AIBU to think that gender norms around appearance are enforced more for girls?

[ScaryHairyMcClary]

I am noticing a weird trend of acquaintances/people in FB groups being accepting and in fact enthusiastic about their boys having long hair/wearing fairy dresses etc (which I am all in favour of), but at the same time being totally sexist towards their girls. These tend to be lefty, eco type people.

Example: a mum in an eco group asks about eco hair bands for her 18 month-old daughter (accompanied by a pic of the kid in a frilly dress, with long-ish hair). Saying the DDs hair is getting long and needs managing, gushing about how the older brother also likes sparkly hairbands but they want a more eco version. Lots of other posters recommending things and also talking about their long-haired sons. I am the only one who suggests just cutting the girl's hair (as they would have in the 1980s). Surely more ecological to just use nothing! No-one likes my suggestion - lots of weird reasons why it is not possible.

AIBU - is this a trend?

I think the problem with cutting girls’ hair is in the past it’s been associated with neglect. Mother’s would cut it because they couldn’t be bothered to deal with nits so there’s sort of an association with not caring. Same with very short hair on boys. Having said that I do know a number of girls with short hair - usually Tomboy types. I think long hair is more common with younger children until the child chooses for them self.