You're The One That I Want (To Accept As Is)

            From the outside people might not consider my mom a feminist. Honestly, I am not sure she even would. She believed women should take care of the home and children, but she also believed women should be strong and do what is right for them. Therefore, when she saw the movie Grease in the theatre she was appalled and did not want me to see it. I am sure other parents had objections to its content, but she specifically did not like the ending and the message it sent to girls. You could say she thought it was a good example of what Walsh et al talked about in their article “Beauty and the Patriarchal Beast.” In the article they point out that “The beauty commonly ‘liberates’ the beast by finally accepting him ‘as is’.” In the movie Grease this scenario is taken a step further and Sandy does not only accept Danny as he is but changes her entire look and actions to match his. Just as Walsh et al stated, she was able to “come around and accept the beast’s (man’s) true or authentic self.”

Grease - Movie at the Playhouse - Brown County, Indiana

            Throughout the movie Sandy and Danny grapple with their two different worlds. Sandy is a good girl that is involved in school and attends class. Danny is a greaser who smokes, drinks, and skips class. They try to be together, but neither fits in with the other’s friends. Just as stated in the article, “Attempts by the beauty to bring the beast into her environment fail.” In the end Danny makes an attempt to change and come into Sandy’s world, but Sandy changes for him instead and accepts him “as is.” In the closing number of the musical, she says “You better shape up,” but just like in the examples from the article that really just means be my boyfriend and you can continue to be who you are.

            What messages have you found in fun, popular entertainment that you believe are detrimental to women? Do you agree there is a patriarchal message in the movie Grease? If so, why, or why not?

 

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