Why do gentlemen prefer blondes?

Abstract

It is well known although rarely acknowledged in polite company that in Westem cultures there exists a distinct esthetic/sexual preference among men for blondes over brunettes (Anstis S M, personal communication) (1,2). A similar preference for women of lighter than mean skin color is also seen in many nonWestern cultures throughout the world (3). Indeed, in many countries, there is almost an obsessive preoccupation with 'improving one's complexion' an obsession to which the cosmetics industry has been quick to pander with innumerable useless skin products. In some of these cultures, women also show a similar although not quite as marked affinity for men of lighter skin. Havelock Ellis (4) suggested that men prefer rotund features in women and that blonde hair emphasized the rotundity by blending in better with the body outline. Another view is that infants' skin and hair color tends to be lighter and the preference for blonde women may simply reflect the fact that, in humans, neotonous features in females may be secondary sexual characteristics (5). Here, I propose a third view that is not incompatible with the two theories described above, but has the added advantage of being consistent with more general biological theories of mate selection. Several authors have suggested that certain florid displays of secondary sexual characteristics such as the peacock's tail or the rooster's bright-red wattles may serve the purpose of 'informing' the female that the suitor is healthy and free of dermal parasites (6,