The "dumb blonde" stereotype is a popular trope used in shows and movies to depict women with blonde hair as dumb. However, a new study from Ohio State University researchers say that blondes have similar range of IQ average with brunettes, redheads and those with black hair.
What's more, white women with natural blonde hair were found to have a higher average IQ score slightly higher than those with other hair colors. However, it wasn't significantly too different. Study author Jay Zagorsky of the university said that perception plays a huge role when it comes to blonde stereotypes.
"Research shows that stereotypes often have an impact on hiring, promotions and other social experiences," said Zagorsky, in the university press release. "This study provides compelling evidence that there shouldn't be any discrimination against blondes based on their intelligence."
Zagorsky adds that blondes shouldn't be discriminated upon because the study proves that while there isn't too much difference in intelligence, it also revealed that they are not dumber. The details of the study were published in the journal Economics Bulletin.
The researchers procured their data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) and the study only involved white blonde men and women. The results of their analyses found that white blonde women had an average IQ of 103.2 which is slightly higher than brunettes with 102.7, redheads with 101.2 and those with black hair at 100.5.
However, the researchers discovered that there was a flaw in their research. Approximately 20.7 percent of white women said they were blonde but only 17.1 percent of men were blondes. Zagorsky stated that around 3.5 percent of women may have lied about their natural hair color.
Zagorsky is unclear of whether it may have affected their findings. The study did not also show if there is a link between hair color and intelligence. What do you think of the new study? Are blondes dumber compared to other people with different hair colors? Let us know what you think in the comment section below.
