Blonde stereotype: Difference between revisions
[pending revision] | [pending revision] |
Lembit Staan (talk | contribs) Undid revision 505298702 by Staszek Lem (talk) |
Great Scott (talk | contribs) →Counter representation: Jennifer Marlowe |
||
Line 51: | Line 51: | ||
===Counter representation=== |
===Counter representation=== |
||
At the same time, there are many examples where the stereotype is exploited only to combat it.<ref name=eh149/> The film ''[[Legally Blonde]]'' starring [[Reese Witherspoon]] featured the stereotype as a centerpiece of its plot. However the protagonist turns out to be very intelligent and is shown to have been underachieving due to society's low expectations of her. |
At the same time, there are many examples where the stereotype is exploited only to combat it.<ref name=eh149/> The film ''[[Legally Blonde]]'' starring [[Reese Witherspoon]] featured the stereotype as a centerpiece of its plot. However the protagonist turns out to be very intelligent and is shown to have been underachieving due to society's low expectations of her. |
||
[[Country music]] entertainer [[Dolly Parton]], aware of this occasional characterization of her, addressed it in her 1967 hit "[[Hello, I'm Dolly|Dumb Blonde]]". Parton's lyrics challenged the stereotype, stating "...just because I'm blonde, don't think I'm dumb 'cause this dumb blonde ain't nobody's fool...". Parton has said she was not offended by "all the dumb-blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb. I'm also not blonde."<ref>Karen Thomas. ''[http://www.usatoday.com/life/2003-10-27-blondes_x.htm She's having a blonde moment]''. October 27, 2003. USA Today.</ref> The author of the [[comic strip]] ''[[Blondie (comic strip)|Blondie]]'', [[Chic Young]], starting with "Dumb Dora", gradually transformed his subsequent Blondie into a smart, hard-working, family-oriented woman.<ref>"The Comics", by Coulton Waugh, M. Thomas Inge, 1991, ISBN 0-87805-499-5</ref><ref>''Blondie: the Bumstead Family History'', by Dean Young and Melena Ryzik (2007) ISBN 1-4016-0322-X</ref> The Simpsons' season 21, episode 20 [[To Surveil With Love]]: Lisa faced prejudice from her brunette peers because of her blonde hair at a debate meeting. Refusing to give up and wanting to prove the stereotype wrong, she intentionally dyed her hair dark brown. |
[[Country music]] entertainer [[Dolly Parton]], aware of this occasional characterization of her, addressed it in her 1967 hit "[[Hello, I'm Dolly|Dumb Blonde]]". Parton's lyrics challenged the stereotype, stating "...just because I'm blonde, don't think I'm dumb 'cause this dumb blonde ain't nobody's fool...". Parton has said she was not offended by "all the dumb-blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb. I'm also not blonde."<ref>Karen Thomas. ''[http://www.usatoday.com/life/2003-10-27-blondes_x.htm She's having a blonde moment]''. October 27, 2003. USA Today.</ref> The author of the [[comic strip]] ''[[Blondie (comic strip)|Blondie]]'', [[Chic Young]], starting with "Dumb Dora", gradually transformed his subsequent Blondie into a smart, hard-working, family-oriented woman.<ref>"The Comics", by Coulton Waugh, M. Thomas Inge, 1991, ISBN 0-87805-499-5</ref><ref>''Blondie: the Bumstead Family History'', by Dean Young and Melena Ryzik (2007) ISBN 1-4016-0322-X</ref> The Simpsons' season 21, episode 20 [[To Surveil With Love]]: Lisa faced prejudice from her brunette peers because of her blonde hair at a debate meeting. Refusing to give up and wanting to prove the stereotype wrong, she intentionally dyed her hair dark brown. In the 1970s and 1980s, actress [[Loni Anderson]] portrayed curvy blonde character [[Jennifer Marlowe]] as an intelligent, eloquent, and sophisticated anti-stereotype on the American sitcom [[WKRP in Cincinnati]]. |
||
{{see also|Valley girl|Essex girl}} |
{{see also|Valley girl|Essex girl}} |
||
Revision as of 16:42, 10 August 2012
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/2099725_FreightElevator_135wb.jpg/220px-2099725_FreightElevator_135wb.jpg)
The blonde stereotype, the stereotypical perception of blond-haired women, has two aspects. On one hand, over the history, blonde hair in women has been considered attractive and desirable. On the other hand, a blonde woman is often perceived as making little use of intelligence, as a "woman who relied on her looks rather than on intelligence." [1] The latter stereotype of "dumb blonde"[2] is exploited in blonde jokes.
Background and typology
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/To_Catch_a_Thief2.jpg/220px-To_Catch_a_Thief2.jpg)
Blonde hair has been considered attractive for long periods of time in various European cultures, particularly when coupled with blue eyes. This perception is exploited in culture and advertising.[3]
At the same time, people tend to presume that blondes are less serious-minded and less intelligent than brunettes, as reflected in "blonde jokes." [3] The roots of this notion may be traced to Europe, with the "dumb blonde" in question being a French courtesan named Rosalie Duthe, satirised in a 1775 play Les curiosites de la Foire for her habit of pausing a long time before speaking, appearing not only stupid but literally dumb (in the sense of mute).[3]
Annette Kuhn divides blonde stereotypes in cinema into three categories in The Women's Companion to International Film:[4]
- The ice-cold blonde: Kuhn defined it as "a blonde who hides a fire beneath an exterior of coldness". She provided Grace Kelly, Veronica Lake, Kim Novak, Mae Murray, and Eva Marie Saint as examples.
- The blonde bombshell: Kuhn defined it as "a blonde with explosive sexuality and is available to men at a price". She provided Brigitte Bardot, Lana Turner, Jean Harlow, Joan Blondell, Mae West, Barbara Eden, Marilyn Monroe, and Diana Dors as examples.
- The dumb blonde: Kuhn defined it as "a blonde with an overt and natural sexuality and a profound manifestation of ignorance". She provided Jayne Mansfield, Marion Davies, Alice White, Marie Wilson, and Mamie Van Doren as examples.
Blonde bombshell
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Jean_Harlow_in_Riffraff_trailer_1.jpg/225px-Jean_Harlow_in_Riffraff_trailer_1.jpg)
A blonde bombshell is a gender stereotype, used mainly in journalism, that connotes a very attractive woman with blonde hair.[5][6]
Media
The blonde bombshell is also one of the most notable and consistently popular female character types in cinema.[7] Many showbiz stars have used it to their advantage, including Jean Harlow, Marlene Dietrich, Clara Bow, Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield and Mamie Van Doren.[8] A review of English language tabloids from United Kingdom has shown it to be recurring blonde stereotype along with "busty blonde", and "blonde babe".[9]
Jean Harlow started the stereotype with her film Bombshell).[10][11] Following her, Monroe, Mansfield and Van Doren helped establish the stereotype typified by a combination of curvaceous physique, very light-colored hair and a perceived lack of intelligence.[12] In 1993, Sharon Stone hosted a documentary about Jean Harlow, Harlow: The Blonde Bombshell.[13]
Theories
In cognitive linguistics, the stereotype uses expressivity of words to affect an emotional response which determines gender role of a certain kind.[14][15] In feminist critique, stereotypes like the blonde bombshell or the "dumb blonde" are seen as negative images that undermine the power of women.[16]
Dumb blonde
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Marilyn_Monroe_in_Some_Like_It_Hot_trailer.jpg/220px-Marilyn_Monroe_in_Some_Like_It_Hot_trailer.jpg)
The notion of "dumb blonde" has been a topic of academic research reported in scholarly articles and university symposia, which tend to confirm that many people hold to the perception that light-haired women are less intelligent than women with dark hair.[3] At the same time, there is no evidence of intellect disparity based on the shade of hair, which leaves the question about the origins of this perception. A possible explanation is that attractive women have less pressing incentives to cultivate and demonstrate their intellect in order to ensure their future, since attractiveness is an asset as well. The validity of this explanation is corroborated by a its applicablity to a similar pervasiveness of "dumb athlete" stereotype.[19] The dumb blonde stereotype (and the associated cognitive bias) may have some negative consequences and it can also damage a blonde person's career prospects.[20]
Media stereotyping
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (a comic novel, a Broadway musical, and two films) explores the appeal of blonde women. The film starred Marilyn Monroe as the blonde and Jane Russell as her wise brunette friend.[3] The Encyclopedia of Hair describes Monroe's role as that of "a fragile woman who relied on her looks rather than on intelligence—what some people refer to as 'dumb blond'."[1] At the same time, in the film she demonstrates a certain amount of wit regarding her life position expressed in her hit[21] "Diamonds are a girl's best friend". And when her fiancé's father (who initially disliked her but eventually was won over) asked her why she pretends to be dumb, she answers that men prefer her this way.
Many blond actresses have played stereotypical "dumb blondes", including Judy Holliday,[3] Jayne Mansfield[3] and Goldie Hawn, best known as the giggling "dumb blonde", stumbling over her lines, especially when she introduced Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In "News of the Future".[3] In the American sitcom Three's Company the blond girl (originally Chrissy played by Suzanne Somers, and later Cindy and Terri) is sweet and naïve, while the brunette (Janet played by Joyce DeWitt) is smart.[3]
Counter representation
At the same time, there are many examples where the stereotype is exploited only to combat it.[3] The film Legally Blonde starring Reese Witherspoon featured the stereotype as a centerpiece of its plot. However the protagonist turns out to be very intelligent and is shown to have been underachieving due to society's low expectations of her. Country music entertainer Dolly Parton, aware of this occasional characterization of her, addressed it in her 1967 hit "Dumb Blonde". Parton's lyrics challenged the stereotype, stating "...just because I'm blonde, don't think I'm dumb 'cause this dumb blonde ain't nobody's fool...". Parton has said she was not offended by "all the dumb-blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb. I'm also not blonde."[22] The author of the comic strip Blondie, Chic Young, starting with "Dumb Dora", gradually transformed his subsequent Blondie into a smart, hard-working, family-oriented woman.[23][24] The Simpsons' season 21, episode 20 To Surveil With Love: Lisa faced prejudice from her brunette peers because of her blonde hair at a debate meeting. Refusing to give up and wanting to prove the stereotype wrong, she intentionally dyed her hair dark brown. In the 1970s and 1980s, actress Loni Anderson portrayed curvy blonde character Jennifer Marlowe as an intelligent, eloquent, and sophisticated anti-stereotype on the American sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati.
Blonde jokes
There is a category of jokes called "blonde jokes" that employs the dumb blonde stereotype. It overlaps at times with the jokes that generally portray the subject of the joke as promiscuous and/or stupid. [25][26]
Blonde jokes have been criticized as sexist by several authors, as most blondes in these jokes are female, although male variations also exist.[27] Research indicates that because of this, men report being amused by blonde jokes significantly more than women do.[25]
Blonde jokes nearly always take the format of the blond(e) placing himself or herself in an unusual situation, performing a silly act because he or she misconstrued the meaning of how an activity is supposed to play out, or making a comment that serves to highlight his or her supposed lack of intelligence, lack of common sense, or cluelessness, or promiscuity.
See also
Notes
- ^ a b Encyclopedia of Hair, p. 255
- ^ Regenberg, Nina (2007), "Are Blonds Really Dumb?", in mind (magazine) (3)[dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Encyclopedia of Hair',' pp. 149-151
- ^ a b Annette Kuhn, The Women's Companion to International Film, page 47, University of California Press, 1994, ISBN 978-0-520-08879-5
- ^ Myra Marx Ferree, Judith Lorber and Beth B. Hess, Revisioning Gender, page 226, Rowman Altamira, 1999, ISBN 9780761906179
- ^ bomshell, Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners
bombshell, Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - ^ Ed Sikov, Film Studies: An Introduction, page 134, Columbia University Press, 2009, ISBN 9780231142939
- ^ Stephanie Ann Smith, Household Words, page 76, University of Minnesota Press, 2006, ISBN 9780816645534
- ^ Martin Conboy, Tabloid Britain: Constructing a Community Through Language, page 127, Routledge, 2006, ISBN 9780415355537
- ^ Sherrow, Victoria (2006). Encyclopedia of Hair: A Cultural History. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 201. ISBN 978-0-313-33145-9.
- ^ Jordan, Jessica Hope (2009). The Sex Goddess In American Film 1930–1965: Jean Harlow, Mae West, Lana Turner and Jayne Mansfield. Cambria Press. p. 213. ISBN 978-1-60497-663-2.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - ^ Sikov, Ed (2009). Film Studies: An Introduction. Columbia University Press. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-231-14293-9.
- ^ Harlow: The Blonde Bombshell at IMDb
- ^ Vyvyan Evans and Melanie Green, Cognitive Linguistics: An Introduction, page 11, Routledge, 2006, ISBN 9780805860146
- ^ Suzanna Danuta Walters, Material Girls, page 44, University of California Press, 1995, ISBN 9780520089785
- ^ Gladys L. Knight, Female Action Heroes, page 17, ABC-CLIO, 2010, ISBN 9780313376122
- ^ Grant David McCracken."Marilyn Monroe, the Inventor of Blondeness", Culture And Consumption II: Markets, Meaning, And Brand Management, page 93, Indiana University Press, 2005, ISBN 9780253345660
- ^ Hastings Donnan and Fiona Magowan, The Anthropology of Sex, page 31, Berg, 2010, 9781845201135
- ^ "Despite the Dumb Jokes, Stereotypes May Reflect Some Smart Choices"
- ^ The Observer (29 July 2001), "The new blonde bombshell", The Guardian, London
- ^ "Decade by Decade 1940s: Ten Years of Popular Hits ", ISBN 0-7390-5176-8 , p. 32
- ^ Karen Thomas. She's having a blonde moment. October 27, 2003. USA Today.
- ^ "The Comics", by Coulton Waugh, M. Thomas Inge, 1991, ISBN 0-87805-499-5
- ^ Blondie: the Bumstead Family History, by Dean Young and Melena Ryzik (2007) ISBN 1-4016-0322-X
- ^ a b Greenwood, D (2002). "Ambivalent Sexism and the Dumb Blonde: Men's and Women's Reactions to Sexist Jokes". Psychology of Women Quarterly. 26 (4). Blackwell Publishers: 341–350. doi:10.1111/1471-6402.t01-2-00073.
{{cite journal}}
: Unknown parameter|coauthors=
ignored (|author=
suggested) (help) - ^ Thomas, Jeannie B. (1997). "Dumb Blondes, Dan Quayle, and Hillary Clinton: Gender, Sexuality, and Stupidity in Jokes". The Journal of American Folklore. 110 (437): 277–313. doi:10.2307/541162.
- ^ Blundy, Anna (2007-08-25). "'Blonde' jokes aren't funny - No other minority would stand for this cruel stereotyping [http://www.spectator.co.uk/essays/all/104896/we-blondes-face-prejudice-every-day-of-our-lives.thtml]". Spectator, the (Romford): 18–19. ISSN 0038-6952.
{{cite journal}}
: External link in
(help)|title=
References
- Encyclopedia of Hair: a Cultural History, by Victoria Sherrow, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006, ISBN 0-313-33145-6
- Stephanie Ann Smith (1 January 2006). Household words: bloomers, sucker, bombshell, scab, nigger, cyber. U of Minnesota Press. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-8166-4553-4. Retrieved 13 September 2011.