Social connotations of a blond bob

[SocialConnotations]

Help me find a grip.

For most of my life, I've had short (bobbed) blond hair. Always liked it. It suits me. Then lockdown happened, and it grew out. Kept it long because couldn't be arsed. Now want to go back to my old bob, but somehow the last few years have convinced me that there are certain social connotations to blond bobs... even in the Big Little Lies book (the Lianne Moriarty novel), there's a genre of person called "the blond bobs" (pushy middle class mums). My kids call a blond bob the "Karen cut".

In general, I don't give a f* what other people think of my appearance really. I'm in my late 40s and am generally over people-pleasing. But somehow it feels political to have a blond bob.

Tell me I'm ridiculous.

Pop, bob, whatever, I'm not keen, it is a dull hair cut.

I'm all for shoulder long or very short.

Hair and clothes are social markers though.

@Mercedesbenz2022, it's short at the back and sides but the top is floppy and wavy.
It's not my cup of tea but I've seen hairstyles that I've liked less.

Ignoring all this ‘Karen’ shit, which is so tiresome…

I think bobs can look great as long as they’re not helmet-y.

I think a parted Bob is timeless, elegant and stylish. A flat cut one, not one that’s shorter at the back. Fringed ones I’m less keen on. Although Dd 16 has one with curly hair and she looks great.

Hairstyles absolutely do reflect social issues. I used to lecture history of fashion, l could go into it all, but it would take forever. Think of the hippies though. Both sexes had the same hairstyle at the start of the quest for equality.

Haha, thank you all - I've just returned to the thread and it's properly made me laugh, so thank you for all the responses (especially the understanding ones, but also that one that called me a "pleb" - WTAF?! 😂).

Don't worry too much about my kids - they're using the K word very tongue-in-cheek, mostly to wind me up, are perfectly well aware that it's sexist and wouldn't use it in ernest.

As for my hair - well, I'm looking forward to my haircut now and will obediently avoid "helmet" versions and anything shorter at the back. I might even forgo the bob altogether and go straight for the "meet me at MacDonalds" haircut someone mentioned.

You're spot-on @catzrulz - having hair is lucky. Sending you the very best for the treatment you're having x

My DS has the previously mentioned meet me at McDonald's do. I think the lads look like llamas!

I have a wavy blonde bob, but it's to the bottom of my neck, blunt all round and just off centre parted.

I really hate the pob, mostly because it's never done as well as VB's was and just looks hacked in at the back with curtains at the front.

Have googled that boys' haircut, I think it looks really cute! But has clearly been given a classist nickname. What a shame.

Fuck me you guys will find Offenes at literally anything

Is "meet me at McDonald's" meant to be a compliment then? Happy to have it explained to me!

I think bobs are great apart from what I can only describe as the ridiculous long doggy ear types - no idea why that’s considered a good look on anyone.

Has anyone mentioned Mariella Frostrup yet?
Gorgeous.

I agree, however, the very short back, very stiff and coiffed blonde bob does have negative connotations, much as I hate the ‘Karen’ trope. A nice swishy mid-length bob is cool and classic IMO.

God yes, LOVE Mariella and her bob. I have similar but with a choppy fringe - my forehead requires it. HOW IS MARIELLA'S FOREHEAD SO SMOOTH??

Botox.

She looks amazing.

The whole ‘Karen’ argument has lost complete perspective on mumsnet. The Karen caricature is a privileged white women who treats service workers and people she deems ‘beneath her’ like dirt, is rude and entitled and yes is usually older because that tends to be where money and privilege lie. To call misogyny on it completely takes away from actual misogyny. Get a bloody grip.

My hair is really thick and I sometimes have a Bob to my chin (very blunt one length). It looks chic and classy. It’s long again now as I never keep the same style. Don’t recognise this thread at all. The whole Karen thing is ridiculous.

I was called a 'Karen' by some older teen boys who I called out at the playground for swearing loudly and hanging out on the kids climbing frame, meaning the small dc there couldn't play there. Do you think I was displaying "entitled" behaviour? I felt pretty intimidated actually. I'm a mixed-race, middle-aged woman. It's that latter bit that made them jump to that insult. Misogynistic? Yes absolutely, in my opinion.

🙄 yes - clearly those abusive teen boys were using the term in exactly the way it was intended.

No of course not and yes it sometimes gets used as a general insult which is wrong. But the problem there is with those abusing it and abusing you, not with the term itself. Screaming misogyny whenever anyone references a ‘Karen’ is just plain daft, especially when that is not how the phrase and term originated.

I think Lucy Worsley looks pretty good too.

But that's exactly how the term originated, actually.

It doesn't matter how the term originated (which was in the USA to describe a white woman who used her whiteness to abuse black people). In the UK it's meaning has morphed and is now used to insult any middle aged woman expresses an opinion or who demands what she is rightfully entitled to. It is misogynistic since it's sole purpose here is to shut down women!

“Certain” women.

"Certain" women? Women or a certain age, more like. They don't have to be doing something wrong to be called a Karen. And I can't be bothered looking it up just now but others have posted threads here before explaining the origin of Karen that predated the idea of the angry racist.

*HOW IS MARIELLA'S FOREHEAD SO SMOOTH??

She says she has botox on her forehead because number 11s make her look cross. She's not bothered about crows feet or other lines and wrinkles.

And I bet she wouldn't give a toss if the Style & Beauty muppets called her frumpy or mumsy cos she has a bonde bob!