Like the rest of the world, I will be forever charmed by the wiles of blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe; still, I can’t help but be annoyed by her perpetuation of the “dumb blonde” stereotype. Celebrities have a power to influence society’s attitudes beyond our comprehension — and though it may sound strange, were I famous I imagine I’d feel a certain responsibility toward my fellow blondes to try and diminish the belief that we are, on average, stupid.
When did we develop this moronic misconception that pigment is directly correlated to IQ? One possibility: research shows that light haircolor has long been associated with beauty, and as shown by our constant derision of supermodels, beauty carries with it the stigma of stupidity. (Ironic, since studies also suggest that physical attractiveness may be directly related to intelligence…but that’s another post in itself.)
Other stereotypes surrounding appearance are the subject of intense criticism; racism is now nearly taboo in the US, and as Dove’s Campaign For Real Beauty demonstrates, discrimination based on weight or age has become socially unacceptable. Why, then, do we still freely ridicule blondes for their supposed idiocy? Is it simply that blonde hair is often a trait of youth, a time in our lives before we become educated and world-weary? This would explain the archetypal blonde’s accompanying playfulness and childlike naivete.
Whatever the reasons behind the perception of blonde ineptitude, the prejudice is inarguably outdated and inappropriate in our allegedly uber-tolerant society. My haircolor still garners comments like “You’re really smart for a blonde” (I’m not kidding), not to mention the gleam that appears in the eyes of salesmen when I wander into an auto shop or electronics store. Newsflash: there are dumb blondes, redheads, brunettes, and yes, even men. One’s intelligence cannot be judged by their sun exposure, recessive genes or which box of Clairol they buy from CVS. Go forth and judge not.
Yes, blonde hair is associated with youthfulness and that’s one reason blondes are (maybe subconsciously) thought to be more naive. On the upside, men REALLY DO prefer women with blonde hair. It’s actually been researched. You should look into the book, “Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes” by Jena Pincott. It’s wonderfully informative about the science behind love, sex, and attraction. Also, Jena Pincott has an awesome blog that I check daily just before I drop by here (awesome blog too).
Minze,
Well, of course men prefer us! :p Seriously though, my point was that it shouldn’t be about attracting men, and we shouldn’t judge other women on their ability to do so.