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BLOG: Marilyn Monroe Left No Children Behind. Does Anybody Care?

Children aren't the only vehicle for women to leave important, memorable legacies for future generations to cherish. One shining example comes to mind to prove the point: Marilyn Monroe.

Every generation is convinced that their icons are too colossal, too talented,  too...well, iconic, to ever be replaced.  For Baby Boomers, there's an dimension of, "Angelina who?"

Think of the original Bodacious Ta-Tas (of Jayne Mansfield), the violet eyes of Elizabeth Taylor, bronze siren Lena Horne, and the whispery Marilyn Monroe, whose every body part earned reverential respect that has lasted the test of time. 

To us and those who will come after, Marilyn Monroe will always be 36 years old. That white dress will always be blowing up in the air. And, obviously, Marilyn will always be a NotMom. She married 3 times, but I haven't found much about her failure to conceive. Then again, does a man marry a woman like Marilyn Monroe to have children?

When I try to imagine what impact motherhood might have had on the superstar's career, my eyebrows link up in a knot. Even with supersize curves, Jayne Mansfield was not viewed quite the same after the arrival of a daughter in 1964 (AKA Law & Order's Mariska Hargitay). But, what do I know? I live in an age that cheers when re-bootylicious Beyonce slips back into a sparkly catsuit. Blue Ivy who?

This August is the 50th anniversary of Lady Marilyn's death. Who cares that there were no surviving children? Wasn't it always all about her? She is her own legacy.

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Kate Pitrone June 5, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Just as well she had no children, all things considered.
Jean Williams June 6, 2012 at 03:50 am
lots of people left no kids behind
Karen Malone Wright June 6, 2012 at 02:33 pm
{smile} That's the point.
Lance January 24, 2013 at 09:01 pm
In your paragraph about JAYNE MANSFIELD, you added the phrase "What do I know?" Appaprently, not much!
JAYNE MANSFIELD had three OTHER children before before giving birth to daughter Mariska Hargitay, and one more child after! Actually, Jayne had a daughter by her first husband, Paul MANSFIELD, many years BEFORE she became famous as a sex symbol; therefore, motherhood was ALWAYS part of Jayne's mathematical equation (which usually measured 41 1/2 - 22 - 36, BTW)!
Karen Malone Wright January 30, 2013 at 05:45 pm
Thanks for your research and correction, Lance. Although, I believe the point still holds that for Ms. Mansfield, while she never hid her motherhood, it wasn't very compatible in that era with a career that took off after nude photos appeared in a 1955 Playboy.
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Diane H. Dreizen June 18, 2013 at 05:19 pm
I agree. I had even been tempted to start a blog just before this new and "improved"Read More layout. No longer interested in doing that - can't find anything on this patch.
Garry Kanter June 14, 2013 at 04:07 pm
That's odd. I was at the previous meeting, my first - on Global Warming, paid dues for the firstRead More time ever, wrote down my e-mail more than once, and still had no idea there was a meeting was last night.
Patti Weber Flanagin June 13, 2013 at 01:28 pm
Location is on Ormond Road, between Lee and South Taylor (the Heights main library is on the corner)
Garry Kanter June 15, 2013 at 01:58 pm
Diane, for what it's worth, I believe FutureHeights has announced their intention to have a meetingRead More where the community can discuss ideas for Severance.
bachtobroadway42 June 17, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Along those lines, Diane, I thought an indoor greenhouse would be a good idea. Classes on how toRead More create gardens, grow food, store and preserve food would be an asset to the City.
Glinda Smith June 18, 2013 at 12:52 pm
Diane H. Dreizen & bachtobroadway42 - what interesting ideas! I'd love to see the whole messRead More raised and the area turned into a public park/recreation area with walking trails, bicycle paths, community gardens, etc. It seems the wind turbines could be in a place like that too. That's my dream, but we'll probably get some hideous redundant commercial development instead.
Garry Kanter June 7, 2013 at 03:55 pm
sb: this column
Denise Hilow Miller June 11, 2013 at 04:19 pm
Just ignore them then. The important thing is what we're talking about HERE.
Garry Kanter June 11, 2013 at 05:43 pm
Please join the conversation. The proposed school bond would be a timely starting point!