Blondes Are Beauty And Brains, Study Affirms

Blonde women are not dumb, asserts a new study that aims to overturn a societal bias known to have unfavourable consequences for blondes at work and in social circles.

The study is based on average IQ calculation of 10,878 US women part of the US National US National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979. The study showed that blonde white women showed IQs slightly higher than women compared to women with other hair colors. The study, however, did not explain the findings though its authors maintained that blondes are just as smart as others.

"Research shows that stereotypes often have an impact on hiring, promotions and other social experiences," study author Jay Zagorsky said. "This study provides compelling evidence that there shouldn't be any discrimination against blondes based on their intelligence."

NLSY79 administered the Armed Forces Qualifications Test (AFQT) on the survey participants; AFQT is used by Pentagon to determine intelligence of its recruits. Blonde women recorded average IQ of 103.2 while brown-haired women recorded 102.7. Those with red hair reported 101.2 and black-haired women recorded 100.5.

"Women with blonde hair are often considered beautiful, but dumb, which is a potentially harmful stereotype since many employers seek intelligent workers," the study's author wrote in the journal Economics Bulletin.

"Blondes are more likely classified as geniuses and less likely to have extremely low IQ than women with other hair colors, suggesting the dumb blonde stereotype is a myth."

Zagorsky said the study does not explain genetic underlying to the findings but blonde women are more likely to grow-up in intellectually simulating households that could partially explain the findings.

"If blondes have any slight advantage, it may simply be that they were more likely to grow up in homes with more intellectual stimulation," he said. The survey also showed that blonde men showed intelligence levels similar to men of hair colors.