Monica Lewinsky :: Essays Papers

Monica Lewinsky Monica Samille Lewinsky was born on July 23, 1973, the first child of Marcia and Bernard Lewinsky. She lived her entire childhood in Beverly Hills, California—home to the rich, famous, and beautiful. Pictures show Monica was a cute, chubby child. Childhood stories portray Monica as a stubborn, spoiled girl knowing exactly what she wanted and used to getting it; whether is was by throwing a tantrum or refusing to do anything until she got her way. At her aunts wedding she refused to go out as the flower girl until the sleeves were cut off from her dress and when it was time for her Bats-mitzvah she stomped, cried, and begged until she was given a huge party at a banquet hall instead of a small one in her back yard. Her father being a successful doctor, Monica and the family had little to want for. Although she was a main character in the impeachment scandal, I didn't know anything about her except being constantly told that she was overweight and "fat." She was central to the whole scandal and the confessions forced from her by Ken Starr and the Office of the Independent Council (OIC) have changed the way people think and talk about politics, sex, the presidency, and presidential responsibility. She brought evidence of a presidential affair and raised questions as to the true duty of the position as one of a moral leader or one of a country's manager. Monica Lewinsky has come to symbolize many things because of her involvement in the Clinton impeachment scandal. No doubt when people think about the famous intern they will think of the cigar, the dress, and oral sex in the oval office. They may think about how "that woman... Miss Lewinsky" was betrayed by Linda Tripp, how she was harassed by the press, or perhaps that she in love with the President of the United States. But above all when people are talking about Monica Lewinsky they will probably tell one of the many jokes about her weight and perhaps discuss her success/failure on losing weight, which has become the basis of their discourse. Monica and her involvement in the impeachment scandal have come to represent the reinforcement and legitimization of the North American view of female stereotypes. Not only has the press and entertainment industry contributed to the superficial treatment of Monica, but also the woman herself has focused on these traits/faults which are, in themselves, societal constructs.