Legally Blonde. An empowerment film & a cult classic.

Legally Blonde depicts the struggles and achievements of a Harvard Law student navigating a world in which she does not belong. The film explores several gender and class stereotypes, particularly Elle's status as a White, upper-class woman, as well as the benefits and drawbacks that come with such identities. We will argue in this analysis that, while the film portrays a good image of women in higher education, it does not accurately portray all women who face additional structural challenges as a result of their intersecting identities.

Positive Representations of Women in Higher Education

Legally Blonde's Elle Woods is an example of a character who defies typical feminine stereotypes. While she adores pink, getting her nails done, shopping, and her small dog, she is not vacuous or indifferent in the way that others perceive her to be. The film shows her defying preconceptions while keeping her femininity on numerous occasions. Characters like Elle Woods teach young girls that their outward appearance does not determine their achievement. With her knowledge, advocacy, and resilience, she defies the stereotype of the "girly-girl." Because it illustrates the potential of success for women in fields where they are underrepresented, Legally Blonde is a work of media capable of propelling more young women into higher education.

Elle overcame major difficulties throughout law school, such as not having a support system. "You're not clever enough sweetheart," Elle's ex-boyfriend said, prompting her to answer, "Did we not get into the same law school?" We both took the LSAT." Elle not only excels in her coursework, but she also played a key role in the murder trial, supplying evidence that assisted her in winning the case. Elle achieved her goals of graduating from Harvard Law School, serving as the keynote speaker at her commencement, and working at one of Boston's most famous law firms.

Inaccurate Representations of All Women in Higher Education

Elle Woods' experiences are intimately shaped by her disadvantaged and mainstream social identities. As previously said, her portrayal as a powerful woman in predominately male areas is positive for young women and girls who share Elle's ambitions. The film, on the other hand, falls short in not acknowledging Elle's enormous advantages as a white, upper-class lady.

When she gets at Harvard Law, she notices that the majority of her classmates and professors are white and male. Elle's identification as a white woman, as previously stated, permits her to avoid the institutional racism and other types of oppression that Black and indigenous women of color face in academic institutions.

CONCLUSION

For underprivileged students, media portrayals of success in higher education are crucial. Elle Woods' identification as a woman in a largely male-dominated business is not only a challenge to overcome, but also what drives her passion and dedication to her female clients. Elle's gender, on the other hand, does not exist in a vacuum, and spectators will see her race and socioeconomic status as enhancing her experiences. The intersectionality of identity is underemphasized in Legally Blonde, and future multicultural educators must recognize the importance of both marginalized and majoritized identities in higher education.