new thread
Just found this board this AM, been reading the posts throughout the day.
I saw the whole Wal-Mart/legislation thing and it (almost but not) mirrors a thought I have rambling around in my head.
I have an MFA and work as a museum administrator - finance and curatorial. I am also the Exalted Ruler at my local BPOE lodge. One of my colleagues recently remarked about how far I "could have gotten had I looked more professional". He, of course, meant my hair, which has always been neatly braided- albeit down to my butt. I am required to wear a suit to work every day and it has become my standard mode of dress.
My initial (internal) response was to simply ignore the comment, but once that seed is planted - it's like kudzu.
After a few days of contemplation, I think what really counts is an individual's ability and demonstrated concern for bettering his/her enivronment. Still, if someone looked like a dirtbag and didn't take care of their own person, I'd have a hard time hiring them.
I do wonder what impact my hair choice has had on my professional career - especially now that the museum is not doing well and artistic jobs are hard to come by.
Anyone else in the same "profesional" boat?
Found a pic of me before the last harvest for Wigs for Kids. The antler pic was from my graduate thesis (archaic photography).
I'm sure there are cases of guys not advancing because of their hair. I know of ex-longhairs who got borged and joined the hive (i.e. got haircuts, my bad joke) in order to advance. it's totally a philisophical thing, that is, what's your idea of success and all that. I don't give a flip about getting promoted, in fact, i don't want it. don't want the hassles, the longer hours blah blah. Interestingly, I read a few days ago a report on a study that involved interviewing a sample of one or two thousand people of different incomes (around $20K up into 6 figures) with regard to what made them happy. the result was that people making more money, beyond a certain amount, around 40 or 50K, weren't much happier and in some cases were worse off because their money got them more possessions which weighed them down with problems and worries. they also spent more time doing work related b.s. they really didn't want to do like commuting, and attending functions. Now, some real ambitious go-getter would probably see me as a pathetic hippy looser, but (obviously) I don't see myself that way; I see myself as not being a sucker for management. If my hair prevents me from getting promoted, that's another advantage! but again, all the stuff people want that comes with more money are things i'm pretty indifferent about and that's me, not you, so it has to be an individual decision. you have to decide what you want with your career and whether or not your hair is in the way of that and if it is, whether or not it's worth it to get it cut.
I'm now in my 50s with waist length hair, i've worked lots
of jobs over the years and IMHO unless an employer is
prepared to pay you $160 thousand a year the employer
abdicates the right to dictate how I dress and wear my hair.
I'm now self employed so I dictate to myself what the
dress code will be.
p.s. I think the museum world is one of those areas where hair would not be a big deal, especially if the museum is an art museum. In fact, I think it would be a plus. doing development work with rich judgemental prospects might be a problem however.
Further where? If you are doing well for yourself at the musuem, and happy where you are, where else would you want to be? I highly doubt it is your hair that is making the musueum not do well!
I was in a profession (banking) which highly frowned on long hair, and this was my eventual undoing with them. It was the last straw when I was told I had to cut it. Lots of other stuff was keeping me dissatisfied, but that haircut demand gave me the last little nudge I needed to get out of that place for good.
I wrote several months about the same issue. My business partner and I had rather loud discussions about my hair and the business environment. I'm the young "senior" partner of the firm, but had my hair down to my shoulders. Our business does graphics, computer consulting and professional support services. You would think that the graphics and computer field would expect long hairs, but I got more negative comments about my long hair and ultimately gave in. I cut it in May, after 1½ years of growth. Can't tell you what impact it had on the business other than I don't have negative comments and there is finally peace and quiet in the senior management area.
I'm afraid it's still an old-boy network out there. If you're going to be in business, there is a certain image that the majority expects.
I miss my long hair and after I retire, watch out -- I'm going to let my hair grow.
That's too bad but I hope you can retire soon! : )
Like I said a few weeks ago--what are we doing, living through the 1950s again?