new thread
...the message I posted called "it's time for action" in response to the "why is the U.S. so uptight about long hair?" thread? It's almost half way down the page.
I spoke of how I wanted to see the men on this board join together and come up with ways to combat the treatment some of us get for having long hair. I'd like to know of anyone's opinion on my post.
I've never been the subject of ill treatment due to my long hair. I was asked at work to cut it once, but managed to work out a compromise. Since then, it has never come up and I have kept on growing my hair.
How many of you out there really feel that long-hair predjudice has caused them problems? What happened to you?
Really interested,
The Rev
I've been denied employment since I refused to cut my hair. I've lost promotions because of it too.
The discrimination is rampant!
We should all have a March in Washington D.C and protest the treatment that we've been receiving from predjudiced and ignorant employers.
I mentioned one or two of my ideas in the "time for action" post. One of them was to start a letter writing campaign to hair care companies, telling them we want to be represented in their ads, too. This is just one idea that's easy, inexpensive, and isn't time consuming. Any of you have any other ideas?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not whining about how hard we poor men have it. Actually, if you read my posts below I was arguing with the ones who were trying to equate our fashion statement to those who are affected by sexism or racism. But I do realize there's room for improvement.
I've experienced a lot of discrimination over the years. Back in high school, a couple of the jocks told me they would hold me down and cut my hair before graduation (they didn't), I've faced major discrimination at two different jobs, been pulled over and harassed by cops for "looking suspicious," was the victim of a crime and was told by a cop "it's probably because you look like you do," and had people want to fight me on several occasions.
To me, the biggest factor in all of these things has been location. There is a HUGE difference in how I'm treated in different parts of the country. I would love to do something about the discrimination problem, but where do you start? I guess I just try to show people by example that I am not what their stereotypes would say I am, but if you guys want to organize something, you can count me in.
Which locations have you found were either good or bad for longairs?
Worst place I've ever been: Iowa, hands down.
Places I'd consider bad: most of the Midwest, central Florida. I've had a hard time in MN, but a poster here (Jim from NM) lived there and had no problems.
Places where nobody cares what your hair looks like: Seattle, Portland, San Fran, NYC, Pittsburgh.
That's just from my own experiences, and I'd like to hear anybody else's lists too.
Continuing up the east coast from NYC, I think Providence and Boston are fine too.
I wonder if the difference is more large cities vs. rural areas than particular parts of the country.
Doug
start with your elected officials. get a petition going.
the more people the better.
better yet get it up on a web site up and post it on several usenet groups and bulliton boards(like this one) which will be sympathetic to your cause.
remember that old saying like my grandma told me "the squeaky wheel gets the grease!"
Funny thing is Rev I've really not run into any predjudice either.
I fully expected to as I live in rural IL, small town. Just my experience, not to denigrate any problems others have had. It's been a bit over a year, so my hair is extrememly long, but not the norm by any means.
Only thing I've noticed, when we went to Mexico with another couple...I got offers of pot more than anyone else (like I want to sit in a Mexican jail!). Politely say no thanks and they leave you alone, but it was pretty funny.
Well, personaly ive never had a problem with prejudice against my long hair, but i live in a pretty laid-back town. But i suppose if anyone ever had a problem with it, and gave me trouble....id just tell them to $%#@ off...just show them u dont care about their opinion.
In addition to writing to or protesting to government as others have suggested, I think writing to businesses would help. The entertainment and advertising companies have a lot of power because their product is seen by so many people. There is a lot of talk about diversity lately, so it's easy to add requests to have diversity of many types of hairstyles.