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I have not recieved my phone call yet to for training to the Michigan Corrections Academy. However, as the time draws closer as ridiculous as this may sound I am beginning to think and realize how important my longhair is to me. I am starting to think and debate the question with myself why should I have to cut my hair for a job? I am fairly educated there are plenty of other jobs out there. If I would be willing to make another sacrifice, that is to relocate I could keep my hair. That may sound immature to some folks but I have been longhair for 15 years. I know hair grows back but it is not easy to just give up like that. A very important decision to make. I could use some support here.
If they have requested you cut your hair, do not comply. Just go to the training with your hair clean, and tied up, preferably in a bun. They could argue that a tail would be dangerous. Notice how the women recruits wear their hair. If they send you home for having long hair and permit women to continue, you will have a clear case of sex discrimination. Let them try to discharge you. Don't comply in advance.
It would be a good idea for you to call the Michigan affiliate of the national ACLU in advance to get advice. Just google Michigan ACLU.
Caledonian
There is no easy & simple answer to your dilemma. It is sad (and VERY unfair) that men get put into the position of having to choose between a career direction that we want to go in but that requires sacrificing our long hair; or, changing to a different career direction that we may not be as passionately about in order to keep our long hair. Women rarely, if ever, are forced to have to make such a choice (I say, "rarely" because I can't say for sure, --- although I've never heard of women being put in that same position). You are the only person in the world who can make this difficult decision; but, rest assured that there is nothing "wrong" or to be ashamed of in feeling hesitation right now about going into this training program that would make you cut your hair... I would most certainly feel the same way!
If it helps any to hear this, for many years in my life I put my job and/or career as my higher priority over growing my hair out when I was younger. (And the sad part of that is that I can't say that I necessarily got all that much "ahead in the world" by doing so!) It wasn't until my late 30s that I started to finally grow my hair *really* looooong, --- my first decent-looking ponytail occuring just in-time for my 40th birthday party! In MANY ways, I regret waiting so long to grow my hair out. In hindsight, a lot of my hesitation to grow it out sooner was more self-imposed than it truly was job-imposed; but, hey, that's another story (lol)!!
Nobody has the right to judge you about which direction you end up going, regardless of EITHER way you end up choosing... The decision is yours and yours alone. But, please, realize that you certainly have our total support here, --- and that I doubt that there is even one single person out of the regulars here would ever think for even a moment that you are being "ridiculous" or Immature" about not wanting to cut your hair!!!
If it makes you feel any better, I'll use myself as an example: if it were me facing the same decision, since I've been through hell and high water to finally get the long hair I've always wanted and actually have right now.... I know for sure there's no way in hell I would cut it now ("been there, done that! - lol")!!!!!!!
But again, nobody should judge you for whatever decision you end up making, including me or anyone else here. So, whatever decision you end up making, just move forward fearlessly that you have done whatever seems, "best under the circumstances"...
Hope this helps!
- Ken in San Francisco
Thanks Ken for that long and detailed reply. I do really appreciate that. Some people amongst my own family and friends do not understand and would think I am being ridiculous and immature. You make a valid point that does burn me up often and angers me that women are not forced to make this decision. There are many longhaired men that would make good police officers and soliders. Many of them (us) keep their hair much cleaner and neater and stylish than many shorthairs I have seen. I have not fully decided yet but I have promised to do so by the end of this upcoming weekend. I will call them and tell them I do not want their job if I decide to go that route.
The reason I applied in the first place is because I saw so many correction officers with longhair which I think is the dumbest rule that one can have long hair on the job but not during training.
Thanks again to everybody who replied to my post. I know whatever decison I make will be the right one because I made it. Peace
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I'm going through the same sort of fears at the moment too, I don't really have any answers for you but I can say I'm at least going to try to go for some job interviews as a profesionally dressed longhair, and see what transpires.
For myself, and not judging anyone, although I love my hair I would not take the food off my table for it.
MattT
"That may sound immature to some folks but I have been longhair for 15 years."
Not at all, i completely understand where you are coming from :)
You could always, if forced to have your hair cut, insist on a very longhair friendly length and style so that you can grow it out long afterwards. They may be accepting of a longer "short" style.
I am reminded of a scene from the movie Police Academy...which as a comedy makes it not a good source for reality...but anyway, there is a scene where these two guys, who end up being the "jerks" and suckups to the Academy staff, go to the Academy haircuttery after pushing past the line, they sit down and tell the barber to shave it down to a buzz cut (like an "Army-style" cut). The next guy, who is one of the "good guys", sits down and asks for a little off the top. The jerks say "Can you really do that?" and the barber says, "Yeah, it's not the Army". Yeah, not actual fact-based movie but it reminded me.
That was a funny scene.
AFAIK, even in the army it isn't necessary to have a buzz cut, just regular short hair, but I've heard that if you don't there is pressure from other soldiers, that basically they call you names if you have hair long enough to comb.