Blonde stereotype in the context of "Mamie Van Doren"

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⭐ Core Definition: Blonde stereotype

Blonde stereotypes are stereotypes of blonde-haired people, especially women, generally treating them as pretty but sillier and less clever than other people and often comparing them unfavorably to brunettes. Examples of this stereotype are the "blonde bombshell" and the "dumb blonde." Despite popular blonde jokes on these premises, research has shown that blonde women are not less intelligent than women with other hair colors.

The blonde bombshell is one of the most notable and consistently popular female character types in cinema. Many Hollywood celebrities have used it to their advantage, including Jean Harlow, Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, Brigitte Bardot and Mamie Van Doren.

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Blonde stereotype in the context of Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe (/ˈmærəlɪn mənˈr/ MARR-ə-lin mən-ROH; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 – August 4, 1962) was an American actress and model. Known for playing comic "blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, as well as an emblem of the era's sexual revolution. She was a top-billed actress for a decade, and her films grossed $200 million (equivalent to $2 billion in 2024) by her death in 1962.

Born in Los Angeles, Monroe spent most of her childhood in foster homes and an orphanage before marrying James Dougherty at the age of 16. She was working in a factory during World War II when she met a photographer from the First Motion Picture Unit and began a successful pin-up modeling career, which led to short-lived film contracts with 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures. After roles as a freelancer, she began a longer contract with Fox in 1951, becoming a popular actress with roles in several comedies, including As Young as You Feel and Monkey Business, and in the dramas Clash by Night and Don't Bother to Knock. Monroe faced a scandal when it was revealed that she had posed for nude photographs prior to fame, but the story resulted in increased interest in her films.

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