Caroline VanDeMark
Professor McKay English 190
Blondes Are Better
The idea that “blondes are better” has been an ingrained perception of all people for a plethora of years now. The blonde-haired lady has been a representation of the typical, American woman for decades. Magazines, television shows, movies and even novels have portrayed the idea that being blonde is superior to all others and because of this, many European immigrants especially the Italians that were migrating to America felt completely out of place. In the anthropology, Unsettled America, the poems “Why Don’t I Speak Italian” and “Growing Up Italian” both demonstrate the depiction of blonde-haired people through the eyes of Italian European immigrants.
Blonde hair has been one of the most desired traits for women for many of years. Everything about blondes is considered perfect and good-looking. In the journal article, “The Influence of Hair Color on Eliciting Help: Do Blondes Have More Fun?” written by Samuel Joni and Michelle M. Roth of New York University believe that “the blonde woman – passive sexuality and purity – combine to bestow upon the fair haired woman a superlative premium in American society” (12).
They have been affiliated with the Playboy magazine, which is the top magazine for “sexy” young females and have been the winners of about one-third of all Miss America pageants. In movies and television shows, blondes are shown as the “good guys” depicting angel, goddess or saint characters. Due to the media exposing the idea that blondes have it better, many immigrants and even Americans would strive to be a beautiful blonde. In the poem, “Growing Up Italian” written by Maria Mazziotti Gillian, the speaker was an Italian immigrant who came over to the United States of America as a young girl. When she entered the American schools, she immediately noticed she was out of place. She had dark, olive-toned skin while, “Judy, one of the girls in my class/ had honey-blonde hair and blue eyes./ All the boys liked her. Her parents and/ grandparents were born in America” (Mazziotti 383).
The Essay on African America American Immigrants People
Section I- The Closing of the Frontier A) The Non-Indians that settled in the Great Plains rapidly was do to the search for silver and gold. 1. ) The Continental Road, system was a major factor for such settlement it carried people to the west. Do to the enormous Buffalo and cattle ranching gave birth to the cowboys. 2. ) The architectural reform lied to people that were emigrating from ...
Not only were blondes portrayed as prettier, but the saying “blondes have more fun” has been shown in commercials, television shows and songs. European immigrants, such as the Italians would strive to be blonde so they could fit in with the American culture. Young girls would “read all the magazines that told me/ why blondes have more fun/ described girls whose favorite color was blue./ I hoped for a miracle that would turn my dark skin light,/ that would make me pale and blonde and beautiful (383).
The Italian immigrants’ dark skin and dark hair were completely opposite from the pale, blonde hair that the American girls had. Therefore, they had a very difficult time assimilating to the American way of life.
When European immigrants began to migrate to the United States of America in the 1800s, there were many struggles that they had to face. Learning the English language was very tough for the immigrants, but adapting to the culture was even tougher. A majority of the Italian immigrants that came over had olive-toned skin, dark hair and dark eyes. This image was the complete opposite of the typical blonde, pale American. The Italian immigrants felt completely out-of- place and were looked upon as inferior to the American people. In the poem, “Why Don’t I Speak Italian” written by Arthur L. Clements, the speaker was an Italian-American, but was still looked upon as lesser. His Aunt Clara would share her childhood stories with him about how Americans would call her nasty names like “dago and guinea, hurt by friends; juvenile jokes…once, when I was four, to console my swarthy aunt I told her she was almost as beautiful as a blonde” (Clements 82).
The Essay on American Immigrants and Literacy
Language is very important in the society because it enables people to communicate with each other and for them to participate meaningfully in the affairs of the society. For first generation immigrants to the United States, however, the problem of literacy and language becomes more pronounced. These people migrate to the United States for a variety of reasons. It could be because of economic ...
The Italians almost felt as though it was a sin to be Italian. No one wanted to be Italian and anyone who was, was considered inferior. The immigrants came to America to find a better place to live, but was that what they were doing? The Americans should have reached out their arms to the new people joining the country, instead of shunning them and treating them like they meant nothing. Not only did the Italians feel uncomfortable coming to America because of their appearance but they were also very poor, thus disadvantaging them even more so because they did not have the ability to climb up in the “social class system”.
Even though the Italians were extremely discriminated against because of their native language and appearance, they were forced to assimilate to the American way of life. They had to learn how to cope with the difficulties that were thrown at them and devise a strategy to work around them and continue to live life. When Italians first came over, they were considered a substandard of the American society; they were “aliens”. But, they had to create a positive life for themselves no matter what discrimination and hatred came towards their way. Because of the loath the Americans had for the Italians, they often were ashamed of their heritage, but this changed after they began to pick themselves up from the inferior hole they were stuck in. In the poem, “Growing Up Italian”, the speaker was an Italian immigrant who longed to be accepted by the pretty, blonde American girls in her class, but no one would accept her heritage. Due to this, she decided to find a blonde man to make her more assimilated to the culture, but was she really happy? No, she was pretending to be someone who she was not. She then realized she should be proud of her Italian descent so she chanted “Here I am/ and I’m strong/ and my skin is warm in the sun/ and my dark hair shines,/ and today, I take back my name/ and wave it in their faces/ like a bright, red flag” (384).
Many Italians were in such a culture shock when they first migrated to the United States, but after living the way of life, they realized they should not be ashamed of their heritage, but they should be proud. Today, Italians have rose above and succeeded into assimilating themselves in the American culture.
The Dissertation on The Story of the Italian Americans
At the turn of the century, America was viewed as a land of freedom from the hardships of everyday life. During this time, millions of immigrants from all over the world, poured into America seeking that exact kind of freedom. Some were escaping oppression, while others immigrated seeking religious freedom. The Italians were one of the many ethnic groups that strove to overcome oppression and ...
Still to this day, blondes have been looked upon as the ideal woman. They are portrayed through the media as the better than everyone else. Not only did the Americans strive to be blonde and beautiful, but Italian European immigrants longed to look like the blonde women they would see all over television. These stereotypical, striking blondes made it extremely difficult for the immigrants to adapt to the American way of life.
Works Cited
Juni, Samuel & Roth, Michelle M. “The Influence Of Hair Color On Eliciting Help: Do Blondes Have More Fun?” Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal. 17 October 2010 <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=15&hid=10&sid=b6a86d6c-d7be-4270- 9480ca26bc6e4be7%40sessionmgr14&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=12710 631>.
