simple fact that the “casting couch” was part of the auditioning and career development process. Sexual abstinence was not a realistic alternative for an aspiring beauty, whether she came from a poor background as Marilyn Monroe did, or a wealthy and powerful family such as Grace Kelly was born into.

Does that sound familiar? Yep, the whole industry for decades would have been a nightmare for the whole #metoo movement as well as #timesup. Actresses throughout the history of Hollywood have been treated as though they were the best escorts Geneva could offer but with better pay. But now, women have stood up and told all the power brokers that is not acceptable. But back in the day, it was not an option. Say no and fifty other girls would say yes. And your career would be over with no chance of recovery.

Attractive and physically desirable women were assumed to be readily available to influential and powerful men for sex. And if one lady would not, then others would be only too keen and instantly available. Yes Grace Kelly married her Prince, but only after she was introduced to him by a powerful studio head looking to curry favour. And “her” Prince had explicitly come to Hollywood looking for a world class beauty. In those days his behaviour was called being a play boy. Hers was called being lucky. No-one would have thought to call Grace Kelly a courtesan, floozy or hooker.

In the same way, Marilyn was perfectly content to use her physical sex appeal as a tool for both her advancement and for her pleasure. She had an extremely lengthy list of lovers and one-night stands, most of whom were in the movie or acting industries. She used her body, sex appeal and sexual talents to get her the work. Until she was a big enough star and had enough power of her own that she could afford to say no. Though, to be honest the Kennedy brothers found that she did not actually do so all that often.