While looking up some data for this post, I found a great site chock full of fun-facts-
href="http://www.neoteny.org">Neoteny.org. The site has a scientific theory to sell you, but his data
is what really caught my attention.
Check this out:
Of the 50 subjects with learning disabilities, 10 (20%) were blond. In contrast, 121 of 1067 subjects without learning disabilities were blond (11%)... subjects with learning disabilities were nearly twice as likely to be blond compared with non-LD subjects.... These results raise the possibility that melanin may be involved both in the development of motor dominance and independently in the devilment of neural systems which, when maldeveloped, result in learning disabilities. (Schachter, Ransel & Geschwind (1987) Associations of Handedness with hair color and learning disabilities Neuropsychologia 25: pp. 275)
Not conclusive (the sample with learning disabilities is hell-of-small), but some more information which
indicated that blondes had higher rates learning disabilities and were more likely to be left-handed was
very interesting. I don't really know what to make of this. But food for thought (the idea that "blondes are
dumb" might come from learning disabilities perhaps?).
Diane of Letter From Gotham (soon to be in new digs) took up the baton that I received from
Cut on the Bias on the whole black-women-angry-at-white-women-for-stealing-their-men-schtick.
Diane
href="http://gotham2003.blogspot.com/2002_12_01_gotham2003_archive.html#86501393">brought
up the issue of "blondeism," the lower bar that fair-haired women have to jump in attractiveness
(thanks for the correction Diane). The data is light on the ground and speculation rife in the air. So I'll
pile on.
Blonde hair dye outsells other colors by
href="http://www.cincypost.com/living/1999/blond090299.html">five to one. Only a small minority
of American women are natural blondes as adults, but look at Playboy or watch television and
blondes are far more prominent. A roommate of mine back in college, who had a marketing minor, told
me that blondes sell 5% more on a magazine cover, so they are more of a safe bet. Ancient Roman
women wore blonde wigs. It seems that there is a natural preference for blondes. If it was cultural, one
would find at least one European culture where there is a preference for dark hair among women, but I
know of none (readers can correct me here). I think it is clear that there is sexual selection for blondism
because it is a childish trait that accentuates a woman's youth (the one other region of the world where
blondism is common, among the central Australian tribes, the trait is associated with women and
children).
On the other hand, is the blonde preference cross-racial? Is it part of a "peacock" effect where humans
have no natural speed limit but gorge their eyes on golden hair if possible? I am not so sure about this. I
would like to see data on whether isolated tribal people prefer blondes to non-blondes. I read in
Journal of Ethnic Studies years ago that though Asian people admired the light skin of Europeans,
they were less impressed by blonde hair and blue eyes [1]. In fact, the people of east Asia often portrayed
people with red hair and green eyes as witches and trolls (European hair is as red as Chinese skin is
yellow remember). The Chinese did have some knowledge of people with European features, the
barbarians of Eastern Turkestan were often portrayed as having Western features and red hair (some of
them still do even after centuries of intermarriage with Mongoloid people from the north and east). My
own personal experience from my cultural background (South Asian Muslim) is similar in that though the
light skin of Europeans is admired, the blonde hair and blue eyes are considered less interesting. It seems
to me that not having black hair is associated more with sickliness than anything else [2]. This implies
that the peacock effect is not at play, that people tend to prefer those who are lighter than the mean of
their population, but not as light as can be (makes sense, otherwise albinos would all be supermodels).
In the context of American culture this preference for blondes favors white women. Blacks and Asians
who bleach their hair blonde look ridiculous. I know, I've done it twice (I did it for the ridiculousness of
it, but don't plan on it anytime in the future). On the other hand, most whites can become bottle blondes
and if it is done well can pass as one of the fair-haired elite (ever take a look at pictures of mouse-brown
haired Norma Jean?).
When I was in 8th grade one of the classes I took was about social interaction and public issues. We split
up into groups. I happened to have the token black girl at our school (her father was black, her mother
white) in my group. There were about six groups, and only our group did not include "blonde" as a
physical feature of the "perfect girl." I don't suspect this was a coincidence, because it is not a large leap
in logic to conclude that because non-white women can never look naturally blonde they can never aspire
toward physical perfection. And let's be honest, for young men physical perfection is the only type there is
for women.
What can I say? Life sucks.
[1] The modern vogue in Japan for brown hair and eye surgery to mimic the Western look is very much
going against historical norms. It is a classic case of cultural emulation. On the other hand, light skin
has always been associated with beauty and class.
[2] My sister has very dark reddish-brown hair (obviously more brown than red). In a crowd of white
people her hair looks basically black, but when set next to the blue-black hair of my brothers & I, the
difference is instantly noticeable. My mother hoped it was a childhood related condition, but her hair
color remains stubbornly "abnormal," despite all my mothers attempts to mitigate it with ointments (both
my parents dye their grey hair black-I have mild premature greying and might have more showing now
than my father).
In my experience, natural blondes quite shrewd. They understand the dumb, tittering, shallow
personalities that high school boys like and play them to the hilt.
that's just women. blondes just have more opportunity to play them....
Posted by: razib at December 28, 2002 12:27 PMOne little nit, Razib, blondeism isn't the actual "superiority of blondes" but the perceived greater
attractiveness of blonde hair in women, which means that the bar is set higher for brunettes. (Think Zeta-
Jones v. Zellweger.)
It's a nit, but to me, an important nit.
Curiously, this doesn't work with men, which fits in with the whole neoteny bit. Tall, dark & handsome is
the ideal. (Think Viggo Mortensen...)
1) i deserved that, after all my rambling about how people are *different* and not *superior* or *inferior*
:)
2) the tall-dark-handsome thing is interesting, though i wonder at those who assert that indo-european
gods tend to be "blonde-beasts." most women i know do tend to associate blonde men with an almost
child-like beauty-and before the 19th century i have read that blonde males were stereotyped as feckless
dreamers. would be nice to have more data on this (anyone know the hair color of the homeric heroes
well? i believe achilles, odysseus and idomeneus are all described as "red-haired")
1) No prob. :)
2) Erm....I think I was talking about a preference for paedomorphic qualities in chix, and neoteny wasn't
the issue here....gotta get my HBD terms straight.
In my observations, men from very white countries like dark women. I could be wrong, but there are many
cases of German men who come here as tourists and get married to darker-than-average Brazilian women.
Maybe men value the rare, the novelty. I myself think that I'm more attracted to blondes when I am Brazil
than in America, as though I adapted to the new proportions. Strange, eh?
Well, if you assume that blondes are, on a purely physical basis, considered more attractive than brunettes,
it follows that blondes will also, on average, be dumber (assuming that brains actually give a woman a
selective advantage in finding a mate.)
A slightly dumber blond will have a same chance of winning a mate as a slightly smarter brunette
(assuming that the blonde hair gives her an advantage.) Thus, selective pressure will produce a lower
mean intelligence for blonde women than for brunette women.
Obviously, this is grossly simplified, and you'd have to add in maternal affects and 2nd or third order
inheritence issues (smarter women have smarter kids, which will in turn produce more grandchildren),
but I'd say a simple minded sexual selection argument easily explains the dumb blonde stereotype.
Of course, this sort of easy just-so Ev. Psych. argument is immediately and rightly suspect, but I thought
I'd at least throw it out there.
A minor point: If the pigment-deficient are more likely to be left-handed, it may be because we are less
likely to punish a child for using its left hand.
Diana: "One little nit, Razib, blondeism isn't the actual "superiority of blondes" but the perceived greater
attractiveness of blonde hair in women, which means that the bar is set higher for brunettes. (Think Zeta-
Jones v. Zellweger.)"
This is so true.
Posted by: -R at December 30, 2002 05:17 PMWhy do fairer skinned girls have more fun, but women like their men tall, dark, and handsome?
Anthropologist Peter Frost points out that sisters average about 10% fairer in skin color than their
brothers. http://www.globetrotter.net/gt/usagers/pfrost/
That's why females are called "the fair sex."
We don't often consciously notice that sex difference in modern America because of the wide differences
in skin color caused by America's racial diversity. Nonetheless, it's a common feeling around the world. It
tends to lead to rich people becoming lighter skinned than poor people since rich men will marry fairer
skinned girls and have fairer skinned sons who will continue the process.
I can't quantify an Irish preference for dark hair among women but a common poetic name for Ireland is
"An Róisín Dubh" - The Black Rose - a beatiful black haired woman. The "Cáilín Dubh" - black haired
girl - is prominent in Irish literature as an object of desire. Yet, the Irish "Buachaillín Bán" - fair-haired
boy implies a favorite son.
A male friend of mine from China tells me he doesn't like blondes and is somewhat perplexed by their
poularity in America.
I've always assumed that light skin was preferred because in agricultural societies the peasants are
working in the sun and the aristocrats are lounging in the shade. Affluence was pale. Only in the modern
era are the affluent lying in the sun getting tanned while the poor labor inside under fluorescent lights.
joanne's idea is common, and i myself think it has some validity. what we should look at is do non-
agricultural societies have the same preferences? the australian aborigines for instance consider
blondeness a female trait, and rather attractive.
Doug, I think your analysis of the dumb blonde stereotype missing a crucial factor. If blonde women are
more preferred as mates in a culture, it is likely that the more successful men in that culture will be
successful in obtaining blonde wives. Seeing as more successful men are likely to be more intelligent and
both blondeness and intelligence are inherited, blondeness (or actually any other preferred trait) would be
a marker also for greater intelligence. Though, it can be a wash.
The fact that blondes may be more prone to learning disabilities does not mean that blondes without
learning disabilities would be any less intelligent. If anything, the blonder nations of Europe - Sweden,
The Netherlands, England, Germany, Austria, even Poland scored higher on IQ tests than the darker
nations of southern Europe, Italy being the exception.
I would also like to comment on whether a preference for blondes is just a sexual selection or if it
represents a natural selection. It strikes me that blondism is a marker for lighter skin which is better
adapted to the colder northern climates. I think sexual selection anticipates natural selection and
consequently serves as a form of breeding (hell, it could even be called intelligent design if ID has not
come to mean something else.) But since natural selection only works on what's available, we have
blonde Swedes and Finns and short, darker Lapps and Inuits. All populations show adaptions to colder
climates, but each had different 'stuff' to work with and each culture would emphasize a different ideal
that would be marginally better adapted to the environmental conditions.
I, as a blonde student have always been reassured by fellow classmates and friends that I am the exception
to the blonde stereotype. However, I have come to notice differences in the treatment of other individuals
around me due to hair color. Observing male reactions to females with varying amounts of hair pigment, I
have found that many males seem to strongly believe in the "ditzy blonde" label. I am pleasantly surprised
and pleased to find that this message board exists, and that those participating in it seem to also be
working to destroy the irrational stereotype of the unintelligent blonde.
I'm actually doing a journalism assignment on whether or not blondes actually have more fun. But before
I do my research, I must define "Blondes" as well as "fun". When you hear the quote "blondes have more
fun", what is your interpretation. Specifically, what does FUN mean to you?
Jen - blondes are girls with yellowish hair. I don't know where to stand on dirty blondes and "dyed
blondes" though. I don't believe that blondes are dumb genetically, just like I don't believe that blacks are
dumb genetically or that Poles don't have common sense. A more likely explanation is that blondes are
expected to act dumb because of these stupid stereotypes and they do so because they think that's why guys
find them so attractive. Maybe they think that if they guys like stupid girls because it's easier to get some
"fun". Or maybe these blond girls become stupid because they spend all their time getting or looking for
"fun" and they don't have any time to learn anything. Another explanation might be that all the stupid
brunette girls who are seeking "fun" dye their hair blonde. Perhaps society keeps thinking that blondes
are stupid because of the jealous brunettes who continue to keep this stereotype alive due to losing bfs to
blondes. As a guy, I prefer blondes over brunettes and I'm pretty sure that most unbiased guys do also.
Yellow is a feminine color, at least more than brown or black. In japanimation, the japanese use pink,
light blue, purple, and yellow for hair color for their female japanese cartoon characters because these are
"girly". Females that are attractive are the ones who look female. Hollywood is a prime example - the
beautiful women celebrities - Uma Thurman, Sarah Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, Britney, Meg Ryan,
Heather Graham, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Rachel Roberts in Simone, Courtney Thorne Smith,
Heather Locklear, Heidi Klum, Natasha Kinski, Natasha Henstridge...need I go on? Now, let's look at the
men. Nick Nolte? The most prominent blonde angel is brad pitt, but it seems he's starting to lose that
title as evidenced in Ocean Eleven. Ryan Phillipe dyed his hair to brown. Maybe that guy in the Fast and
the Furious. Most male celebrities have dark hair, rather than yellow hair. When i picture a masculine
male, he doesn't have yellow hair. As for skin color, I think the male should always be darker than the
female. The reason - i don't quite know - maybe the fairer the skin, the more feminine because women are
more likely to be indoors than men. A quick example - ebony and ivory. White guys are never with a
black girl, but it may be possible for a black guy to be with a white girl. And the black girls that white
guys even remotely like usually have white blood - Halle Berry, Vanessa Williams, tyra (?, not sure). As
for eye color, I've been debating with myself which is better light colored eyes or dark colored eyes. The
answer is now very obvious. It's harder to see the pupil in darker eyes than lighter eyes. For example, I
notice in african americans that they have such black eyes that I can't see their pupil because it has
blended - I just see the reflection of light. But when I see blue eyes or green eyes, the puil can be seen
easily - the eyes may be the windows to the soul; but the pupils are the glass of the windows. Therefore,
I'm going to marry an Aryan girl :) If anyone wants to debate, then this law student would be much
obliged.
Perosnally, being blonde doesn't mean being stupid. I certainly can not figure out why blondes are
considered stupid, or why female blondes are considered stupid and most male blondes arn't. I do believe
that yes we do act on occasion to the cercumstance that leads to acting a tad ditsy, but I can think of plenty
brunettes and red-heads who also have the same agenda. Not to mention I think dying your hair blonde is
abosolutely idiotic, I mean think about it making yourself the object of redicule not that my friend is
stupid. Recently reading 220 blonde jokes referring to blondes as easy, well we are easy...but so is
everyone else who wants to be easy. I read an article that made perfect sense by stating that,"Blondes have
more confidence, therefore leading them to experience more erotic, and exotic pleasures of the world, not
just referring to as being easy."Blondes are just as smart as any brunette or red-head.
Oh, and to add to that I did misspell a few words...I was in a hurry to catch my next class when I found
the forum posted on the message board outside the dorms.
Here's the thing.
Non-blondes are calling the blondes attractive, stupid, having to use looks to get around life, etc...... While
the blondes are saying they're jealous cause they've got all the guys swooping around them, etc............
For both sides it is true.
Most non-blondes are just sick of the stuck-up personailties of blonde people who think they're better than
everyone else, while others are actually jealous. I'm not saying all blondes are stuck up attention seekers.
But most of them are and even if they don't admit it and go on the other side claiming that they're the ones
being wrongly bullied for just being blonde while it's their fault in the first place.
I've only ever known one natural blonde in my life who doesn't flirt with boys or dyed her hair to attract
attention. She's a great person and everyone loves her for just being who she is and no one teases her
about being blonde. While many other blondes are being bullied. Why? She's just herself and doesn't care
if she's attractive or not. She's proud of her natural hair colour and you should be too!
People who truely love and care for you in life will judge you by your heart not with your looks. People
who like others by looks or popularity will start lying to themselves saying he/she's fun, kind and caring
etc.... are only creating illusions for themselves becasue they just want the person to be that way and so
believe in it. While the other person will start moulding into the kind of person they think their other
person would want them to be, so they won't lose them. (I had a friend who always whore white socks to
school but them started wearing black saying her boyfriend thinks they're more sexier)This is an example
of it.
I would rather get with a person who loved me just for being myself than live a lie and have to do this and
that to keep and please them.
I'm NATURALLY blond and i'm African American and i think its ignorant to say blacks will always look
unatural being blond. I think Beyonce Knowleses and Mariahs blond looks much more natural than
Christina Aguilera's any day. We dont complain about other races tanning,wearing braids,singing black
music etc, but now we "look look rediculous in blond hair"?
In my opinion regardless of your race,black,white,asian or hispanic, if blond doesnt work for you then
thats just you.It has nothing to do with the color of your skin.
There is a study in England demonstrating that the individuals who appear less intelligent are the same
that appear to be fake blondes. The difference in perception between blonde and brunette in that study
was that the blonde was more popular.
"The brown model was rated as more shy, and the natural blonde as more popular."
Dr Cassidy said: "It seems that the stereotype about dumb blondes did exist, but only in terms of the
platinum blonde."
Someone mentioned IQ above and it's true that the Northern Europeans have some of the highest IQs.
The Netherlands in particular is one of the most sexually free places while at the same time it is the place
with the highest IQ. Having just visited there I noticed that many of the people who were from there
didn't seem to care about discussing issues as much. They are more to the point and direct -a bit like the
blonder Midwestern US with Swedish and Norwegian ancestry. They get the same job done, but don't feel
the need to sit around and think or talk about it. They just know what to do and do it. My Midwestern
wife is also like that. She often has more trouble than I do at discussing complicated issues. But as I am
discussing something, she often uses one sentence or action that can beat me to the point. I'm more
brunette than blonde. My theory for today is that blondes tend do things where as brunettes tend to think
about doing things. So it would seem that brunettes are more thoughtful in that way.
As for blonde jokes, they do outnumber brunette jokes 10 – 1. This helps back up both ideas that
brunettes are less popular and they like to think about things. Brunettes have more time on their hands to
think about why it is they have more time to think about things. This leads to a natural proclivity to
provide an abundance of jokes as an attempt to feel better about being a brunette, or at least to try and
deflate blonde popularity.
I've read that this issue will fade in two hundred years basically because of the combination of the media
and brunettes dying their hair blonde. We will have bred blondes out of existence and they will be
effectively extinct in two hundred years or so. Consequently, brunettes will have the last say as to which
quality was better in the end. Blondes and others should note that the current form of "diversity"
marketed today would provide civilization with the opposite long-term impact as that implied by MTV
and other media. Whether you think this effect has been caused on purpose, or not, depends on your view
of the people in charge of the majority of the media.
A great deal of media is mostly owned by a group of people who are great marketers. You'll note that in
years past these brunette marketers have convinced people that they are God, that a rock can be worth a
million dollars, and artwork containing only one black stroke of paint is important to the cultural fabric of
the world (lately it's sparkly glass that is so important in that field). A little Brunette man (who
incidentally was also good at marketing) upset this same group in World War Two. This man said his
intentions where to breed a perfect race of blondes at the expense of the brunette marketers. Well, as a
member of this group of brunette marketers, I would be a quite upset. If I were still a little paranoid about
the WWII incident, I would do whatever necessary to cause the mass extinction of the blondes.