Legally Blonde and the History of the “Dumb Blonde”

Summary

This video explores the cultural origins of the 'dumb blonde' stereotype, focusing on its depiction in entertainment and how Legally Blonde challenges these biases. It traces the stereotype from early French plays to modern Hollywood, highlighting actresses like Jean Harlow and Marilyn Monroe. The film Legally Blonde is analyzed as a critique of blonde stereotypes, with Elle Woods representing a takedown of cultural contempt for blondes, particularly Valley Girls. The video emphasizes the deeper sexism behind these stereotypes, especially the rivalry between blondes and brunettes.

Takeaways

• 😀 The film *Legally Blonde* highlights a cultural bias against blondes, focusing on how Elle Woods is underestimated due to her appearance.
• 🤔 The 'dumb blonde' stereotype traces back to an 18th-century French play, where the character Rosalie Duthé was portrayed as both beautiful and unintelligent.
• 💇‍♀️ Hollywood has perpetuated several blonde stereotypes, including the 'ice-cold blonde,' 'blonde bombshell,' and 'dumb blonde,' often reducing blondes to objects of idolization but dehumanizing them.
• 📽️ Stars like Jean Harlow, Marilyn Monroe, and Jayne Mansfield helped popularize the 'blonde bombshell' persona, which was characterized by overt sexuality and a lack of intellectual depth.
• 🔄 The film critiques the blonde vs. brunette rivalry, a common trope in pop culture, which often pits women against each other for male attention, reinforcing sexist narratives.
• 👩‍⚖️ *Legally Blonde* is a powerful subversion of these stereotypes, as Elle proves that beauty and intelligence are not mutually exclusive, and challenges societal assumptions about her capabilities.
• 🎓 Elle Woods' journey in the film is less about discovering her own worth and more about society finally recognizing her value beyond her appearance.
• 📚 Historically, blonde hair has been associated with attractiveness, promiscuity, and youth, further feeding into the 'dumb blonde' trope in modern culture.
• 🙅‍♀️ The rivalry between blondes and brunettes in media reflects deeper societal issues of sexism, where women are categorized into roles like 'Marilyn Monroe' or 'Jackie Kennedy' based on appearance and demeanor.
• 💪 Reese Witherspoon, who played Elle Woods, faced typecasting in her career due to her 'blondeness,' similar to the challenges Elle faces in the film.

Q & A

What is the main form of discrimination discussed in 'Legally Blonde'?

'Legally Blonde' addresses anti-blonde bias, highlighting how society often judges and stereotypes people, especially women, based on their physical appearance, particularly blonde hair.

Where did the concept of the 'dumb blonde' stereotype originate?

The 'dumb blonde' stereotype is thought to have originated from an 18th-century French play, 'Les Curiosités de la Foire,' inspired by the French courtesan Rosalie Duthé, who was considered beautiful but lacking in intelligence.

How did Hollywood contribute to the blonde stereotype?

Hollywood helped cement the 'dumb blonde' stereotype with actresses like Jean Harlow in the 1930s, who popularized the 'blonde bombshell' persona, portraying women with sex appeal but lacking intellectual depth.

What are the three key 'blonde stereotypes' identified in film?

The three key blonde stereotypes are: the 'ice-cold blonde' (e.g., Hitchcock blondes like Grace Kelly), the 'blonde bombshell' (sexy but often objectified), and the 'dumb blonde' (a woman with beauty but portrayed as intellectually lacking).

What deeper issue does Elle Woods face in 'Legally Blonde' beyond anti-blonde bias?

Elle Woods faces sexism that goes beyond anti-blonde bias. Her struggle reflects how women are often undermined, not taken seriously, and reduced to their physical appearance or gender rather than their intelligence and abilities.

What is the significance of the blonde vs. brunette rivalry in the movie?

The blonde vs. brunette rivalry between Elle and Vivian reflects a broader cultural narrative where women are often pitted against each other, especially in terms of beauty and intelligence, to uphold male-dominated structures.

How does 'Legally Blonde' subvert the 'dumb blonde' stereotype?

'Legally Blonde' subverts the 'dumb blonde' stereotype by showing Elle Woods as intelligent, hardworking, and resourceful. The film reveals that others’ assumptions based on her appearance are wrong, and Elle succeeds by embracing her true potential.

Why does Elle's professor, Callahan, have such a negative impact on her self-esteem?

Callahan's inappropriate advances hurt Elle because she had trusted him to value her intelligence and hard work. When he reduces her to a sexual object, it undermines her confidence in being taken seriously as a professional.

How is the idea of 'beauty vs. brains' portrayed in the script?

The script highlights how society often presents beauty and intelligence as mutually exclusive for women, particularly through the blonde stereotype. The 'beauty vs. brains' dichotomy limits women’s potential and reinforces sexist ideas.

What lesson does 'Legally Blonde' aim to teach about societal judgment based on appearance?

'Legally Blonde' encourages viewers to stop making assumptions about people based on their appearance or superficial traits. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing someone's inner qualities, such as intelligence and determination, over looks.