Transparency Item: The “Viewpoints” section of the graphic consists of opinion-based articles. This is the author’s opinion and opinion.
For the past few decades, the question of who controls the narrative around women in the arts has been at the center of criticism, debate, and reform in the creative world. The history of women as “subjects” of art, when viewed through the lens of their creators, influences real-world social norms and expectations for women.
One of the phenomena that has emerged from the history of women as muses is the dichotomy between Madonna and prostitute. This suggests that a woman’s personality can be reduced to how she fits into traditional ideas about virtue and purity, and depending on the situation, one archetype can be advantageous over the other. That’s the idea.
We have seen derivatives of this concept pervasive in the media. The idea that beauty and intelligence rarely exist in one woman, and the inner conflicts that women may face as a result, has been depicted in many literary works and films.
One example is My Brilliant Friend, a novel by Elena Ferrante about two best friends who grew up together in Naples, Italy. During her childhood, the narrator, Lenou, was the most beautiful of the two, and Lila seemed to be her nominal “clever friend”, overwhelming all of her classmates with her genius.
However, as the two grow up, Renu becomes an awkward and insecure teenage girl, finding solace in studies as she rises to the top of her class. Lyra becomes strikingly beautiful, attracting both the admiration and bitter hatred of those around her, and she abandons all her academic ambitions in favor of a lucrative marriage.
Lenu and Lila intensely envy each other because, as a result of their respective strengths, they have different choices in society. While Laila’s social mobility depends on successfully marrying, Lenu has the opportunity to get an education and rise on her own.
The reason why the two girls play contradictory roles is not because either girl lacks beauty or intelligence. Rather, the demands of their environment force them into these roles.
Lyra’s intelligence and brash personality come into conflict with her beauty as she grows up, and begins to jeopardize her future when she begins to attract male attention. Lenu wonders if she is living in the shadow of Laila’s appearance, even though she knows that Laila is driven to a kind of self-betrayal and is trapped by the opinions of the men around her. I feel like.
Although we never see Laila’s perspective directly, it is implied that she too resents Lenu’s talent and education when he begins to approach her level. Although her marriage is successful and Lila is successful in attracting the attention of her community, she has little agency of her own and is unable to express herself freely inside and outside of her home. facing a bleak future.
They are both extraordinary women who will never reach their full potential without more judgment than ever before. They are both envious and the object of envy, each wishing to be someone they are not because there is nothing they can do to please everyone in their environment. is.
While I appreciate archetypes that give order to literature and sometimes reality, they are not a reliable way to digest the human situation. The “female nature” portrayed by male artists throughout history is no more reliable than any rough summary of the human condition.
So while we know that artistic paradigms like the Madonna-Whore complex are an oversimplified depiction of what women can be, it also has implications for women’s relationships. Lenu and Lila’s friendship is not a healthy one, much of it motivated by an implicit desire to see each other defeated in some way.
Neither has complete control over their lives or self-concepts, but each lacks control in different ways. This fuels their envy for each other and can fuel jealousy in real-life female friendships as well.
Comparing yourself to others is a common problem not only among women but also among female friends. A 2017 study by Fitzsimmons Craft found that among 232 female college students who participated, close friends were often the subject of negative physical comparisons.
I am very aware of these dynamics and how confident women are susceptible to negative social evaluations. In my experience, intelligent and outspoken women are more likely to be labeled as “smug” and “annoying,” while women who wear make-up and dress up frequently have personal problems because they are perceived to have an easy life. problems are often ignored.
To combat envy of others and a poor self-image, it may be helpful to develop a healthier appreciation of human complexity, especially that of women. Placing yourself or others in a box you can’t escape from is limiting. Everyone is not one thing, and often people consist of mutually contradictory elements.
When women limit themselves to these dichotomies, they may always wonder what it’s like to be on the other side. By rejecting these dichotomies, women are instead able to act as dynamic human beings who are free to change and embrace who they are.
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Email Alyssa Johnson: [email protected]