Personally, I’ve never been attracted to those with blonde hair. I like my boys tall, dark, and handsome (in a pinch, normal height, dark, and handsome will do. And, don't get me started on my fascination with red heads or salt and pepper colored hair!). Anyway, as a lifelong brunette I’ve never really understood the fascination with blonde hair. What’s the big deal?
But in Italy, OH MY GOD it is insane!
You can’t help but notice the difference in the way blonde women are treated here. Men of all socio-economic levels will literally stop what they’re doing and stare. But not just any stare. This is a long, deep, and dirty stare. The kind that sorta makes you feel uncomfortable after you’ve witnessed it! Italian men will run up to an unsuspecting blonde, flip her hair with their hands and keep running. They’ll yell out, “Hello Barbie” with those gorgeous Italian accents. They’ll slow down on their motorcycles and lick their lips while getting a better look. It’s truly unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
Italian woman HATE the blonde girls. ALL blonde girls: skinny, not skinny, tall, short, young or not young. It doesn’t matter. They’ll shoot them death stares for seemingly no reason; ignore them while working behind a counter; and make their boyfriends change seats with them at a restaurant so the boyfriend can’t make eyes at the pretty blonde across the room. All of these things I have witnessed firsthand. And I have to say, I still don't really get it… it’s just blonde hair!
You might think this is incentive enough to go a little darker on top. Ah, but let’s not forget the upside to this phenomenon. You’re smiled at by men all the time. You get into clubs for free. Men hold the door for you and grant you the right of way most of the time and you’re always the first to be approached while in a group of women. These are some nice perks eh?
Still, don't fret about me, we brunettes (who blend in nicely with the locals) get our share of attention too.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog and wish you the best, both in blogging and in writing that book you have in you!
ReplyDeleteWell, in this day and age, anybody can be a blonde if they want to. In Seville, I was on exchange with a very blonde gal. We got lots of attention. Then her twin sister arrived. Oh my! I liked being brunette in Spain, because I blended in.
ReplyDeleteWhen can I move? lol
ReplyDeletehahahhaha.... love this one. thinking of our two blondies now....
ReplyDeleteForget the chocolate, who's that cute guy at the festival?!?! Yummy is right! Shar
ReplyDeleteReally? A whole new world? Tell me more! Wish you were here shoveling snow with the rest of us, I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteSusan
oh my god you are the funniest person I know and good for you. Now Im going blonder before leaving for Italy so we can get in places for free!!!
ReplyDelete;-0 Sherrie
I don't think the Italians are any different than most middle eastern men when it comes to blonds. It just different from the norm! The blog was lol funny. Hope you are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteNice one: It's a whole new world!
ReplyDeleteIsobel
I have no idea what you are talking about! :)
ReplyDeleteYour life is so interesting, seriously...I have enjoyed reading your blog. I am a college freshman and have always been obsessed with Italy. However, I have taken four years of Spanish in high school, and I am taking a Spanish course this semester. I definitely want to travel abroad, and of course I want to travel to Italy, but I feel obligated to travel to Spain!! Ahh, what to do!
ReplyDeleteThere should be an X-wives club for blonde women who quite blondley succumb to the persuaive charm of Italian men. I have met so many women since marrying an Italian on a working holiday in Europe, who have been absolutely trodden on , cheated on, spat on and beaten by jealous rages when it is in fact the male who is cheating and lying his way through immigration.
ReplyDeleteMen have all the rights women cannot have an emotion. And yet the Italian women with whom they cheat who "understand them better" are brutal..because as you say they hate you for being a leggy 6" blonde...so you suffer under their abuse too...as they remind you how they enjoyed sex with your husband when you were goving birth to his son...
No matter how good they make you feel at the beginning ...the ride will make you want to die!!
This is so true! I know an Italian man (who is 35) who lives here in the United States and has for about 4 years now. He LOVES blonde women. How do I know this? I am a blonde. This is what he has told me:
ReplyDelete-that blonde women are better at sex (how does he figure this? He says this is just what he believes)
-that if he had a blonde wife he would never feel compelled to cheat on her
-that he only wants to marry a blonde woman
Love this blog!! I am laughing out loud at a few of your posts--too funny!
Italian men are obsessed with women, not only with blonde!
DeleteI live in Italy.... Sorry but.. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT??? Seriously, I totally disagree. Italy is not Morocco!
ReplyDeleteThe thing is: if you're pretty, you get attention, if you're not, then guys would ignore you... No matter if you're blonde, brunette or with red hair. You've probably seen a blonde girl getting attention and you've assumed that she get attention 'cause she's blonde, NOT 'cause she's pretty right? Also, the majority of Italian women on TV are brunette, if they really wish, they could dye their hair since everyone can be blonde nowadays, don't you think? And btw I've never I mean NEVER heard an Italian says "hello Barbie" (?), they usually say other things... Basically, are you sure that you've been to Italy???
I totally agree....Italy is full of blond people, why the italians should be obsessed about blond girls? Italian men, when they are young, are obsessed about pretty foreigner women full stop. It doesn't matter if you are blonde, mulatta, latina...they really don't care..they care you are a pretty girl from outside..and therefore they think you are in holiday looking for fun... if you are blonde they will tell you they love blondes..if you are japonaise they will tell you they love japonaise...but at the end of the day why should they tell you they like something different from what you are?
DeleteThis doesn't mean there aren't any men that prefers blondes..but this is personal, the basic rule is pretty foreigners who are in holidays.
Hi “Anonymous” who posted on 11/11/11. Thanks for your comment. I always love to hear dissenting opinions. And since you “live” in Italy and you yourself personally never heard anyone called “Barbie” then I must have completely made that up. And I MUST have assumed that if a blonde girl was getting attention that it was because she was blonde and not because she was pretty. My observations must be TOTALLY off because you have not experienced the same things. And it’s not possible that we could have had different experiences because I may have lived in a different section of Italy than you, or that perhaps I met different people than you. Yes you must be right - I could not have possibly lived in Italy myself because my observations are so different from yours. Hey, thanks for setting me straight.
ReplyDeleteI'm blonde and I went to Italy when I was 8 and even then I got so much free stuff. I had to buy another suitcase for all the free stuff, not even joking. Next year I'm doing a semester abroad there. Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteI'm a blond and just returned...I had dates every night! Not only do they love blond hair they love blue eyes!! Every time I took off my sunglasses they melted...Italian men are hot too and very romantic! I can't wait to return, they're amazing lovers!
ReplyDeleteI'm blond too. Plus I'm tall with long legs, green eyes and pale skin. In Estonia there were only 3 times I got attention from the guys on the street. And here is just a paradise
DeleteMmm, what happens to blonde Italians then? (Since there are actually quite a few)
ReplyDeleteThe blondes in Italy always have that Italian-expression in their faces, not the nordic expression. Mostly in the north they will not get a lot of attention, but middle and south they do.
DeleteI am one of those guys :) I have a special affinity for girls with blonde hair and blue eyes. the epitome of beauty. Personal taste! just the way some women like tall guys. But yes generally men do (in my experience) do prefer the nordic look, just the way women prefer the "tall, dark, handsome look. Think of the term "the fairer sex"
ReplyDeleteWhat does hair color have anything to do with falling in love? or sex appeal? now I think maybe blondes are looked apon as easier to get in bed and not taken very seriouly, but I think a beautiful woman no matter what color her hair is will always steal the show.
ReplyDeleteI just returned from my trip to Florence and Venice 1 1/2 weeks ago. I have visited Rome in the past as well. I frequently travel to Italy yearly for the shopping, arts, food. I am not blond but brunette, curly hair, green eyes, olive skin (bi-racial) heritage. I get mistaken for various exotic cultures. I traveled with my best friend who is an Irish American (green eyes) Auburn hair, white skin who I think is attractive. Well from my experiences and multiple visit to Italy with my friend. The Italian men were not interested in her, but polite to her. Me on the other hand I was treated like royalty, constantly approached, given free food, gifts, etc. My friend nothing. I also sat and observed (people watched) and the men were not going crazy over blonds (because in fact there are Italians from the Northern Region who are beautiful and blond). I believe based on my observations or experiences if a woman or any woman in fact (blond, brunette, red head, etc) is attractive to the eyes of the beholder (Italian man) he will approach her. As well I think it is the preference of the man. From what I was told they associate blond with American and sometimes easy target for sex. The men can differentiate a blond tourist from a local blond. Actually, I met a few couples from Canada and the U.S. both blonds and gorgeous and some of the local Italians are not that pleasant at times to these travelers. One man and his wife (both very attractive and blond) shared that the restaurants in Venice (staff) was rude frequently to them. This couple based on my personal experience talking with them at the train station in Venice (Santa Lucia) were very kind, educated and dressed very well/appropriately for Italy. Maybe its a cultural thing who knows.
ReplyDeleteThis article is totally nonsense and far far from reality...
ReplyDeleteAn average italian man
LOL. I've been living in Italy 50 years and never heard an "hello barbie" approach :). But sure here was made the movie Gentlemen prefer blondes :). Unluckily italian beauty contests are often won by brunette girls, lately even second generation italians coming from North Africa or South America (and that often rises the protest of citizens and politicians closer to anti-immigration theories). But judges of those events are not typical citizens are they? Unluckily again, the rankings of most beautiful women (based on the italian males' preferences) often published by italian magazines - we're in summer, need some gossip! - often have more brunettes than blondes at top places (Monica Bellucci, Dita von Reese, Beyoncè, Elisabetta Canalis, Melissa Satta among others); btw one of them, Belen Rodriguez, happened to become suddenly the most present woman in TV programs due to her sensual latin look. But true, blonde girls are probably considered easier sexual target, maybe 'cause of german tourism in the 80's, and eastern (mostly russian) tourism nowadays; imho blondes are more often associated to those countries than to americans. Last, I wonder: why do italian girls (as well as boys) run to the seaside during all summer just sunbathing to get the best tan, if all italian boys prefer blonde and northern features?
ReplyDeleteI've just came back from Italy (Liguria and Toscana) and I had so much attention. I am blonde, 5'7. blue eyes pale skin (typical Dutch).
ReplyDeleteThere were cyclists and they literally kept looking at me while they were riding, risking their own lives! I heard 'bella bionda' all the time in Toscana. When I went to Liguria, me and my family + Italian friends were sitting in a beach bar and I had to go to the toilet, and the only toilet was at the beach. So I walked to the beach, came across another beach bar with only men: 'CIAO! COME VA?' 'CHE BELLA!!!!' 'TI SPOSERO!' = hi how are you? so beautiful, I'll marry you!
Making heart-shaped pizzas in restaurants, giving me cheeky smiles...
I had literally the same when I was in Toscana! I thought the Italians were used to it since a lot of northern-european tourists come to Italy every year... I was wrong...
DeleteAll women who wrote: "I am blonde and Italian men crazy for me and filled me with gifts ... ABSOLVED FOR INSUFFICIENT PROOF OF THE OFFENSE :) Ahahahah are vain and liars :)))
ReplyDeleteItalian men prefer brunettes!
Would you confirmation?
Type in the search bar GOOGLE, in Italian, the phrase: "Gli uomini Italiani preferiscono le more". You'll find that in Italy have done statistical surveys, and the majority of Italians prefer brunettes.
And actress Monica Bellucci, typical Italian beauty, is considered by Italian men the most beautiful woman in the world!
Sorry for my English.
Italian men are obsessed with all the women!
ReplyDeleteSex is extremely important in Italy, much more than in the USA, UK or Germany.
Maybe the point to be blonde in Latin countries. In spain, blondes are the centre of men.
ReplyDeleteThe brunnette woman is seen as the "normal" women while blondes are seen as "the princess".
I have an experience with American women and allways let me without any word.
My first experience was with my friend and I escorting her showing our city and we improved a lot our English.
My second experience was with two american women, however, one was with mexican origin using as translator for us. Even if we have a good level of english we were shocked about her face. Even we went to the Halloween party and she was dressed as a she-devil let in I and two friends totally shocked. Was incredible these things never happenned to me in Spain apart from my neighbour.
I have both women in Facebook.
Buff, unforgetable experience of my life!!!!!