Hair is such a big thing in our Western Culture. Especially if you're Dolly Parton.
But seriously, I'm thinking about having the chop. I got to thinking today about how important hair is in our society in establishing what a person is like - much like clothing or the music one listens to. But hair is an even bigger issue for a woman. Yes, there are plenty of men out there who spend hours and insane amounts of money on their hair. But still that's the exception, and not the norm. Looking at hair from a western male perspective, long hair would symbolise LARGELY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY one of two things - either femininity or a penchant for Bon Jovi or Van Halen (or Poison, just to kill two birds with one stone). I have known (and dated) many men with long hair, as I love men with long hair. These men have been all man but still suffered under the indignation and jeers of their fellow Y chromosones, or stupid twats who come up to them and comment on how they thought he was a woman from behind. Long hair befuddles some men.
Short hair for a man symbolises masculinity - no fuss, no muss.
Is this the same for women? Have we gotten past the fact that short do's are "butch" or does it simply apply to who is sporting the cut? I think of women with short hair such as Audrey Hepburn, Janine Turner and yes, even Sinead O'Connor. I don't think any of them looked less feminine for having had the chop. Have we finally stopped equating one's hair length with one's femininity (if you're a woman)?
Tired of dyeing my hair, I think I'm going to go for it. I have been dyeing my blond hair red for a while now, thinking (and still agreeing) that blond is just plain old boring - everyone and their peroxide twin is blond. Growing up in Canada, the stigma of having red hair never arose - those with red hair were simply assumed to have fiery temperments to match.. not a bad thing, really. And whilst I wish I was naturally red, sadly I have plain old blond hair. I'd stick with red, as henna is a wonderful, natural thing. Only problem is, it is a complete pig to do every six weeks. And it doesn't come out with the usual colour removers you can have done at the salon.
So, looks like it's the chop for me. It'll be good for summer - with thick hair, and a hot summer (so they say) coming, it'll be a treat. I still have quite a bit of trepidation, as I haven't had my hair very short for about 15 years. I worry that only the very slim can get away with it. I worry that if I don't wear any make-up I'll be mistaken for a boy. I worry that I won't like it but will have to live with it.
But hey, it'll grow back. Like all of life's decisions, it seems big at the time, but in the long run, when you have time to reflect, it wasn't such a big deal after all. With a little Baileys, everything will be alright.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
“either femininity or a penchant for Bon Jovi or Van Halen (or Poison, just to kill two birds with one stone).”
ReplyDeleteThe difficulty with long-haired men is that they just never get when the gig is up. They begin by flirting with the noble savage routine and end up looking like something the 1980s Motley Crüe wouldn’t have peed on if it were burning and taking photographs of themselves in full-on drag. Most men at pagan open rituals aren't pagan, necessarily; they're trannies who can't afford the wig but still like to wear frocks in public.
“I think of women with short hair such as Audrey Hepburn”
Although the classic image of Hepburn is with her hair long and up.
“ Like all of life's decisions, it seems big at the time, but in the long run, when you have time to reflect, it wasn't such a big deal after all.”
That’s a good point. Too many people make too much of trivia. Some will even go so far as to tie a bundle of it up in a ribbon of bad history and call it religion.
I think I’d better have my second coffee now. Good luck with the chop.