Blonde hair, blue eyes- status symbol?

[persianlady]

Whilst reading an article regarding the search for Madeleine McCann, I have been wondering about about something that was said in this article. It said that a blonde haired, blue eyed, fair skinned child was a status symbol in Morocco. Can anyone tell me if this is true , and if so, why? Would children like this be chereished, or are there more sinister motives?
I remember a boss of mine going on holiday to Morocco years ago. He had a toddler with blonde hair , and he said the locals were fascinated by her . He was even offered money for her. Why?

[sp1814]

persianlady

There might be some truth that by being blonde with blue eyes, a child would be perceived as being 'special' in a part of the world where that's rare.

I know from personal experience, when I've visited parts of Europe where black men (with appalling taste in pop music) is rare, I've 'got lucky' more than I would normally expect...

..however, in this case, I don't think we should even try to work out what might have happened because the police who have been working on it for the past six months have totally drawn a blank.

If someone told me they had proof that she'd been abducted by aliens...well, I'd think they were mental, but at the moment, anything's possible.

[brionon]

I've got blue eyes and blonde hair {well grey now} and
I always thought I should have special treatment.

[Ice-Maiden]

That's beautiful Brionon - and why not!!

[feist]

Its just rare and different, like seeing an albino in Africa.....
same goes for blondes, they stand out among brunettes but in their own country they are as dull as cabbage soup really. Sorry, I dont find blondes v special or attractive really

[Ice-Maiden]

Everyone has something special about them, whether blonde, brunette or redhead. You can't generalise.

[persianlady]

This is not about the McCanns. It is a serious question.
I wish I had not said were I saw the statement . It is not about who did it or where Madeleine is. I want to know why these children are considered status symbols and if so are they cherished or not?

[Ethel]

I don't believe blonde haired blue eyed children are a status symbol in Morocco.

Some Berbers are blonde with blue eyes - and Berbers as a whole make up 30% of the Moroccon population, and are considered nomads / gypsy / uneducated type people, not 'high status' at all.

[garner]

I dont know about children persianlady but when I was in Egypt two years ago the children there would not leave me alone, and would touch my hair at every available moment.I have blue eyes fair skin and white hair they even touched my hand or arm, funny thing, but dont know why.

[Ice-Maiden]

They did this to me in Turkey, as well. I think it's because many of the people from these countries are darker-skinned than us, with dark hair, so, particularly in rural areas where people might not see blue-eyed blonde people, it's just a novelty thing.

[feist]

Exactly, blondes are nothin special in other parts of the world where they are as common as crows.... their fair wallflower looks blend them into the dull wintry background nicely at this time of the year, lol.

[naomi24]

Something in the recesses of my mind tells me that the concept of 'blue blood' (the aristocracy) came from the fact that the veins in a light skinned person look blue, and for that reason those people were considered to be elite. In fact it was thought they had blue, rather than red, blood running through their veins, and fair skinned people are still considered special in some societies. Up until fairly recently people with dark skin were considered coarse, and those with light skin considered the elite. In Victorian times ladies would never allow the sun to shine upon their faces for fear of darkening their complexion, and many Victorian ladies died from arsenic poisoning, since they used arsenic to lighten the skin. This only comes from something in my memory, so no doubt someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

[Louisa 69]

I think it's the English Rose completion that they like.

[feist]

correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't the victorian ladies were also bulbous, blubbery, the size of whales really aswell coz they thought that was a sure sign of being 'elite' in that century?

Aristocracy did not just exist in plcaes with fair people, but in Southern Europe (greece, italy) where people are more tanned than anything. Color was not an issue, it was more to do with connections and family background..... fair skin color is over rated , more so by the dull fair haired breed i suspect, lol

[Louisa 69]

sorry * complexion *

[feist]

its 'blue blood' according to the blue blooded, fair haired princes ... why do norwegians/danish people have this sterotypyed view around the world of being stupid, oafish people? I'm sure they're not, but something in deep ravnes of my mind wonders where this particular view orginates from?? One to ponder over I think...hmmm

[shanx]

when i was younger ( i underline younger) on holidays in turkey ,greece, and italy , because i was blond and fair skinned the men were like bees round a honeypot ,( whats that song lol those were the days my friend)

[feist]

well I'm still young, brunette and tanned skinned and the men are always around me too, where I live, not so many brunettes as boring blondies, so I see what you mean,,,, which brings me bk to the point that what is rare is interesting to someone whos never seen it before, once you see it enough though, novelty wears off and dullness wears in.

[shanx]

think the three nationalities i met their d***s ruled there heads so i wasnt interested in any case lol

[persianlady]

Thanks for all your input folks. I suppose I could only find out if it is really true is to ask a Moroccan. The reason for my asking this question is that I was thinking that IF it were true, and there was a possibility that a child had been abducted and was being held there. Then this child would not be physically harmed. Wishful thinking.

[persianlady]

I thought that was typical of men regardless of nationality!
LOL