Why is our society obsessed with blonde hair?
#16
Posted 19 July 2005 - 08:33 AM
Scientific research has shown that what humans find attractive in a potential mate is, by and large, is the appearance of reproductive health.
(And before anyone posts to say that they personally don't care about reproduction so it's not a factor in what they are attracted to, relax! This is just what scientists have found that humans, by and large, respond to. It's not the be all and end all of attraction. )
Thus, the features in women that set off the "attractive" alarm bells are indicators of either health or youth or both together, which is to say:
1) Clear eyes
2) Shiny hair
3) Good teeth
4) Hip-waist ratio
5) Full Breasts
6) Blonde hair
Blonde hair is definitely a conscious or unconscious signal of youth, since many causasian people start off blonde, even if they outgrow it later! And if what is young is what is attractive, then blonde hair is thus attractive ...
(And before anyone posts to say that they personally don't care about reproduction so it's not a factor in what they are attracted to, relax! This is just what scientists have found that humans, by and large, respond to. It's not the be all and end all of attraction. )
Thus, the features in women that set off the "attractive" alarm bells are indicators of either health or youth or both together, which is to say:
1) Clear eyes
2) Shiny hair
3) Good teeth
4) Hip-waist ratio
5) Full Breasts
6) Blonde hair
Blonde hair is definitely a conscious or unconscious signal of youth, since many causasian people start off blonde, even if they outgrow it later! And if what is young is what is attractive, then blonde hair is thus attractive ...
#18
Posted 19 July 2005 - 10:18 AM
I find that I'm attracted equally to women of varying hair colours. Doesn't really bother me, usually.
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#19
Posted 19 July 2005 - 01:10 PM
QUOTE (Jen @ Jul 19 2005, 08:33 AM)
Blonde hair is definitely a conscious or unconscious signal of youth, since many causasian people start off blonde, even if they outgrow it later! And if what is young is what is attractive, then blonde hair is thus attractive ...
I am with you all the way to the end. Blonde hair in women is marketed and my, don't we react to marketing. By your argument all of the male sex symbols would also be blond, and they're not. In fact, few are. Dark hair and stubble are marketed, and my, don't you gals react to marketing.
Me, not so much into the blondes, but I can't help but notice they are everywhere. And that is the by-product of Brittney Spears.
"I had a lot of different ideas. At one point, Luke, Leia and Ben were all going to be little people, and we did screen tests to see if we could do that." -George Lucas, in STAR WARS: the Annotated Screenplays (p197).
#20
Posted 19 July 2005 - 01:25 PM
QUOTE (civilian_number_two @ Jul 19 2005, 02:10 PM)
By your argument all of the male sex symbols would also be blond, and they're not. In fact, few are.
I think Jen was talking about what males find attractive in females, not the other way around.
#24
Posted 19 July 2005 - 02:39 PM
QUOTE (civilian_number_two @ Jul 19 2005, 01:10 PM)
I am with you all the way to the end. Blonde hair in women is marketed and my, don't we react to marketing. By your argument all of the male sex symbols would also be blond, and they're not. In fact, few are. Dark hair and stubble are marketed, and my, don't you gals react to marketing.
Me, not so much into the blondes, but I can't help but notice they are everywhere. And that is the by-product of Brittney Spears.
Me, not so much into the blondes, but I can't help but notice they are everywhere. And that is the by-product of Brittney Spears.
Oh, Civy, Civy, Civy, my profile-changing friend. These things are not so prevelent just because they are marketed. They are marketed because they are so prevalent!
As for the blonde thing, I return to my original assertion: that what is reproductively desireable is what is attractive. And you know what is reproductively desirable if you area gal a-lookin' to get a bun in the oven? Why, a big strapping man who looks very male, like he has testosterone to spare. Yes, testosterone, that delightful provider of secondary sex characterstics like, oh, I don't know, facial hair! Yes, facial hair ... although most women don't like LOTS of facial hair, but maybe enough to know it is there ... why, stubble! Yes! Stubble! So stubbly and good -- and so not prone to showing up when it is blond.
Listen, there are as many flavors of attraction as there are flavors of ice cream -- socially conditioned and innate, in and out of fashion -- but some things remain baffling consistent, and blonde hair (or tall dark and handsome men) is one them.
#25
Posted 19 July 2005 - 07:34 PM
QUOTE (Rhubarb @ Jul 19 2005, 08:25 AM)
And Otal - I'm sure that if my hair was blonde from root to tip, I could afford to look down on people who dye their hair too. Although I am currently considering a red-green combo.
oh, wait...
i totally misread that.
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#27
Posted 19 July 2005 - 11:42 PM
QUOTE (Jen @ Jul 19 2005, 02:39 PM)
Oh, Civy, Civy, Civy, my profile-changing friend. These things are not so prevelent just because they are marketed. They are marketed because they are so prevalent!
Pop! My brain exploded!
So you're saying that blonde hair is attractive because is gives the impression of health and youth, but not in men, where attractiveness is determined by age an poor grooming. Fair enough; I can't argue.
I think I am less attracted to blondes because I like Kate Jackson on Charlie's Angels, and since a child have associated darker hair with intelligence. Again, probably because TV taught me that blondes were really dumb.
"I had a lot of different ideas. At one point, Luke, Leia and Ben were all going to be little people, and we did screen tests to see if we could do that." -George Lucas, in STAR WARS: the Annotated Screenplays (p197).
#28
Posted 20 July 2005 - 01:01 AM
QUOTE (Rhubarb @ Jul 19 2005, 09:25 AM)
Although I am currently considering a red-green combo.
Christmas hair!
I don't care about hair colour. I think red or black hair is nice, but I could not possibly care less.
#29
Posted 20 July 2005 - 01:06 AM
QUOTE (civilian_number_two @ Jul 19 2005, 11:42 PM)
[...], but not in men, where attractiveness is determined by age an poor grooming.
I can't believe YOU said that Civ. I believe attractiveness in men these days, and in fact in general, is determined by the thickness of their wallets and purses mostly. Fact - older men have more money that younger, and are in general more reliable when it comes to providing for families.
And age play lesser role in their fertility than in case of women. Thus youth is not a "must" for men.
However, it is a "must" for women. Sad, but true.
#30
Posted 20 July 2005 - 03:08 AM
QUOTE (Jen @ Jul 19 2005, 11:33 PM)
4) Hip-waist ratio
I'd be interested to know what hip-waist ratio is considered preferable, considering I like big butts (and I can not lie, you other brothers can't deny, that when a girl walks by with an itty-bitty waist and a round thing in your face you get sprung) and nice, meaty thighs (like Beyonce's - man I love Beyonce).