Episode 136 -- Marilyn Monroe

About this episode

Moira guides Adrian through the life, career, and legacy of Marilyn Monroe, focusing on the role of gender.

For this episode, Moira guides Adrian through the life, career and legacy of Marilyn Monroe, and the role gender played in all three. Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles on June 1, 1926 -- so her centennial is coming up in a few weeks. We touch on Monroe's suffering, her canny manipulation of her own image, and the political dimension of her public persona. Here are some of the books and articles we refer to in the episode: Joyce Carol Oates, " Blonde " Norman Mailer, " Marilyn, A Biography " (NOT an endorsement) Gloria Steinem, Marilyn Monroe: Norma Jeane Jaqueline Rose, Women in Dark Times Lois Banner, " Marilyn Monroe: proto-feminist? "

People in this episode

Host: Moira Donegan

Guest: Adrian Daub

Topics covered

• Marilyn Monroe
• gender
• legacy
• image manipulation
• feminism
• Hollywood

Keywords

• Marilyn Monroe
• gender roles
• Hollywood
• feminism
• image manipulation
• legacy
• biography

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Blonde, Marilyn, A Biography, Marilyn Monroe: proto-feminist?

More episodes of In Bed With The Right

• Episode 138 -- The Politics of Plagiarism-Hunting · June 5, 2026 · 1h 12m
• Episode 137 -- Catching Up with the Cinema of Cancellation · May 26, 2026 · 54 min
• Episode 134: Natural Law · May 5, 2026 · 1h 2m
• Episode 132 -- "Repeal the 19th" · April 28, 2026 · 1h 11m
• Episode 131 [PATREON PREVIEW] -- Dining, Flavortowns and Gender · April 21, 2026 · 24 min
• Episode 130 -- Elizabeth Cady Stanton · April 14, 2026 · 1h 13m