Is long hair the rule for little girls??

[thereyet]

Back story: my dd had the biggest bald spot I've ever seen, and with such dark hair, it was super obvious (the whole back of her head) and maybe just a little embarrassing :). When her hair grew long, because of the immense bald spot, it was very uneven and just looked feathery. So when it was long enough, I had it cut into a bob, as short at the highest level, at her chin. I thought it was super cute (and chic!) but so many women in my extended family let me know that it was 'too short' and someone actually said 'her haircut does look really cute, BUT LITTLE GIRLS NEED TO HAVE LONG HAIR'. I'm borrowing a phrase from a poster in another thread, but AIBU about the Disnification/Pinkification of little girls? I didn't say anything in response but am burning with resentment, which brings me to the point: what kind of person makes a disparaging remark about a 2 year old's appearance? Who does that??

Everyone thought I was a boy up till teenage years when I was allowed to grow my hair. i never felt like an attractive child. Short hair can be lovely and if the child likes it and is happy - fine. Not so good if they don't.

There is a girl in ds' nursery class who has a chin length bob. It is dead straight, black and she looks absolutely beautiful.

Dd2 who is almost 2 is practically bald. She gets mistaken for a boy all the time even wearing bright pink!

My DD2(5) decided to play hairdressers last year and since then she has had a chin length bob and DD3(3) has a crop.

Nobody really comments on DD2s hair and she isn't the only one in her class to have it that length.

Everyone has an opinion on DD3s hair. She has it cut using clippers with the longest attachment. Most people are very positive and say that it really suits her but there are people who say that girls should have long hair. Only yesterday my ExMIL said that i should stop cutting it.

It pisses me off to be honest. I don't have an opinion on how they have their hair so they need to keep their opinions to themselves. When DD3 decides she wants her hair different then she can grow it until then it is nobody else's business.

I was forced to have a bob till my teens and hated it, I have had long hair since.
Both my DD have long hair, their choice, if they wanted short hair they could have. Its trimed regularly and is neat and tidy, suits them and looks beautiful.

Who comments on tiny kids hair (unless it's in a pink mohican or something)?

I was fairly bald until I started school and had no hope of a bobble until at least age 7. Somehow I survived & my hair is now mid-back length...

Aww, I cut my DD2's hair into a very short bob (clippers at the back, tapering up to a weight line and then sloping forward to chin length at the front)

It's because she hates me brushing her hair and the back tangles terribly when she goes to sleep. She's never once been mistaken for a boy, though, and gets loads of compliments...

I have the reverse situation - a DS who loves to keep his hair quite long.
All of the mothers use clippers and buzz cut their sons' hair so they all look like little squaddies.
My DS sticks out a mile but he doesn't care and neither do I.
It is all silly gender stereotyping.

PosyNarker if a small child's hair is in any way different to their peers it would seem that a lot of people will comment.

Classics i have had include

"little girls should have their hair in pony tails"
"do you not think its time to shop cutting it now"

And my favourite

"if you keep her hair that length she will end up a lesbian ha ha"

Strangers thinking she is a boy don't really bother me. I find it a little strange that they can't look beyond the hair to the actual child but it isnt really hurting anyone. Crap comments by family (ils mainly) in front of DD3 are not acceptable.

I did see a photo of a line of girls (in the same class). I don't know how old they were, maybe 10-12yo but they all had identical long hair. A bob is much easier to look after IMO.