dumb blonde

[dkk]

where did the dumb blonde stereotype come from

[stoo_pid]

Essex? ;-)

[andy hughes]

Educated guess - Marilyn Monroe in the various parts she played in films. Light on the education, heavy on the sex appeal.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Actually, it's because blonde women have higher levels of oestrogen and hence are more fertile than darker haired women. Consequently, on a very basic animal level, heterosexual men will tend to find blondes more attractive given the choice. And the reason they're dumb? Probably jealousy from those 'less fertile brunettes'.

Interestingly, since so many women now dye their hair, and men's senses can be fooled into thinking it's real, the genuine blonde gene is becoming rarer and rarer, and they predict it will all but have died out within a hundred years. Places like Scandanavia will last out a bit longer!

Personally, I've always fancied redheads, so god knows what that means!

[New Forester]

References for this, please Waldo. I'm afraid it doesn't sound watertight to me, by a long shot! I don't believe that levels of oestrogen are related to hair colour. Neither do I believe that they are related to fertility in any simple way. I also am doubtful whether a majority of men actually do prefer blondes -- as you and me both don't. It all sounds like a just-so story, made up to "explain" the supposed observation. I'm not convinced either by the dying-hair theory. If there was indeed an evolutionary pressure for selecting blondes, all that dying would do is remove it, not act against it. In addition, it all ignores the fact that both sexes vary in hair colour, and mate-selection works in both directions.

[IndieSinger]

I'm not saying whether I reckon it's totally factual or not, but what WaldoMcFroog talks about in the first paragraph was discussed in some detail by Robert "Oh great biological moustachioed one" Winston in his human body series last year. So he is definitely of that same opinion.

[worder]

i think Dolly Parton had a song that mentioned a dumb blond, and whether she came up with the phrase( she is a very prolific song writer), or whether she used it cause it was already in use, but i think she made the phrase more poular and then, it just stuck.

[Kingaroo]

re Dolly Parton -- I think her comment on the subject was something to effect of "I've never been offended when people make jokes about dumb blondes because I know I'm not dumb and I'm not blonde."

[Quizmonster]

'Dumb' has meant 'stupid' as well as 'incapable of speech' since the 1300s. The earliest recorded use of the phrase 'dumb blonde' dates from 1936, having appeared in a book called 'Shilling for Candles' by J Tey.

In other words, it appears to have nothing whatever to do with dear Marilyn, Essex girls or anything particularly scientific at all!

[Ewood27]

Humph. Apologies all round. I'm trying to give two references. Here's the first. Click here.

[Ewood27]

You learn something every day. AB answers will not support two links. The first one worked at last, so now click here for the second part.

AB Ed, could you please remove my two failed answers? Thanks. [Done - AB Ed]

[i_luff_honey]

i really have no idea where it actualy came from, but what i dont agree with is the fact that waldomcfrog says that blondes are more fertile than brunettes!iv never heard such utter rubbish in all my life!i am a dark blonde haired girl and i used to be light blonde, but my hair is going darker, now correct me if im wrong but from your answer your telling me that as my hair goes darker im losing my fertillity!

[WaldoMcFroog]

i_luff_honey, yes. And that's why naturally blonde women go darker after having children - the body produces less eostrogen. Sorry if you disagree with biology though. Might as well disagree that men have a penis.

[Sir_Spikey]

Robert Winston? Gawd, I'm almost tempted to doubt biology and the sources given when that agenda ridden liar is mentioned. Luckily I didn't. Is there a male equivalent? I had paper white blonde hair till I was 13, I have been bleaching it since 16 (18 years) and when I actually let it grow out last year i was dirty blonde/mousey sort of colour? Is this a worrying trend in my fertility? -;)

[i_luff_honey]

That i do believe. theres no need to be like that though waldomcfroog, i sed correct me if im wrong. im only 16 you might make me cry.

[blonde_proud]

its obviously because blondes tend to be beautiful and people think they cant have brains aswell but i prove you all wrong. lol.