Are Blondes Dumb or Just Portrayed That Way?

 

The dictionary defines blonde, “as of a flaxen golden, light auburn or pale yellowish or pale yellowish brown color of a pale white or rosy white color” (Dictionary.com).  When you think of blonde do you think of hair color or jokes like, what does a blonde say when you blow in her ear? "Thanks for the refill." The often-repeated “-blonde” jokes can be useful for a laugh or two once in a while, or is that just what brunettes or redheads think is funny? The stereotype of a blonde is someone who is empty-headed, shallow and only concerned with her appearance.  If these so called “blondes” lived up to their reputation, would anyone want to be blonde? Blondes aren't necessarily “brainless” nor do they “have more fun.” In fact, blondes are a dying breed that is often misunderstood and certainly misrepresented.

After all of these jokes about blondes, they may not even exist by the year 2202. According to a German study, blondes are an endangered species. The researchers have predicted that the last natural blondes will be born in Finland, a country with the highest proportion of blondes because, there are too few people carrying this recessive gene. In order for a child to have blonde hair both parents must have the gene. If not a natural blonde and it is decided to cover up true brunette color, that is considered part of the reason for this extinction of this characteristic.  It was reported in the study that men find blondes more attractive, whether they be natural or not. This causes the further reduction of blondes that actually carry the recessive gene for the trait and can pass it on to their children. 

From websites to magazine articles and surveys, blondes seem to be perceived almost as a different class of individuals, and they even have their own IQ test specifically designed for them. It tests how “dumb” they really are. The test could be given to a five year old to fill out and he/she would get every question correct.  A question would go something like How many "F"s are in the following phrase: FANNY FILINGER WAS OF THE IMPRESSION THAT EIGHTY-SIX YEARS OF HISTORY SHOW THAT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE IN EVERY CASE OF FUTURE GENERATIONS. According to website, book and magazines surveys results, blondes say that blondes “do have more fun” and that they are not bothered by the jokes about them because they are so obviously untrue. However, if all these jokes are based in untruths why do they have that reputation and where did it come from? Just the very idea of websites and random jokes about blondes reinforces the stereotype about their lack of intelligence. Because it is a constant stereotype, which we are reminded about daily, there is no time for it to die out if it is always there.  They relate stories about all the dumb things that blondes do, which obviously are also done by girls with every other hair color.

Many characters in our everyday world remind us of how blondes are seen. For example, the Barbie doll who is beautiful, blonde, shapely and has a wardrobe of every conceivable outfit.  She also drives a pink Corvette, lives in a mansion and in the commercial she acts like a "stereotypical" blonde, dumb and empty-headed.  The stereotype comes from the media and is than displayed to a younger generation by using these commercials. With a high perky voice, and a strut when she walks, you have to ask yourself if this is one of the reasons for the reputation that blondes have acquired. A couple years ago the makers of Barbie did step back and look at her as a role model to children starting at the age of four. Suddenly Barbie went brunette, she gained a little more weight and the commercials changed drastically since I watched them, during my Barbie years. Now, there is a working girl Barbie who wears a suit, hiking Barbie whose car is a Jeep. By adding all of these accessories to Barbie, her life has become more realistic and slowly is ridding herself of the blonde stereotype at the beach in a bikini with her handsome boyfriend, Ken. Another example of blonde characters which is helping to rid blondes of their "dumb blonde" reputation is Reese Witherspoon, who plays Elle in "Legally Blonde." Elle starts off as showing the viewers she is a California blonde, who is very experienced in the subject of fashion, social activities and primping. Using her talents she manages to get into Harvard law school, chase after her ex-boyfriend, while managing to make her way to the top. An unexpected event occurs proving to the viewers that her outer "blonde" appearance has nothing to do with the personality and knowledge inside, it actually proves that it helps her. 

After observing the way blondes are depicted in our culture in-jokes, magazine articles, and TV shows, such as “Clueless” blondes are unfairly portrayed as brainless and silly. One way for blondes to rid themselves of this reputation is to have the public be more aware of blondes in other walks of life, like medicine and law, where they would be taken more seriously.  There are brainless and juvenile people with every hair color; blondes do not have a corner on foolishness. It would also be helpful if blondes were cast in more well rounded roles in movies and TV where they can show their intelligence and common sense.  If this were to happen there would be more positive articles written in magazines and newspapers, which would help to break the stereotype of the “dumb blonde.”