new thread
Lately I've found myself wondering how it is that the world is so dominated by the short-hairs and why it is that they feel so free to criticise and impose their world view. Men's hair was meant to be long that's obvious - it grows that way - sso I wonder how we got to be this way - waht do you think?
The world isn't dominated completely by short-hairs. There are parts of the world where this isn't true, but those parts of the world are more likely to be isolated or "tribal". Oppression for long-hair on men isn't a universal human trait, but social conformity is. As Western culture began dominating the world, Western appearance did too.
When Chinese came to the USA in the 1800s, many men had shaved fronts and long braids down the back. No doubt, they would have been mocked in China if they hadn't worn this style; because like I said, conformity is a univeral human trait. When they came here, some of the clinged to the old ways, but almost all of them were either compelled to have a more Western appearance, or decided to.
In some cultures where there is a desire to resist Western influence and return to the "old ways", a return of long hair occurs. The most familiar examples of this to me are Native Americans and the Taliban facial hair. The former demonstrates once again that oppression of a particular symbol isn't universal, but conformity is. Here in the US, a beard might make you do badly in some job interviews. During the Taliban regime, you could be jailed for NOT growing one!
However today in China and many parts of Asia most men have short hairs and seem to demand that every other male have short hair too. I think this has a lot to do with Western influences but they never admit it.
But today in Japan and some Asian countries long hair seems to gain popularity.
In addition to what Steve NoVa said, someone else on this board once mentioned that historically there was a particularly bad outbreak of lice in men's hair. I think one of the outbreaks was during WW1, --- hence men (especially men in the military) shaved their heads and/or cut it very short to make it easier to rid themselves of the lice problem.
Also, supposedly immigrants who had to endure long, difficult periods of living with poor sanitary conditions had lice problems. Short hair on men then unconsciously became associated with "cleanliness" (or at least being lice-free).
Coupled with various religious views (St. Paul's rantings against long hair in the New Testament of the Bible, for example), it's easy to see how Western culture developed into being generally anti-longhair.
The sad part is that there is neither much of a lice problem nowadays, nor are St. Paul's rantings against long hair on men quite as literal as at first appears to the average Bible reader. Bible scholars are able to give MUCH more detailed historical background about events during St. Paul's day (one well-known example is that he lived approx. 300 years AFTER the crucifying of Jesus, so he never actually met Jesus, personally), --- and why Paul spoke as he did (including the fact that St. Paul was apparently bald himself... jealous of longhairs, perhaps? - lol)!!
There are other members here who are far better able to share historic details than I can; but this sheds at least some light on the subject...
- Ken in San Francisco
Figures... Women weren't in the war so they didn't get that much lice except the nurses and doctors I guess. This discrimination and criticism is really annoying but I don't mind it. I just don't care what others think and nobody should.
It's so dumb that society has rules which are simply ridiculous but they're so deeply routed that it's easier if they just stand there. And like not hiring someone because he has a beard -- that's so narrow minded. Let's hope this will change... :(
That's right. When I was in the Army it was explained to us that we had to have buzz cuts for hygiene. We were told that we would be (or might be if ordered into combat) in the field with no lavatory facilities and our hair would wind up being a nesting ground for lice, crabs, bugs, other vermin. I have to admit I would not want to be in the jungle for weeks on end and no bathing with long hair.
but the military rule has spilled over into civilian society, especially since world war 2, as a way of, in my opinion, psychologically bringing the workforce to heel. Industry wants people under control. the tiny minority who hold most of the wealth and employ millions aren't comfortable with free thinkers, eccentrics, nonconformists, or anyone who isn't afraid to speak out with an unpopular opinion and impunity. that's why they don't like college faculty or anyone else with pretty much guaranteed employment. they don't have anything to fear. Ditto for collective bargaining employment. they want everyone employed "at will" and they want to privatize as much of government as possible so as many people as possible can be controlled and intimidated. this may seem paranoid but take a look around at how people behave; how people are afraid of being laid off and how few people are protesting what's going on these days. This is exactly what the people who control most of the capital want. Their worst nightmare is a society where no one can be reigned in because everyone has economic independence. One way they make sure you are a harmless workbot is by forcing you to get a haircut.
When the Romans invaded Europe they thought the 'heathens and pagans' they saw looked ridicules as men wore their hair long, just as it grows, and they did not. In english civil wars the cavaliers wore their hair lung and in ringlets while their enemy the roundheads had their hair cut around their head (hence the name). In both scenarios the side you were on, as a man, was instantly recognisable and could be your life could depend upon it.
Trends come and go but I think the west is stuck a lot in the 9-5 job culture of big business where people are not always employed by their skills but also by appearance. The only way to change it is to be yourself and not be bullied by some arrogant low life who thinks wearing a suit, tie, short back and sides makes a guy look good or 'clean'.
I know a lot of men who are prefectly clean with hair down their bums and plenty who are pretty disgusting (believe me!) yet wear a suit and think they're superior.
Who knows what the trend will be in the next 100 years? or 200 or 300?