Blonde Stereotype

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Blonde Stereotype

A stereotype (from Greek: stereo + týpos = "solid impression") is a generalized perception of first impressions: behaviours
Presumed by a group of people judging with the eyes/criticizing ones outer appearance (or a population in general) to be
Associated with another specific group

Dumb Blonde Stereotype--Myth or Fact

The Dumb Blonde Stereotype
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 neighbours 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 unintelligent, lower class people.

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 (in fact, brunette women held a demonstration protesting
The movie, showing that brunettes could be just as much fun), this certainly did nothing to showcase their intelligence.

Nature, Nurture, or Nonsense

The colour of one's hair is determined by either a gene, or a choice to make a chemical alteration to the colour. Does that
One gene, or whatever gene we have that makes us gravitates toward blondeness also affect intellectual capacity? Genetically,
It doesn't appear to be that way.

Let's look at another reason people may...

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