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Gentlemen,
in reference to the U.S and Canada, where would you say that you've felt that you've received the most tolerance and intolerance because you've had or currently have long hair.
when I assert tolerance I am referring to no hassles, no dirty looks, not being asked to get a short haircut when applying for a job.
Are there any among you who've lived in several states who've noticed a difference in the way you are treated?
I'd like to hear about your experiences in regards to this.
thanks,
Burke
The Seattle area seems to be pretty tolerant... Of course, I've lived here all my life, but, family notwithstanding, everyone seems to be pretty tolerant about long hair.
-J
I live in the Boston area. It is great for people with long hair. There are lots of LH men including a good number of jazz and other musicians. I even interviewed (and landed the software engineer job) when I was in the awkward stage. Did I mention that I rode my motorcycle to the interview?
I lived in the Dallas/Fortworth area, Texas for a couple of years. LH there doesn't seem to be as welcome as here in New England. I did not have LH there so I haven't experienced any intolerance personally. However the population of LH men is relatively small. I suspect it has to do with the hot weather mostly.
I disagree. I have lived for years in both Dallas and Austin, TX. I agree Dallas has a lower tolerance, as you said. However, Austin is a virtual mecca for long hair. I've always thought of Dallas as the plastic city with no soul. Everything seems so artificial there. Weather isn't an issue. People go from their air conditioned house to their air conditioned work site by means of their air conditioned car. If you go to the theater, bring a sweater if you don't want to freeze. Austin is about the same weather-wise as Dallas. Perhaps a degree or two cooler in the summer but also a few points higher in humidity, so it feels just as hot. I find that the people are more social in Austin and more laid back.
Burke,
I'm in Portland, Oregon. I think there is some truth to the stereotype of the West Coast as more "laid-back" and tolerant than other regions of the country. Since it rains half the year, most people have their noses in their books or umbrellas rather than other people's choice of hair styles! My parents (in their 70's; I'm in my 30's) sometimes complain a bit about my waist-length hair. But they know that it's what I prefer, I don't have any trouble finding good friends, my girlfriend *really* likes it (hooray!), and it hasn't affected my ability to work in the high tech field.
About five years ago, when I went through a round of job hunting, I listened to an obnoxious agency recruiter who talked me into cutting it short for an interview. I didn't get the job. I decided not to make that mistake again and haven't cut it since. Today, if a recruiter tried to dump that nonsense on me, I'd say, "I see I don't need to let either of us waste any more time at this appointment, my resume shows ten years of relevant experience for employers who didn't care about my hair as long as I showed up and worked hard. If your leads are only to employers shallow enough to reject excellent candidates based on their appearance, then, goodbye" and get out of their office ASAP!
I do almost always use an unobtrusive barrette to clip my hair back while at work, so that people at work remember me for my ideas and my contribution rather than my hair. In the high tech field, seems like about 10% of men have shoulder length or longer hair -- more at the largest manufacturing companies such as Intel and Boeing.
One of my neighbors complained to my landlords about my not having mowed the lawn as frequently as the neighbors would have liked. The neighbors told that landloards that they did not make any attempt to talk to me because they assumed that with long hair, I'd be a jerk. The landlords laughed off the obnoxious neighbors, I mowed the lawn soon after and haven't heard anything more on this front.
Actually, I'm more concerned about prejudice against my wearing multiple earrings. I take them out for interviews (and visiting my family) and only occasionally wear small studs or basic small hoops at work after I feel that I'm an accepted part of the team. In the rest of my personal life I prefer larger danglies and big hoops, as long as the weather is cool enough to have my hair loose behind them.
Thanks for the great site, Victor!
- Chris
Kentucky and probably the Bible belt in general may give you problems.
I was refused employment at a GAS STATION once(a dingey, quick fill, not Super America), and the manager was this slob with his shirt half tucked in. I was the only one they had considered until hair came up. The woman at their main office said I had to decide what was more important-long hair or having a job. A GAS STATION JOB!
Another employer said something about "anti-establishment"; I wondered what decade it was for him.
People tell me it's better in the western U.S., but I cannot confirm.