“The trouble with censors is that they worry if a girl has cleavage. They ought to worry if she hasn’t any.”
- June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962
- American
- Actress, Singer, Model, Pop Culture Icon
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Quote
“The trouble with censors is that they worry if a girl has cleavage. They ought to worry if she hasn’t any.”
Explanation
With this cheeky and satirical remark, Marilyn Monroe critiques the hypocrisy and misplaced priorities of censorship, especially as it related to the female body. Her point is not simply about cleavage, but about how women are policed for their appearance, particularly when it comes to expressions of sexuality. The quote pokes fun at the idea that showing skin is dangerous or immoral, suggesting that the real concern should be naturalness, confidence, or even humor—not restriction.
Monroe, whose career was built both by and in spite of her sex appeal, was often caught in the crossfire between public adoration and institutional discomfort with her image. Her words reflect a refusal to apologize for femininity or sensuality, and instead turn the censor’s fear on its head: if society is so obsessed with hiding the female form, perhaps the real issue lies with society itself—not with women.
In modern conversations about body autonomy, self-expression, and the politics of modesty, Monroe’s quip remains relevant. It reminds us how censorship often targets not what is harmful, but what challenges traditional power structures or norms. Her quote is a clever defense of freedom and bodily confidence, laced with the wit that made her more than just a symbol—she was also a sharp observer of the world’s contradictions.
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