Not to be a total downer on a Friday, but this seriously disturbing story must be shared: Blondie Bennett, a woman who's undergone extensive surgery to look like Barbie -- complete with multiple enhancements to arrive at 32 JJ boobs (yes, that is a real chest measurement), as well as Botox and fillers to create a "plastic" look -- is undergoing treatments to become dumber.
To achieve this state of blissful bimbo-ness, Blondie (aka #bimbof*ckdoll) has undergone 20 hypnotherapy sessions to zap out her intelligence and create confusion and ditziness.
This is obviously a sensational story with a super-tragic woman behind it. But like Blondie herself, it's a hyper-exaggerated verson of something completely real: women choosing to act stupider. While most ladies aren't undergoing treatments to become more idiotic, plenty devalue their brain power in more subtle but also troubling ways. Consider the following:
Gifted girls downplay their smarts in school
A University of Vermont paper noted:
Although most women struggle with the confines of gender stereotypes, gifted women may have greater difficulty since they are already defying the notion that women are less intelligent than men (Eccles, 1985). In response to this gender nonconformity, some women compensate by downplaying their intelligence, attributing it to effort rather than innate skill. Men on the other hand, claim their intelligence as a trait and underestimate the work involved in academic achievement.
Savvy female execs use self-deprecation in the boardroom
The "No, no, I'm really not that smart!" defense continues on as savvy women break through the ranks of business. According to a study by a linguistics expert, women often resort to self-deprecation in the boardroom (e.g. the classic "Sorry sorry, I'm talking too much"). While this isn't actively acting stupider, it does involve shying away from owning intelligence in a business setting, which the study points out makes women appear weak and hinders their professional prospects.
Women demote themselves on dating profiles
Remember that scene in Sex and the City where Miranda pretends to be a flight attendant instead of a lawyer to nab a date during speed-dating? According to a study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Cornell University, this happens in real life, too, with women more likely than men to pretend they're less professionally successful on dating sites. Said a researcher, getting right to the point: "Some clever women downplay theit intelligence."
I admit I've done some of this myself, especially the "I got where I am because I work hard, but I'm really not that smart!" BS. This is sad, because (wow, this is truly hard to say), I am smart, dammit!
So, let's take a moment to thank Blondie: Her troubling actions highlight the tragedy of female smart-shaming, which is way stupider than anything ladies pretend to be.
Image: Twitter
