Brunet women are not as sophisticated as they are socially perceived to be neither are blond women more outgoing as compared to redheads. It seems that it is a social norm in the U.S at least to that women’s hair is used to categorize a person It may seem to the society that the answer is simple but, in reality, the pieces that make up this social norm have several layers that work together to make it the way it is. It is natural for human beings to categorize day-to-day life. As explained by Berkowitz, in the quest to process the numerous amounts of data that an individual faces through the course of their lives, humans are programmed to develop a catalog of things as well as the people around them (21). The simple logic behind this trait is to make life easier since by identify the similarities of a current to that of a past event and making an assumption as set by the results of a previous event. However, is it really easier to categorize issues or subjects yet socially the world has been changing constantly?
Currently, society view’s a blond woman as a beautiful but not well-educated person. On the other hand, a brunet is seen as a much sophisticated, educated, but less attractive version of a woman. Women with blond hair seem to also be associated with being more outgoing and fun thus much more popular. Women with red hair are said perceived to have flaring tempers and are less attractive in social circles. However, there is no fact that supports this claim.
As indicated by a 2010 study from the Queensland University of Technology hair color plays a major role in determining workplace earing after a sample of 13,000 blonde-haired Caucasian women were identified to earn greater than 7% more than female employees with any other hair color. Additionally, the study showed that most employers saw the blond haired females as more feminine. Nevertheless, when asked why they failed to give definitive answers showing this trend had become a social norm.
Males have similar hair color as compared to females; nevertheless, they are less subject to personality scrutiny as addressed by their hair color. Why would it then be the case for women? A red-haired man’s temper is not related to his hair color why should a woman be any different. Although there seem to be a significant amount of stereotypes about blond and red headed women in society there seems to be limited negative or positive perception for women with brown hair as it is considered normal. Blond women are not any more fun as compared to redheaded women nor are they attractive as social perceived. The personal character has an artificial link to hair color because society tends to believe so.
Today, that does not seem to be the case, particularly for women as some have found themselves with new identities after they dye their hair a different color. What is the social connotation of blonde and brunette hair with a woman’s color? From the onset, the concept of stereotyping seems to hold the answers to this new norm; however, it is well known that a majority of stereotypes are misplaced. An individual’s personality is best explained by the actions that are not hair related.
Works Cited
Berkowitz, Alan D. “An overview of the social norms approach.” Changing the culture of college drinking: A socially situated health communication campaign (2005): 193-214.