"The currency of a sex symbol lies in her youth, in her curves, in the suggestion that a sexual encounter lurks around the corner." (Sharon Krum, The Guardian) The power struggle between the sexes in society is something that can be seen every day, especially in the media. The importance of female celebrities staying in the spotlight based on their appearance and sex appeal is a clear example of the imbalance between the sexes and their roles in society. Three Girls by Joyce Carol Oates is the story of a lesbian couple and their observation of the behavior of a cross-dressing Marilyn Monroe who, surprisingly to the narrator and her partner, wants to be seen as nothing more than an ordinary person. As the story progresses, the author provides perspective on the gender roles women faced in 1956 New York and gives the reader insight into the thoughts and reservations of a lesbian couple during this time period. Through both implicit and explicit expression, Oates implements feminist and Marxist ideas of power struggle in Three Girls in order to establish themes of imbalance and subordination by women in society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Feminist ideas are used in this story both explicitly and implicitly to help describe the gender roles assigned to women, particularly celebrities, in the 1950s. “That figure was a showy blonde showgirl, a Hollywood 'sexpot' who was of no interest to intellectuals.” (Page 79) The author explicitly includes the narrator's description of Marilyn Monroe to explain her status in society and to elaborate on Marilyn's significance in Hollywood. This description also establishes Marilyn Monroe as a foil to the main characters. Although Marilyn Monroe was seen as a huge sex symbol in the 1950s, and was well known for her beauty and charm among men, "no one ever gave her credit for what she was" (Nancy Friday, The Guardian) . Marilyn received attention for her looks and seductive features rather than her actual achievements in her life and the struggles she had to endure to establish her career. These quotes implicitly highlight the idea that Marilyn, even as an established movie star, is assumed to be little more than sex appeal to men in a patriarchal society. This is significant, as it allows the author to portray the imbalance between the sexes in society and the fact that Marilyn, as a woman, was subject to the principles and decisions of men. Marxist ideas are used throughout this story both implicitly and explicitly to represent the power imbalances between the sexes in society. The quote “We feared she would be recognized by a customer (male) or a clerk (male)” (page 80) explicitly establishes the influence the males in the bookstore have on the actions of the main characters. They are afraid of what might happen if Marilyn's true identity were discovered, which prompts them to act cautiously to avoid such an outcome, influencing their behavior to be subordinate to that of the men in the store. As Marilyn and the main characters approach the cashier, “Marilyn Monroe seemed to falter for the first time. He fumbled to extract a pair of dark glasses from his shoulder bag and managed to put them on." (Page 82) These quotes highlight the fear women felt in the male-dominated bookstore. Implicitly, this situation serves as a symbol for women in a male-dominated society. Marilyn is emerging from her gender role as a sexual object. 2015.