Bimbofication

more than just an aestheticBIMBOFICATION:

WRITTEN BY OLIVIA STEIN DESIGNER JENNA BOERLIN

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 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;

ART DIRECTOR JENNA BOERLIN PHOTOGRAPHED BY SOPHIA PRINCE MODELS IMANI WOLERY & COURTNEY BOURN

“I want to love glitter and also stand up to the double standards that exist in our society. I want to wear pink and tell you how I feel about politics, and I don’t think that those things have to cancel each other out,” says Swift.

Many aspects of society, especially the media, have cast a negative light on bimbos. While these characters are typically depicted as air-headed and shallow with very few redeeming qualities, they often carry themselves with confidence and come across as empowered. Not only are on-screen bimbos unafraid to be themselves, but they are also comedic geniuses, and they look damn good doing it. Take Elle Woods, the beloved character played by Reese Witherspoon, in Legally Blonde. She fits the caricature of bimbo: she is blonde, buxom and bold. Throughout the movie, Woods tackles issues with a unique perspective that only a bimbo could have. She does not fit the “smart girl” stereotype of a Harvard Law student, so her approach to life, school and her chosen profession is unconventional. And make no mistake, Elle may be a bimbo, but she is ambitious and knows how to get what she wants. In the movie, people make assumptions about Elle because of her appearance, and she is often overlooked and underestimated. But Elle surprises people. She wasn’t expected to go to Harvard Law School, to get the internship, or to win a big case, but she did it on her own terms and gave her haters a run for their money. Women like Elle, both on and off-screen, who are quickly dismissed as bimbos often have positive attributes that go unrecognized and underappreciated. The bimbo has a fun and upbeat personality, a zest for life, and a desire to help others. She also chooses to embrace her hotness and reject the common

societal view that she should have to turn down her attractiveness, positive attitude and sexuality in order to be respected or viewed as smart and valuable.

Today, the movement to reclaim the Bimbo increasingly respects a woman and her choices to be whoever she wants. On TikTok, where bimbo culture is thriving, the term is aimed at reclaiming hyper-femininity outside the male gaze and re-orienting the bimbo as a more socially conscious woman. In today’s terms, the bimbo isn’t just feminine and sexy, she is pro-choice, pro- LGBTQ and pro-Black Lives Matter. And as Gen Z takes back the word, they are recreating the new-age bimbo as an inclusive construct, one that is not just for cis-gendered heterosexual women. The modern bimbo is intersectional and transcendent of gender; they embrace their hotness regardless of what society has to say about it. Whether you’re a Ph.D. holder, a single-mom, a sex worker or a drag queen, the new bimbo culture embraces a person’s right to enhance and play up their looks, to have an opinion – or not— and rejects the idea that you are only valuable if you have marketable skills and a hefty resume.

Ultimately, today’s bimbo moves beyond the stereotypes of a sexy, frivolous and less than intelligent woman. The intersectionality of the movement suggests that even if you are, your value does not change. This newfound agency takes back a term that has been historically used to judge and degrade others and turns it on its head. Being a bimbo is a choice, so go ahead and embrace it!

Being a bimbo is a choice, so go ahead and embrace it!