Gender vs Hair length

I am curious as to how hair length got to be an indicator of gender. If you look back in history, you see hair length on both sexes go up and down. As I look through these message boards, I notice that there is a lot of put downs being issued against those who want to explore or wear their hair in the length or style of the opposite sex. My question is, how did we arrive at the status quo? Our hair length and styles weren't always at what many perceive as "normal".
Who says that if you have long hair, you are a woman or if you have short hair, you are a man? Does hair make you either man or woman? I think the trends we see today is a part of the normal evolution of fashion. It is an indicator that we as a society, are desiring change just like the changes that occurred to get us where we are today. I think that The Wahl Clipper Manufacturer and other companies like them, make to convenient for people to tell a man to "Get a Haircut". Why don't we all relax and enjoy a natural part of our bodies and quit imposing our restrictive standards on others, which by the way was established by the military.

Hi Jaimee,

Very interesting post. Lotsa good questions, too.

(Among other things), you asked, "Why don't we all relax and enjoy a natural part of our bodies and quit imposing our restrictive standards on others?"

I like your thinking. I have very long hair and you wouldn't believe the grief I get about it. Sure, I get compliments on it too, which are very nice, but I sometimes get criticism -- and I never ask for opinions. Plus, there are oftentimes people trying to pressure me to cut it. What's interesting is that when my hair was short, nobody ever pressured me to grow my hair long, or criticized my choice to wear my hair short.

So, "why don't we all relax... and quit imposing restrictive standards on others?" The answer is contained within one word: control. Prospective employers want to hire "clean"-cut clones. Parents want "respectable" dolls for children, of whom they can be proud. The salon industry wants customers to frequent salons for the latest, high-maintenance fashions. And the military wants its inductees to be stripped of their individuality.


Dave

Okay I won't be popular among you guys here but I think it will be one hell of a sad day when everything is so blended.

Hello Dave:

Perms, a bit of curls doesn't bother me nor means anything but being conservative if some male would come out having a spiral would really bother me. ( being honest)
I don't want it come to the point that it is unisex all the way. The industry is starting to go that way with the market because they can make more money like eyeframes, clothing but at the same time I sense we as women are slowly losing our identity with that attitude.
My personal preference is short hair on men but it doesn't mean that I don't respect someone that cares for longer hair.
I feel that both sexes are losing out with this unisex attitude.

YOu will have your own opinion Dave on the subject base on the fact you have long hair but you have to understand that I also have my own preferences just like you.
Diane

Hello Dave:

I'm just curious if you can explain how you feel that both sexes "lose out with a unisex attitude."

I am going after the woman's hairstyles. There is trend to look more masculine. AT times I really have to study someone to know if that person is a female or male and that person can easily be attractive. In my opinion if I have to really study a female because her hairstyle than I find it is not a style that compliments her as a whole person. I sense that she lost out being the person that she can be. There are many others short styles that are way more flattering.
I can't say that I seen a hairstyle on a man that isn't flattering. I have seem men with perms but still have a masculine look to it and that is very attractive. They look like models in many ways. I feel it is very important to keep the diffirence in sexes about to show the beauty of each sex.
Now I am not saying that long hair on men isn't attractive because I certainly have a thing for Fabio lol.
And remember that guy that I told you once that had your lenght of hair and I told you that he was the most gorgeous man? lol
But I really fear this unisex attitude because already I see
the tragedy that it creates in some ways. ( watch it now someone will complain about this now lol)
What about showing all the beauty that each sex can be? AT times I see how we are cheated when we go shopping and can't find something for example that is very feminine in eyeframe, or clothing at times.
I look at all that stuff and it seems to me that it so blended to the point that we can't be feminine or masculine at times and that is a tragedy.
Does that makes any sense to you DAve?

This discussion seems headed beyond the realm of hair, but the question you both seem to be asking is "to what extent is masculinity/femininity inherent in our genetics (as manifested in our hormones and our bodies), and to what extent is it a result of acculturation?" Clearly the physical characteristics remain distinct, but the behavioral have become more blurred. While (for whatever reasons) women may have "taken the lead" in breaking down gender-defined appearances, men have, to a lesser degree, also chosen to do the same. When you come right down to it, hair -- as it grows from the scalp -- is a *physical* characteristic that is essentially identical in both men and women. Why we do what we do with the hair that grows from our heads is the reflection of societally accultured behavior.

The question you might want to ask yourselves is "who is shaping societal attitudes towards hair, and why (what are their motivations)?" As hre said, when you're a guy, "no one tells you to do something different with your style because you look outdated, and there is no pressure to change the color of my hair." Salons do considerable business feeding off of the insecurities of women, and steer them toward behavior that keeps them coming back for more.


Dave

Why we do what we do with the hair that grows from our heads is the reflection of societally accultured behavior.

I agree with this Dave and it is upsetting when the norm is not followed. ( Diane)


As hre said, when you're a guy, "no one tells you to do something different with your style because you look outdated, and there is no pressure to change the color of my hair."
That isn't true! You guys haven't been shopping lately , watching TV or reading magazines because men have lots of updated hairstyles to choose from and the fashion industry itself sends messages to change with the times and always have men with great new hairstyles wearing exciting new clothes etc. Plus tons of men dye their hair to look much younger ( Diane)


Salons do considerable business feeding off of the insecurities of women, and steer them toward behavior that keeps them coming back for more.

Where do you get this stuff??? lol Firstly salons do not feed off women's insecurities. It is our nature to want to be sexy , younger, exciting etc. It is not an insecurity. That wants makes us feminine by nature. ( Diane)

The question you might want to ask yourselves is "who is shaping societal attitudes towards hair, and why (what are their motivations)?"
Well Dave it is not the fashion industry that shapes our attitudes but years and years of history and attitudes within generations, cultures, nationalities . There is no motivation but an attitude to be exciting, sexy etc. Just the normal stuffs since the beginning of life on earth lol ( Diane)

Hi Dave,

>>Women are told that long hair "drags down their face" and "makes them look older," so the prescription to "correcting" that "problem" is a haircut resulting in shorter hair. Women are told that their hair is limp and flat, so the prescription to "correcting" this "problem" is short layers on top for height and volume.

I have to say that a good haircut can make a HUGE difference in a person's appearance. First of all the word "layering" with regard to hair still scares the daylights out of me because I remember those horrid little "wings" of bangs and severe layering of the 70s. You'll be pleased to know that I never partook in such a barbaric activity (!) but in all honesty, there really aren't that many people who look great in hair that is all one-length. Karen from the Hair Boutique is a pleasant exception! If I ever find a before and after photo of a woman whose hair has been gently layered, I will definitely send it to you.

When I finally let my stylist cut just a tiny bit of hair in the front, I looked totally different. The hair looked thicker and fuller and was much softer around my face. I actually have small facial features, so you can imagine how it would look on someone with more prominent features! Also, with the "dragging down of the face" (I know we've discussed this before) maybe a good way to really see how it works is to look at a photo of a woman that is cropped just below her chin, so you can't see the length of her hair. All you'll see is some straight hair on the side of her face. Hmmm....you know, I think we have some kind of a photo manipulation program around here. When I have a moment, I might try to find a face of someone and show you what I mean!

>>It is generally accepted that hair is a beauty asset, so removing healthy length is not a beauty-enhancing step. Cutting short layers into the crown results in a choppy appearance, destroying the clean lines of flowing hair.

Into the crown? I could not agree more! Hair that has been layered well doesn't "look" layered. Although hair is a beauty asset, I think adding style adds style to the person as a whole. A short, overweight woman is most likely going to look overbalanced with extremely long hair. Her hair may be extremely beautiful! But it may not suit her body type. Now....I've got the height (almost 6') but not the genes for extremely long hair! {grin} Conversely, though, an extremely short haircut on someone very thin or very fat is only going to accentuate her size.

>>The products and services offered by most salons are designed to facilitate such changes, but they do not necessarily enhance a woman's beauty.

Definitely agreed. To me personally, too much is too much when attention is drawn directly to the "procedure." In other words, when you look at someone and instead of noticing her beauty as a whole, you notice her make-up job (which means she's either used too much or has used colors not flattering to her) or her hair color. Some magazines are especially guilty of telling young girls about all the expensive products they'll need to look cool, sophisticated, and with-it. Having said that, I'm also a little girl at heart who just loves playing "dress-up" with new clothes, make-up, and hairstyles! {grin}

Jennifer

Diane said, "You have to remember Dave that you already have an opinion and might be blinded to what is best for women."

I don't profess to know what is "best" for women. The only thing I've done here is to document my observations about the way "beauty" products and services are "marketed."


Diane said, "that is too vague Dave. Firstly there is nothing wrong with the services they offer. Many women love it and some don't so what is the problem?"

I'm not saying that there is anything "wrong" with the services that they offer. I'm merely reflecting on the way in which these services are "marketed."


Diane said, "to be perfectly honest Dave long hair isn't for everyone and at times long hair does make someone look a lot older and at times short hair makes a person look a lot older. I agree that long hair can drag down someone face at times."

Everybody's got an opinion, sure. Why is it, though, that you never hear or read in the media similarly unkind comments about short hairstyles? (not that I wish to see them, mind you).


Diane said, "No Dave women themselves feel that they own hair at times is limp and flat and yes layers do help."

It's a shame that women feel badly about having hair that would be described by some as "limp" or "flat." Not that my opinion should necessarily matter, but some hairstyles I've seen criticized by others as being "flat" look good to me.


Diane said, "Women themselves feel that they want a diffirent color for a change and yes haircoloring does make hair seem more vibrant at times."

Just curious... why the desire for a different haircolor? I myself have never felt any motivation to change my own God-given haircolor, so this is something I don't understand. Enlighten me.


Diane said, "Based on what????? Heck that is your male opinion only. YOu are not a female and have no
idea how a female feels."

Sure, it's my opinion. Everybody has their own opinion, and I've expressed mine. Why do you have a problem with my expressing my opinion?


Diane said, "The bottom line I have no idea what is your problem with salons. They are not the enemy. They do serve the client as the clients wants it that way."

Who called salons "the enemy?" Surely, not I...

Yes, they do serve their clients, but certain "celebrity" hairstylists within the industry have "helped" to shape attitudes towards acceptability of certain choices, to the general betterment of the industry (and not necessarily that of the individual).


Dave