Why does our media prey on pretty blonde women?

[shance]

From Marilyn Monroe on, our media has consistently had an objectifying obsession with blonde "bombshells" if you will.

However, as is consistent with much of our culture the usual pattern is to place them on a pedestal for a period of time and then throw them away when the media is done playing with them.

From Brittany, to Paris Hilton,

to those others victimized like Anna Nicole Smith to even children like Jon Benet Ramsey.

Seems to me there is a pattern of use, abuse and discard.

I don't think the issue with Paris Hilton is as much about the money in this situation, as much is it is about the fact she is a young, rather naive female who happens to be extremely rich, who is an easier individual to target than perhaps a billionaire CEO who is guilty of racketeering or some other offense.

Just some thoughts I had.

[King Coal]

1. They're jealous.

[babylonsister]

2. So they don't have to work at providing real news to us? Whatever

their reasons, this whole circus is a disgrace

[MistressOverdone]

3. I think they represent

the archetype for the larger culture's sexually attractive woman. As our culture changes this should, too.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

4. Don't Blame The Media. Blame Human Nature And Society.

It isn't media's fault. They are giving the masses what they want to see. Human nature can still be quite simplistic and times, and to many there is always a fascination if not even a pleasureful form of resentment towards those perceived as 'beautiful people'. So far more than otherwise flock to these sort of stories so that is what the media provides.

Don't blame the media, blame ourselves.

[Athens30603]

12. But then...

What we're saying is that the media has no responsibility (given a market based system) to provide any news other than what the public 'wants'. Children want candy but the person responsible for feeding them should balance that candy with vegetables. don't ya think? No, I'm not calling us children. I'm saying that the media is charged with presenting news and they have certain responsibilities.

[Iris]

5. Maybe the question is - why do so many pretty women choose to be blond?

I mean, blondness is a very rare natural trait after childhood. So maybe they crave attention and the media is good for that?

[DemSoccerMom]

8. Is that true?

That blondness is rare after childhood? Obviously, in Sweden I don't think that's the case, but I assume you are speaking of here in the U.S.

I agree that there are many more (naturally) blond children than adults (a lot of natural blond "babies" do go brown after puberty), but I never considered it a RARE natural trait for adult blondness.

I'm (naturally) blond, as is my mother (who is actually a little more grey now) and I never considered it a very rare occurrence. Do you have a link for that? I'm intrigued by this, now. :)

[Sukie1941]

10. I agree, true blondness is rare

I am thinking of the blond my younger sister is.

As a tiny child she had that almost white blond hair. It darkened a tiny bit as she aged, but she still at age 62 has the same color hair, very little gray.

I am fortunate as was our mother to have very little gray at age 65-1/2. It will turn eventually, but my mom still has alot of dark hair at age 93.

[Iris]

13. I don't have a link.

I read it long ago - way before the internet! But I was the lone brunette cousin (of 9) on my dad's side fo the family. I looked like Ann Frank and everyone else, including my brother, was completely tow-headed. As adults, there's 1 blond cousin, but she is very fair - I mean white skin, pale blue eyes.

Anyway, there was also a study linked to the World Health Org. about blonds becoming extinct by 2022, but it was debunked. It didn't really have anything to do with hair color darkening during the aging process, though.

[Iris]

17. Found a place for you to start!

After finally figuring out the keywords to search for this topic, I came up with this:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/aprilholladay/2007-04-26-hair-candles_N.htm

[shance]

22. LOL*** Because it looks good I guess. However,

I have to ask, are you blaming women for doing what their culture tells them is valuable, which is to be pretty, thin and attractive versus addressing the larger problem of the predatory institutions of the media that often feed on and destroy individuals, blonde or otherwise.

[Iris]

23. maybe. I mean we can only be responsible for ourselves.

I'm pretty much my own person, but I won't say I haven't suffered for it becuase I have. But I suffer less than most of the women I know who try to live up to the "ideal".

[jgraz]

6. Huh? Paris Hilton has hardly been preyed on

Sorry, but once you hire yourself a publicist, you give up any claim to being victimized by the media. If the woman had even the slightest sense of herself, she'd see how repulsive people find her and crawl back into her hole.

[LostinVA]

14. You got it -- she IS an attention whore

[Sukie1941]

7. Nothing naive about Paris Hilton!

She is an incredible manipulator! For someone with little talent, she has managed to make a name for herself, the results which we are witnessing today.

One more point, MOST of these blondes aren't blond at all!

I have never put any of them on a pedestal.

Jon Benet Ramsey shouldn't be in your list, however. It was her mother and the southern culture of pageants that got her into that mess.

[Richardo]

9. Why are so few of them actually blonde?

They make themselves blonde for a reason (attention, most likely). I think it's a symbiotic thing between culture and those that crave the attention of that culture.

[Nikki Stone1]

11. It's the rape impulse translated into gossip "journalism"-dominate with words and cameras

then decimate.

[Madspirit]

20. You are Right Nikki!

First desire them...then rape them...then make them believe it's what is necessary to fulfill the only role you've convinced them they are worthy of...then disdain them...then kill them. The hatred of Paris is just more misogyny disguised as righteous class warfare. I don't know anyone on this board as much in poverty as I am, except Bobbolink and I have no ill will toward Paris. She's just a scapegoat for the lynch mob. Ooooh...maybe we should beat her and stone her and cut off all her hair. Sounds good...yummy blood lust.
Lee

[Nikki Stone1]

24. It happens with every "unattainable" blond that makes the big news

...

[Marie26]

27. Sounds about right.

:shudder:

[AndyTiedye]

15. Because They Are a Good Way to DISTRACT us From The Stories They Are NOT Reporting

[SarahB]

28. Ding-ding! Winning answer! nt

[Connie_Corleone]

16. When did Paris become a pretty blonde woman?

/half joking (IMHO)

[krispos42]

18. The answer is in your question

They're pretty, they're blonde, and they're women.

Therefore, interesting to a large segment of the population.

Now, I'm partial to redheads and brunettes, myself, but I'll happily look at a pretty blonde woman as well.

Since many celebrity types deliberately go blonde, is that the reason they all seem to be? Not because blondes have trouble staying out of jail, but because most of celeb woman went blonde for appearance's sake?

It seems that most of the celebrity MEN are dark-haired. Mel Gibson, for one. Robert Downey, Jr. That English guy caught with the hooker.

[enigmatic]

19. Paris Hilton slinging racial/ethnic epithets

Are you ok w/ this?

http://www.hollywoodgrind.com/?p=4475

[gollygee]

21. The media just gives pretty women more attention in general - good, bad, whatever

I don't think it's that the media preys - pretty women, and blonde because our society values that - get more attention in general.

[Marie26]

25. It's weird

I don't know what it is either, but there definitely seems to be some dynamic there. It's like people are getting a vicarious kick out of seeing women punished? Is that it?

[leftofthedial]

26. personally, I blame Marilyn Monroe

and Mae West