Gentlemen prefer blondes, blondes have more fun, you've heard it all.
What does it mean to be blonde?
Most people in ancient times had dark hair, so having blonde hair was considered a special blessing. And blondes still get the VIP treatment today. Your chances of getting an e-mail from a possible suitor on Match .com are higher than if you're a red head or brunette.
Of course, not all blondes are naturally blonde. Some dye their hair, perhaps looking for fun. A poll done by ABC TV showed that 55 percent of both men and women think of blondes as fun people.
And blondes aren't dumb. Light haired ladies are more likely to have college and graduate degrees. But listen to this - blondes perform worse on IQ tests after reading or hearing dumb blonde jokes.
A German study tested 80 women of different hair colors on their mental capacity. Half the women read "dumb blonde" jokes before the test. And after exposure to those negative stereotypes about them, the fair-haired participants performed significantly worse on the tests.
The researchers think it's because when people are told they can't do something well, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. It shows that even unfounded prejudices can affect a person's confidence in their own ability.
Most people in ancient times had dark hair, so having blonde hair was considered a special blessing. And blondes still get the VIP treatment today. Your chances of getting an e-mail from a possible suitor on Match .com are higher than if you're a red head or brunette.
Of course, not all blondes are naturally blonde. Some dye their hair, perhaps looking for fun. A poll done by ABC TV showed that 55 percent of both men and women think of blondes as fun people.
And blondes aren't dumb. Light haired ladies are more likely to have college and graduate degrees. But listen to this - blondes perform worse on IQ tests after reading or hearing dumb blonde jokes.
A German study tested 80 women of different hair colors on their mental capacity. Half the women read "dumb blonde" jokes before the test. And after exposure to those negative stereotypes about them, the fair-haired participants performed significantly worse on the tests.
The researchers think it's because when people are told they can't do something well, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. It shows that even unfounded prejudices can affect a person's confidence in their own ability.
