The ‘Dumb Blonde’ is one of the many stereotypes faced by women. Women of color and women from marginalized communities are victims of stereotypes in far worse ways than blonde women are, of course, but nonetheless, baseless stereotypes regarding blonde-haired women have been normalized in society for far too long now.
The Dumb Blonde stereotype is a curious question. How did society come to the firm conclusion that blondes are unintelligent and fairly stupid? The world has witnessed famous and powerful blondes in history like Marilyn Monroe, Debbie Harry, Gwyneth Parlow, etc. These women had owned up to their statuses as ‘blonde.’ However, the stereotype still lurks around and can carry on for a long time, unless one learns and cracks down the origins of the “Dumb blonde” stereotype.
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The Origin Of The “Dumb Blonde” Stereotype
Blonde hair has been present on this planet for more than 10,000 years now. It is a result of a genetic mutation. In parts of the world that remained dark and cold for most of the year, blonde hair was deeply desired. The reason was that the lighter pigment of blonde hair allows more sunlight to penetrate the scalp, which means better vitamin D absorption.
According to some historians, the ‘Dumb Blonde’ stereotype can be traced to some 250 years ago, in a play titled, ‘Les Curiosités de la Foire.’ It had the role of a blonde courtesan, Rosalie Duthé. Her character was portrayed as stupid and someone who was sexually available.
In 1953, the movie ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ emphasized the same stereotype. Marilyn Monroe played Lorelei, a blonde who was absentminded and wanted to marry for money. In contrast to Lorelei, Dorothy was a brunette and was depicted as smarter than her.
How Did This Stereotype Become Part Of Pop Culture?
Apart from movies and theatres, advertisements have also played a major role in propagandizing this stereotype. In a Clairol commercial, which is a hair colorant company, the phrase, “Is it true blondes have more fun?” can be heard. Consequently, contemporary popular culture has engrained the blonde stereotype.
Blonde women are perceived as women who rely on their beauty more than use their own intelligence. Since they’re considered being less serious-minded, brunettes are accorded the position of ‘intelligent’ and ‘smart.’ The movie, ‘Legally Blonde’, starring Reese Witherspoon, is narrated around the same stereotype. Elle Woods’ primary aim in the movie is to burst this stereotype and move ahead in the face of this bias.
Recently, an experiment by Jay Zagorsky debunked this baseless stereotype with scientific findings. He collected an extensive database of random adults containing information both about their intelligence and hair color. The astounding results were published in the Economic Bulletin. It read, “Among white women, those reporting having blond hair are actually slightly smarter than those with other hair colors.”
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