Why patriarchy fears the scissors: for women, short hair is a political statement

[MadrasT]

Last edited Tue Jan 28, 2014, 04:11 PM - Edit history (1)

Written in response to a writer who goes by "Tuthmosis" who wrote a piece entitled "Girls With Short Hair are Damaged"

Why patriarchy fears the scissors: for women, short hair is a political statement

(excerpt)

He writes that long hair is “almost universally attractive to men, when they’re actually speaking honestly. . . Women instinctively know this, which is why every American girl who cuts, and keeps, her hair short often does it for ulterior reasons . . . Short hair is a political statement. And, invariably, a girl who has gone through with a short cut – and is pleased with the changes in her reception – is damaged in some significant way. Short hair is a near-guarantee that a girl will be more abrasive, more masculine, and more deranged.”

The essential argument is: men like long hair, and what sane woman would ever want to do anything that decreases her capacity to please men?

The advantage of articles like this, pantomimic though they be, is that they make misogyny legible. There was a time when feminists had to do that all by ourselves, but now we don't have to point out the underlying assumptions of a lot of the bullshit we deal with every day, because there are people on the internet doing it for us.

So I’m almost grateful to Tuthmosis for writing this particular piece of recreational sexist linkbait. I thought I'd never have an even passably good reason to write about how little things like short hair change the way patriarchy responds to you.

I thought her response was fantastic... wish I could quote more here. Much more at link...

Link: http://www.newstatesman.com/laurie-penny/2014/01/why-patriarchy-fears-scissors-women-short-hair-political-statement

I have had very short hair and very long hair... men have told me I should grow it when it was short, but never that I should cut it when it is long. I can say that when I grew it long, it was sometimes because I cared more about how I appeared to men... and sometimes because I was too lazy or busy to bother going for a haircut. When it was short, I didn't do it to make a statement, so much as for convenience, and at the same time, because I decided I just didn't really care about using my hair to attract men. The men I have met who care that much about hair are usually kind of shallow and sexist anyway.

[DetlefK]

1. "short hair = damaged good" dates back to medieval times.

When a woman committed a crime that wasn't severe enough for jail or execution, but still bad enough so they had to get rid of her, she was banished from the town and her head was shaved.

This meant that having short hair automatically branded a woman as a "damaged good", as the varying classes of medieval society adhered to a strict fashion-code to show off their standing: peasant, merchant, scribe, nobility, criminal...



There was a similar punishment for men: If a worker was dishonorably expelled from a guild, his mark of membership, his ear-ring, was ripped out. This left him with a slitted ear-lobe. Accordingly, having a slitted ear-lobe became an indicator for men for being a criminal. (It's a metaphor still used nowadays in German for "likable" criminals.)

[BainsBane]

2. I suppose that's true in a general sense

The average woman probably appears more attractive to men when she wears her hair long, but I can't help but think of some particularly beautiful women who rock very short hair.









Remember Sinead O'Conner, back in the day.



I'm currently in a stage where I'm determined to grow my hair as long as I can, even though it's incredibly thick and grows very slowly. I know, however, that I probably look better in medium to short hair. I think many of us make choices about our hair and clothing that have little to do with men. Certainly no one wants to look unattractive, but women also care about fashion, practicality, and pleasing ourselves. If I was making some sort of political statement in cutting my hair shot when I was younger, I certainly wasn't aware of it. I changed my hair because I felt like it. I also recall getting more attention after cutting my hair just because it looked nicer. Or perhaps it was because I felt I looked better, and that confidence made me more attractive.

[gollygee]

3. Are there people who really think this?

He says if a woman cuts her hair she'll never "find a man" and she'll end up a crazy cat lady. But that isn't true. I have short hair (and have almost all my adult life) and I'm married (and have only one cat.) And of course he knows it isn't true. I imagine he is trying to make a threat.

If it's keeps men with attitudes like that away, then it's a great idea for single women who are attracted to men to cut their hair short.

[Kber]

4. Thx for posting!

It's really worth reading the whole thing.

[redqueen]

5. "what sane woman would ever want to do anything that decreases her capacity to please men?"

Oh, the irony.

It's the 'damaged' women ('damaged' by internalized patriarchy) who are convinced that their decisions about their appearance should be based on random dudes' opinions and not her own comfort, tastes, and appearance.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

7. that line IS hilarious.

holy moley. funny stuff there

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. I have had both very long and, very short hair in my day. Some men liked it long and, other

men Loved It Short. Funny thing/ancedote: When I had very short hair I dated a man who had very long hair.

We were never mistaken. He still appeared masculine and I, feminine.

I can't believe that in 2014 this is still an issue.

[redqueen]

8. I can believe it. We've been losing ground for the past two or three decades now.

I like this part, too.

I am regularly asked whether I think that feminism ought to be “rebranded” in order to threaten men less, because anything a woman does, even attempt to chip away at a massive, slow-gringing superstructure of sexism, must appeal to men first, or it is meaningless.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. ugh. redqueen. I swear. I can believe it and I can't believe it. We have indeed been going backwards

I just did not realize how far backwards and how long it had been going on. Of course, I had no idea about Third Wave until DU3 came into existence. That whole premise, I think, fed into this - appealing to men - thing.

perhaps, unintentionally. I don't know.

I admit to being ignorant about a lot of this.

I just know that I am human and men are human and that at a most basic level I want to reach out with mutual respect for another sentient being. All my basic philosophy about feminism stems from that idea.

[redqueen]

11. The third wave was about racial inclusivity.

The sexxxy feminism stuff seemed to just glom onto it. Sadly. And I agree that that is where feminism's forward momentum was lost.

I'm all for reaching out to men, but I will not bow and scrape to comfort their entitled egos in order to do so.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. OK, thanks for explaining how Third Wave -lost- its way.

bow and scrape ... No way do I want that. I want to reach out in a manner that is equal and respectful of our differences while also recognizing our similarities. That together we all work for the betterment and enrichment of all.

Respect for the planet. Respect for all creatures. Respect each other. Be kind to one another.

[mopinko]

10. i've had short hair most of my life. my family hates it.

i went grey early, and got lots of compliments from women.
but along with my refusal to wear make up, or spend my scant cash on fancy clothes to suit them, i was officially dubbed white trash, a hillbilly.
part of why i don't even bother with them in my life.

now i have officially adopted crazy old crone hair.
we'll see how that goes.
me-


more crazy crone at the link.

[MadrasT]

13. I think it looks great, and like it suits your personality.

And I guess by that definition I am white trash, too... I'm good with that.

[eridani]

14. Long hair is pretty low-maintenance, if it isn't too thick

I haven't cut mine for 45 years other than to trim an inch or two of split ends every now and then.