The Dumb Blonde Stereotype
The Dumb Blonde Stereotype
Being a blond girl all my life, I have always taken somewhat personal to the dumb blonde stereotype especially to these funny jokes. Although, yes, many times people find themselves cracking up at these ‘harmless’ jokes witch supposed to be inoffensive, they are unconsciously supporting the stereotype that blondes are stupid.. But have you ever wondered how fair haired woman became such a joke material? If youre not blond, I guess not, but I personally was very intrigued and did a little bit of research. Well, the dumb blond stereotype, origin, like many popular stereotypes, is clouded.
History
First of all, let's take a little look at where this whole "dumb blonde" idea comes from. One theory is that the ancient Greeks and Romans so admired their flaxen-haired neighbors to the north, they would bleach their hair to make it blonde. Seeing as they didn't exactly have the health standards we have today, a considerable amount of bleach repeatedly placed on the scalp and being inhaled could have some effect on one's mental status.
Another theory is that in the Middle Ages, while the lords and ladies pranced around and shaded their delicate features, common people worked outdoors in the fields and became tanned and their hair grew lighter. As the lower classes didn't usually have a formal education, tan skin and blonde hair became associated with unintelligence.
Then there is the ever famous book by Anita Loos and the movie based upon it, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, starring Marilyn Monroe. Released in 1953, this story about two showgirls-a clueless blonde and a sassy brunette. While perhaps highlighting the "fun" side of blondes, this certainly did nothing to showcase their intelligence.
Nature, Nurture, or Nonsense
Let's look at another reason people may suspect blondes of being inherently empty headed. Often children are born with blonde hair. We think of those children as naive, cute, and playful, and treating them in such a manner
Being a blond girl all my life, I have always taken somewhat personal to the dumb blonde stereotype especially to these funny jokes. Although, yes, many times people find themselves cracking up at these ‘harmless’ jokes witch supposed to be inoffensive, they are unconsciously supporting the stereotype that blondes are stupid.. But have you ever wondered how fair haired woman became such a joke material? If youre not blond, I guess not, but I personally was very intrigued and did a little bit of research. Well, the dumb blond stereotype, origin, like many popular stereotypes, is clouded.
History
First of all, let's take a little look at where this whole "dumb blonde" idea comes from. One theory is that the ancient Greeks and Romans so admired their flaxen-haired neighbors to the north, they would bleach their hair to make it blonde. Seeing as they didn't exactly have the health standards we have today, a considerable amount of bleach repeatedly placed on the scalp and being inhaled could have some effect on one's mental status.
Another theory is that in the Middle Ages, while the lords and ladies pranced around and shaded their delicate features, common people worked outdoors in the fields and became tanned and their hair grew lighter. As the lower classes didn't usually have a formal education, tan skin and blonde hair became associated with unintelligence.
Then there is the ever famous book by Anita Loos and the movie based upon it, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, starring Marilyn Monroe. Released in 1953, this story about two showgirls-a clueless blonde and a sassy brunette. While perhaps highlighting the "fun" side of blondes, this certainly did nothing to showcase their intelligence.
Nature, Nurture, or Nonsense
Let's look at another reason people may suspect blondes of being inherently empty headed. Often children are born with blonde hair. We think of those children as naive, cute, and playful, and treating them in such a manner