Blonde versus brunette rivalry

The blonde versus brunette rivalry is a rivalry—whether real, imagined, or fictional—between people with blonde hair and those with black or brown (brunette) hair. In popular culture and everyday conversation, the words blonde and brunette are used as nouns to refer to women by these two hair colors.^[1][2] This supposed rivalry is a common fictional theme in books, magazine articles, film, and television. Some have argued that the spectacle of blonde and brunette women engaged in physical fights with each other has been a male fantasy for many years.^[3]

Romantic relationships are the most common area of rivalry. Throughout history, blonde hair has been a female beauty ideal across a variety of cultures and eras. From Ancient Greece through the Roman Empire and into the Middle Ages, men perceived blonde women as being the most beautiful.^[4][5] This phenomenon has endured into the 20th and 21st centuries.^[6][7] Research has consistently found that men rate blondes as more attractive than brunettes, resulting in men preferring blondes for romantic relationships.^[8][9] Surveys have found that American and Canadian men find blondes more attractive,^[9][10] as they perceive blonde women as looking younger and healthier.^[11][12] European men also prefer blondes over brunettes in romance.^[8] British men rate blondes as sexier than brunettes,^[13] while Irish men would prefer a blonde as their ideal of a "perfect woman".^[14] French men show a preference for blonde waitresses,^[15] while in Poland, men rate blondes as significantly more beautiful than brunettes.^[16] Surveys have established that men across all races prefer blonde hair and lighter skin.^[17] Women who have experimented with dyeing their own hair also report that men overwhelmingly prefer blondes.^{[18][19][20][21]}

Other areas of rivalry include competitive sports,^[22][23] intelligence, and earning potential. No clear advantage has been found for either hair color in sports. Dark-haired women are generally depicted as being more intelligent. On the other hand, multiple studies have found that blonde women earn higher incomes than brunettes.^{[24][25][26][27][28][29]}

Historical context

"Blondes vs brunettes is an age-old battle that is regulalrly contested. For many men of European descent, the age old question of which woman is more desirable: blondes or brunettes. Blonde women are stereotypically portrayed as sexy, fun-loving and dumb. In contrast, brunette women are stereotypically portrayed as boring and sophisticated, but better lovers."^[30]

"From time immemorial, blonds and brunettes have cordially despised and hated each other; and lovers of beauty, according to unexplained natural affinities, have taken sides ... in this world-old struggle."^[31]

Competition and rivalry between blondes and brunette women dates back at least as far as Ancient Greece, where the blonde-haired love goddess, Aphrodite, "... inspired ambitious imitations among the dark-haired courtesans of ancient Greece.” Helen of Troy, another Greek blonde, was also idolized by the men of her era.^[32] In response to men’s reaction to blonde women, brunettes employed a variety of ways to lighten their hair, a practice that continues to the modern era.^[32][33] Ancient Romans also favored blonde women over brunettes, a social favoritism that continued well into the Middle Ages, particularly in art and literature.^[33]

Attractiveness and romantic relationships

Research has consistently found that according to men, blondes are more beautiful than brunettes.^{[12][16][14][34][17]} The consequence is that in general, men prefer blondes over brunettes for romantic relationships.^[8][9]

In 2001, research from London Business School in the United Kingdom indicated that men of all races find women more attractive with blonde hair and lighter skin. Although British men prefer blondes for romance, women with dark hair were perceived as more competent employees.^[17]

A 2008 study from Poland asked men aged 18-46 to rate the attractiveness of women aged approximately 20, 30 and 40 years old, whose hair was manipulated into various colors. Men rated women as looking more youthful with blonde hair across all age groups. The 30-year-old woman was also rated as significantly more attractive as a blonde.^[16]

Another survey from 2008 established that British men find blondes sexier and more outgoing, while brunettes were perceived as more sensible.^[13]

In study from the United States in 2008, blondes were rated as being more beautiful than brunettes. While researchers were investigating the impact of physical attributes such as race, hair color and attractiveness on female fundraising ability, they asked respondents to rate the appearances of the women. Blondes received the highest average ratings, ahead of brunettes and non-Caucasian women.^[25][34]

In rare cases, studies have found differing results. A 2008 study found that men in Greater London showed a preference for dark haired women.^[35] Similar results were found in a 2018 survey of University of Tampa students.^[36] Stabilizing selection (preference for people with normal appearances) may be responsible for this; however, male preferences did not vary significantly depending on the cultural origin of the respondent.^[36]

A 2011 University of Westminster study evaluated how men perceived women who entered a London nightclub as a blonde or a brunette. The study used the same woman and had her dye her hair a different color for each visit.^[37] The results showed that, as a blonde, she was more likely to be approached for conversation. However, when she had dark hair, the men rated her as more intelligent and attractive.^[38]

An Ipsos study from 2011 found that 65% of men perceive blondes as looking younger than brunettes. Blonde women were also perceived as being more outgoing and choosier.^[11]

Another survey from 2012 established that for Irish men, their ideal of a "perfect woman" would be a blonde with green eyes.^[14]

In a 2018 study conducted by Augsburg University in Minnesota, 110 men were shown computer-generated images of women with blonde, brown and black hair. The men rated blondes as being more attractive and looking significantly younger and healthier than with women other hair colors.^[12]

According to a study conducted by King's College London in 2018, light hair is more prevalent on women than men. Professor Tim Spector stated that this is because European men prefer blondes for relationships. The study involved an analysis of genetic data across 300,000 Caucasian adults.^[8]

A survey of 12,000 American men conducted on a dating website established a male preference for blonde women.^[9] A survey from 2023 also found that Canadian men prefer blondes, as they rate blonde hair as the most attractive. While the results varied by age group, the poll established that young men prefer blondes by a significant margin.^[10]

Women who have dyed their own hair different colors report that men strongly prefer blonde women in romance. This phenomenon was observed across multiple decades by women with various professions, ranging from journalists to celebrities such as Madonna and Jessica Alba.^{[18][19][20][21][39]}

Income

Studies have generally established that blonde women earn more money than brunettes. This financial advantage applies to both fixed salaries, and to non-fixed incomes such as tips and fundraising.^{[40][41][15][34]}

A 2008 study from the United States compared the amount raised in fundraisers by women with various hair colors. The research found that when the representative was blonde, 10.9% more households submitted donations than for other hair colors, and the average donations were slightly larger.^[34]

Research from 2009 found that French men treat blonde waitresses more positively and give them larger tips. This phenomenon was found consistently, even after controlling for other physical characteristics such as height, weight and breast size.^[15]

A 2010 study from Australia involving 13,000 women found that on average, blonde women earn 7 percent higher incomes than women with other hair colors.^[40] Researchers established that the difference was not caused by education levels, or other physical characteristics such as height or weight. Blondes also tend to marry men whose incomes are 6 percent higher than men whose wives have dark or red hair.^[42]

Research from the United States in 2011 looked at the relationship between income and physical characteristics such as race, height, weight and hair color. It found that on average, blonde women tend to earn $870 more per year than brunettes and redheads.^[41]

A 2014 study from the United Kingdom found that blonde women earn an average of 23,150 pounds per year, compared to 22,586 pounds for brunettes. The study of 3000 women did not differentiate between women whose hair color was natural or dyed.^[43]

Societal treatment

The hair color of women affects how they are treated generally in society. Blondes tend to be treated more favorably due to the status of blonde hair as a female beauty ideal.^[44][45][34] Brunettes are generally perceived as more intelligent,^[17] but report insecurities and lower self-esteem due to being perceived as less attractive.^[6]

In a 2012 interview with NBC News, Lisa Walker, chair of the sociology department at the University of North Carolina, explained that hair color "absolutely" plays a role in the way people are treated.^[44] A Cornell University study showed that blonde waitresses receive larger tips than brunettes, even when controlling for other variables such as age, breast size, height and weight.^[45]

The local NBC news affiliate in Charlotte tested Walker's theory by asking a natural blonde to walk around the Charlotte business area, drop a scarf and keep going. The volunteer did it 20 times as a blonde and then 20 times wearing a brunette wig. As a blonde, every time she dropped the scarf a bystander picked it up for her, but when wearing a dark-haired wig, people simply mentioned that the scarf was dropped or ignored it altogether, only occasionally picking the scarf up for her.^[44]

In 2014 a study analyzed the experiences of Swedish women who migrated to Singapore, a country with a large population of Chinese people. According to the author, the hair of Swedish women reduced their femininity, because it was racialized as a Western trait. The authors also noted that these women's Swedish husbands were highly attracted to local East Asian women, which further reduced the self-esteem of the Swedish women.^[46][47]

In March 2016 a study by the Ohio State University was published in the Economics Bulletin.^[48] According to Jay Zagorsky, author of the study, the results show that: "the average IQ of blondes was actually slightly higher than those with other hair colors, but that finding isn't statistically significant." He adds: "I don't think you can say with certainty that blondes are smarter than others, but you can definitely say they are not any dumber."^[49]

According to Lora Jacobi and Thomas Cash, it has also been shown that blonde women overestimated the percentage of men who would choose blonde hair as their ideal hair color. Among blonde women in their study, 92.9 percent rated blonde hair as ideal, with half believing that men would choose so as well. In reality, only 34.8 percent of men said they preferred women with blonde hair.^[50]

The self-perceptions of women are influenced by how they are treated by others. Women with dark hair report being treated less favorably in various contexts, due to the prevalence of blonde hair as a feminine beauty ideal. This has produced a negative effect on the self-esteem of brunettes.^[6]

Competitive sports

Blonde vs. brunette rivalries in U.S. society date back to at least 1875, when the first female professional baseball players were assigned to teams according to their hair color. Baseball historian John Thorn notes that blonde and brunette baseball teams barnstormed the country in the late 1800s.^[51] A 1924 newspaper article referenced a female swimming meet and listed, among the many events, a "blonde vs. brunette" relay race, that was "Won by the blondes".^[52] A more recent example is the gridiron football game called blondes vs. brunettes powderpuff football, a charity event that raises money for the Alzheimer's Association.^[53] The annual contests started in the fall of 2005, in Washington D.C. The games have received considerable publicity, including feature articles in The Washington Post, and are now played in 16 cities around the United States.^[54][55]

Photograph titled (on the back side) as "Beach fun, blondes vs brunettes in a tug of war" that was staged as part of publicity effort for the 1947 film Road to Rio. The photo shows brunettes Sally Rawlinson and Marliyn Gray engaged in a tug of war with blondes Dorothy Abbott and Kathy Young.

In some cases, blondes and brunettes on the same team may compete against each other. Anson Dorrance, the women's soccer coach at the University of North Carolina, is known for dividing his team into blondes and brunettes and then having them compete against each other. Losers have been forced to stand in front of the goal facing the rear of the net while the winners take penalty shots against their posteriors.^[56] Dorrance, in his years of coaching female athletes, claims to have learned that women are motivated differently from males and that his "blondes vs. brunettes drill" worked with his female team because it was a "matter of pride".^[56][57]

Blonde vs. brunette chess matches began in 2011 as part of the World Chess Tournament held in Moscow. The matches were hosted by the Botvinnik Central Chess Club and featured two teams of young girls: blondes dressed in light colors and brunettes dressed in dark colors.^[58]

Tug-of-war events have also featured teams of blondes and brunettes competing against each other. During a 1918 picnic in Ohio, a tug of war between blondes and brunettes was "Won by the blondes (They stripped the brunettes off the rope against a tree like beads off a string.)"^[59] Sportswriter Pete Axthelm refereed a 1978 tug of war between blonde and brunette women at a Kentucky charity event, declaring the blonde team, led by Anita Madden, winners of the event.^[60]

In the media and entertainment industry

Matching blondes and brunettes against each other, especially as romantic rivals, is a Hollywood technique that extends back to the 1920s. In a 1932 interview with an Australian newspaper, Hollywood director Dorothy Arzner stated that lead women typically had brunette hair, while supporting women typically had blonde hair. Arzner also stated that blonde women were usually cast as "fickle" types, while brunettes are cast as "deep lovers."^[61]

Blonde polo players celebrate their victory over brunettes in the 1925 movie A Thief in Paradise.

Physical competition between blondes and brunettes has also been featured in Hollywood films. The 1925 film A Thief in Paradise featured a polo match between blonde and brunette women. Promotional material for the film highlighted the contest between the two teams of women and reviewers focused audience attention on the spectacle with alliterative headlines such as "Blondes Battle Brunettes in Bathing Suits."^[62][63]

Rona Barrett used the phrase "Blondes vs Brunettes" on a 1978 cover of her magazine, Rona Barrett's Hollywood as a way of introducing the magazine's feature story addressing Hollywood's typecasting of blondes as dumb and brunettes as smart.^[64]

A blonde vs brunette rivalry exists featuring Archie Andrews within the Archie Comics series, as the black-haired Veronica is introduced as a rival love interest of Archie Andrews with whom the blonde-haired Betty Cooper is in love.^[65]

Rona Barrett's magazine highlighted Hollywood's blonde vs brunette rivalry on the cover of her monthly magazine.

Three's Company, an ABC sitcom that ran from 1977 to 1984 featured a blonde and brunette triangle. The blonde, Chrissy Snow, was played by Suzanne Somers and the brunette, Janet Wood, was played by Joyce DeWitt.^[66] Somers and DeWitt were continually faced with media stories that described both an on and off-screen "rivalry"^[67] between the two co-stars. Both women repeatedly denied the stories and attempted to dispel "the myth that women, especially blondes and brunettes, can't get along in Hollywood."^[67] This show was based on the British sitcom Man About the House, which likewise had brunette Paula Wilcox and blonde Sally Thomsett with Richard O'Sullivan as the man in the middle.

A 2016 Washington Post article highlighted the tension between blondes and brunettes in Hollywood productions saying, "In movies, blondes and brunettes often have to battle it out."^[68] In Cruel Intentions, a dark-haired Kathryn Mertueil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) spreads the rumor that her rival Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon) has fake blonde hair.^[68] In Rocky IV, Rocky Balboa battles a Russian blonde nemesis named Ivan Drago.^[68] The Karate Kid features a male rivalry, with Johnny Lawrence, a wealthy, golden haired high school student as the dark-haired Daniel LaRusso's (Ralph Macchio) rival.^[68] In Tangled, the blond-haired Rapunzel takes revenge on her black-haired foster mother.^[68]

See also

• Blonde stereotype
• Colorism
• Discrimination based on hair texture
• Human hair color
• Human skin color
• Melanin
• Prejudice and discrimination against redheads