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This expression has always annoyed me. I had a relative recently speak of himself as being "clean-cut" as if this made him a better person. It's sad that people's perceptions are influenced so much by external appearances. Although, I do suppose I'm guilty of that myself some as I immediately feel an unspoken kinship when I see longhairs and would trust them and hire them before I would a "clean-cut" man. Being a longhair speaks to prizing individuality and owning oneself - traits I value to a very high degree.
It honestly puzzles me why being a sheep and a slave to societal norms would be considered good things. It's unfortunate that this prolonged bad economic state has probably led to some longhairs being shorn solely for job reasons. When I read articles listing things to do when seeking employment, hair always seems to make the list. I know it's unlikely to happen any time soon but such discrimination should be illegal.
The majority of people fall into the category of being average and, while there's nothing wrong with that in particular, the "average" life doesn't nurture (or even understand) imagination, individuality or diversity. Those qualities are usually looked upon with suspicion because they are foreign to the average person's world. Most people seek familiarity in their lives and, if you are of the status quo, you play follow the leader and do what those in power tell you to do. And since controlling a man through his hair has been done through centuries (just like the control of a women has been through her sexual organs) the "average" world embraces this "clean cut" philosophy because it's the easiest, uses almost no imagination and celebrates the black and the white, as contrasted with the infinte shades of gray which is called humanity.
I can say through experience (having hit the half century mark last year) that the older a man gets the more he is left alone regarding his hair length. It seems to be the younger guys who must battle the world regarding something that is none of the world's business. It takes wisdom to fight stupidity and wisdom does come with age. So you young longhairs who truly want to remain longhaired, my advise is gird your loins, prepare to stick your ground, hold onto your convictions, tell those critical to mind their own damned business and follow that light at the end of the tunnel. One day (and you may be graying by that time) the average world will leave you alone because they have run out of logical arguements to have your hair taken from you.
And then you can sit in your rocking chairs and stick your tongues out at them! (just kidding...but DO keep the faith. It's definately worth it).
You Jason seem to have done this very well. I remember you when you struggled with bucking the system regarding your hair and now you've been rewarded with having one of the most magnificent heads of long hair on this board.
Very well written, Guymarch. I can add nothing to what has been said...well. perhaps. Speaking as an Elder. who just last year decided to return to the fold, that yes, I was raised to be an individual. My parents impressed that upon myself and my sibs. Long hair was unexpected, but was tolerated, then accepted. This was, of course in the neolithic, A.K.A. The 60's and early 70s. I have been lucky, and though there was some comments made as my hair was obviously no longer being trimed, such comments have all but stopped. Indeed, with age, come some benefits.
It's great that you have returned to fold and that your family while perhaps not being the biggest fans of long hair, is accepting and appreciate the importance of individuality. I'm happy to hear you're not receiving negative comments at this point.
Thanks for your insightful thoughts. It was a fierce battle for me but maybe that makes it all the more sweet. Thanks again!
Lemmings perhaps!
Jason, i know what you mean, my mother who happens to be saint. looked at me after i had just washed and dried my hair this morning and before i had put it back into a tail, and said i either looked like a gorilla or a homeless caveman. now i know how the geico guys feel !!!! LOL your friend James
Although, I do suppose I'm guilty of that myself some as I immediately feel an unspoken kinship when I see longhairs and would trust them and hire them before I would a "clean-cut" man. Being a longhair speaks to prizing individuality and owning oneself - traits I value to a very high degree.
Hey Pilgrim,
I concur. I likewise feel a unspoken kinship when I see a brother longhair. I hope that I would not discriminate against a shorthair simply because he happens to be a shorthair. However, I do feel a sense of fraternity with my brother longhairs. I sense that he might have had to endure some ridicule because of his choice to wear his hair long. I concur with your observation that being a longhair bespeaks a prizing of indiviuality and owning oneself. Being longhair bespeaks that you are proud and unbowed. We longhairs appreciate and respect individuality for others. We expect that the same would be afforded to us.
Raymond
Praise be!
Hi Jason,
I agree that the term "Clean Cut", and what its supposed to mean to most that understand its context, does seem to put down any male who decides to have longer hair.It'll go down in history as just another stereotype, or label,that gets put on certain people who want to break from the norm whether by choice or whether its something they are born with.I too tend to feel more comfortable being around other longhairs than some buzzed guy who frankly looks rather mean!The "bad economy" probably has caused many longhairs to do the unthinkable just to get some sort of stinkin job that they probably would rather not have in the first place.This is something that is a real injustice.
Mark
This expression has always annoyed me. I had a relative recently speak of himself as being "clean-cut" as if this made him a better person. It's sad that people's perceptions are influenced so much by external appearances. Although, I do suppose I'm guilty of that myself some as I immediately feel an unspoken kinship when I see longhairs and would trust them and hire them before I would a "clean-cut" man. Being a longhair speaks to prizing individuality and owning oneself - traits I value to a very high degree.
Hi Mark,
Yes, it's a label that carries with it the automatic implication that those who do not regularly get their hair cut are lesser people, not clean and not to be trusted. What an ugly expression it really is!
Thanks for your comment,
Jason
Solitary sheep are frightened, nervous creatures. They find comfort and a sense of safety within the flock. The bigger the flock, the happier the sheep, so of course they prize the very qualities that make them (and others) sheep, and encourage sheepdom as much as possible.
I believe the sense of connectedness felt between longhaired men is more akin to the respect and sense of shared strength enjoyed by wolves in a pack.
--Val
I agree. It would appear that fear of the unknown enters into it.
Thanks for this observation. I never thought of that comparison but it's a really good one!
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really degrading to longhair men. All the longhair guys I know are clean and well groomed.
In a country that supposedly supports freedom of expression, there sure is a lot of opposition to it when it comes to longhair men.
I agree that a universal law against longhair discrimination should be made law. (I think such laws exist in parts of Europe.) To all from outside the US that read this, please elaborate.
Thanks
Scott
It's a demeaning and degrading expression for sure Scott.
It's too bad the longhairs behind the writing of the Constitution didn't write some language in there protecting our rights!
The length of your hair really isn't what gets you the job or respect of others in reality. People will quickly forget your long hair as long as you show confidence in yourself. A recent governor of Oklahoma wore his hair in a long braid and rode a motorcycle. I hope one day to run for office and if people don't like my hair, it won't stop me from getting my ideas across. What you have to do is get people's trust and confidence, then you're made. Being self assured is the way you do it.
I agree that confidence is important. I never even think about hair anymore. I remember the first day I came to work with a braid and wondered if there be a reaction. There wasn't and it hasn't even been a thought since.
Jason great response! I'm currently looking for work now, and I do feel a bit subconscious at times when I walk into a place asking for work---Even though my hair is neatly tied back...I still can't shake off the looks I get sometimes...(I only feel like this when I'm looking for work--(in my everyday life I"m confident with myself)
There...I said it!
Also called the demasculinization of the male.
I always find it interesting that both trend and term wind their way back to the Victorian Era, when men's hairstyles began becoming shorter,and the medical profession thought circumcising infants was a grand idea. A lotta cutting going on on both "heads" (big and little), thankfully both trends are becoming part of the past. Europe, then Canada, both began ending the practice of circumcision decades ago, and the USA is slowly doping so,; only 50% of male newborns are "snipped" after birth.
And young males are embracing longer hairstyles from free-flowing locks to full and half-tails, braids and cornrows, dreds, buns, etc. After almost a century and a half of suppression, American males are finally reclaiming their masculinity, and and the parents of boys are siding with them. "NO!" to circumcision and the doctors peddling the procedure, "NO!" to schools and other institutions/organizations and their mandatory "dress and grooming" codes stating the length/style of hair.
Europeans moved away from snipping foreskins and shearing heads, they have (rightfully so) looked down on the crazy Americans. The trend does look good for future generations of American males, but we still have a ways to go in reversing things. And (sadly), religious conservatism fueled both trends, and still fuels them today.
You got me on a roll with the mention of "clean-cut", stepping of my twin soapboxes now...
Thank you, Carol, for your thoughts on these subjects.
I completely agree with your desire to end circumcision in all parts of the world. Such a barbaric practice should be highly illegal yet even today it is still enforced as a medical necessity. I have done great research on the subject and the more I learn, the more I discover how many terrible, long-term effects this disgrace to modern medicine has! What's even more sad is that females who desire circumcised men don't realize that their sexual lives suffer as a result as well.
I was circumcised at birth and have been undergoing non-surgical foreskin restoration for about 2 years now. I urge other victims to do research on these methods as you will not regret the results. Even though I am far from finished, if every circumcised guy knew what he was missing, all circumcision would end immediately. The difference is like night and day.
I apologize for going a bit off topic here, but the idea is the same as with personal appearance: people are forcing their ideals on others with negative results on self-image. A man idealized as short-haired, clean-shaven, and robbed of normal sexual function is truly emasculated in all ways.
-Dan H.
Dear Dan.
It is nice to hear from a fellow Intactivist. I do hope you are successful with the foreskin restoration. I read about that, seems to be pretty promising albeit time-consuming. I'm sure you wish that yours was never taken off in the first place, but grateful that there is a method of restoration.
In the US, circumcision is strictly a money-making machine; doctors get well paid doing this. That is 1 reason for the slow decline. The other is women have been conditioned to find foreskins "gross" (kinda like how many consider long-haired guys "gross"). :( ?
Intactivists like you and I need to speak up and educate the masses, hopefully someday (soon!) circumcision will be a part of medical history as the barbaric procedure it is.
Best wishes for your future as a fully intact male.
Carol