Nappily Ever After

Does a woman's looks contribute to her success?

Many would say that you have to have a certain look in order to “have a seat at the table. However, that is not true. ” Violet Jones has a perfect life, but everything gets “ruined” when her hair gets messed up. Her hair is a huge part of her identity, and she believes she is viewed differently because she no longer fits a certain appearance. Throughout the story, Violet discovers what she is expected to do not determine who she becomes. In a confrontational moment with her mom, she says

“You taught me how to be the girl the guy wants. But not the girl I want.”

“You taught me how to be the girl the guy wants. But not the girl I want.” This is because Violet was groomed to be a wife despite being successful on her own, and she was looked at as a failure for not marrying the man her family wanted for her. She then realizes for herself that she can be happy even if she doesn't fit the societal mold and choose the path that is expected of her despite her wishes.

“The realization of the fact that I didn’t need Clint to feel this happiness made me laugh... I didn’t need hair flowing down my back. All I needed was what I had, me. I was grateful for me.”

“The realization of the fact that I didn’t need Clint to feel this happiness made me laugh... I didn’t need hair flowing down my back. All I needed was what I had, me. I was grateful for me.” The realization that conforming to stereotypes and expectations of society can lead to a life of unhappiness. This relates to our topic “the importance of women's centers” because the goal of these centers is to ensure that women don’t feel like this. It is to break down the societal standards of how a woman should look, act, and function throughout the world and gives young women the confidence to be themselves. It is important because stereotypes and oppressive systems keep people down and can inhibit them from reaching their full potential or living their happiest life. While violet no longer had “the look” she was able to end the movie with the start of a happier life which goes to prove that we can deconstruct the idea of beauty equating to success and happiness. 

Media Review Word count: 360