Hair

[Nannyogganny]

I was just thinking today. Why do men have short hair and women have long hair.

When did this societal rule start ?

And why do we all consistently follow this rule, and never change it?

I always thought the short hair for men was an army thing. Easier to keep tidy.

Good question, it’s probably to do as being viewed attractive and young.

At the risk of stating the obvious, we don't all consistently follow it.

It's fashion isn't it? There will always be variations in who wears their hair how, but fashion has a massive effect. Long hair for men has gone in and out of fashion for forever. Same with short hair for women.

When I was a child (60s/70s), almost all women over about 30 had short hair.

Erm, we don’t. 😂

I have always had very short pixie length hair and never ever had long hair and I’m in my 60’s now. My hair is fine so never bothered trying to grow it as it looks like rats tails.

DS on the other hand has very long luscious locks.

I have a son with very long hair and a daughter with a buzz cut.

I didn't read the rule book, clearly.

Makeup and "female" clothing are much more "rule" bound than hair. People are unlikely to raise an eyebrow at short haired women or long haired men. But while men can and do wear makeup (and why shouldn't they), it's probably less likely to pass unnoticed.

Fashion. Culture. Wealth. Historical period.

You only have a quick look at historical paintings and/or photos of people from different cultures now to grasp this.

Well I think in times gone by hair was an indicator of fertility and health in women, so therefore long thick lustrous locks would have been advantageous in attracting a partner, there's probably remnants of that in the way we view long glossy hair even now, it signifies youth, health and wellbeing, all attractive qualities.

It hasn't always been this way, fashions change (just see the long and curly wigs of the 17th and 18th centuries). I expect the current trend is because maintenance of long hair is seen as something feminine (because of current associations with beauty, self-care etc), but of course it's not a universal rule.

I think it started somewhere in the late 70's, early 80's..For women that is. Although possibly for men, also that time. I didn't spot it for men.

No idea why it is. We've all , or a lot of us, have jumped on the bandwagon.

I was more thinking in the Roman times and before then.

@Christmaseree well maybe :)

I'm really talking about the complete take up of straight, and not bouncy if that's the word, long hair that women, in particular young women tend to have these days. I'm the same. Haven't had a different hairstyle since the early '80's. There were a lot of perms back then, where hair was longer but the long straight hair uniform hadn't come in at that point I don't think.

This isn't even true, and hasn't been true for many years. Before my time, but wasn't short hair popular on women in the 60s, e.g. Mia Farrow?

Wasn't long hair popular in men in the 70s with the hippy movement?

Even now, lots of men have long hair and lots of women have short hair. I never would, I would look hideous, but plenty of women look amazing with short hair. Although I do think it's a shame so many women get to a certain age and just chop their hair really short. It's not always very flattering, but if they like it, it's their choice. Although I do think it's becoming less of a societal norm for women to chop their hair off once they hit 40s/50s these days.

What was difficult to understand about the OP? She clearly had just had a thought and was wondering about it.

I'd never thought of it before and it can be interesting learning about how things came to be the norm.

Iirc, back in the 60s when the US government was worried about all the long haired hippies they commissioned a study.

They determined that men wore their hair long for about 90% of human history. Women's hair was not mentioned

This is just from something I read years ago so I may be misremembering completely.

The long straight hair you describe was around in the 60’s.

Yes it was. But it wasn't the uniform it is now. I drive past a bus stop on my way to work each day and there are practically no women who don't have it these days.

What you dribbling on about op.
Ive had a shaved head my sister still has a shaved head.
My neighbour male has long hair.
And many more men ive seen have long hair and a lot of women have short hair.
There is a teen in our area about 13 and his hair is lush hangs way down his back his sister has a pixie cut.

Because lots of hair is a sign of youth and good health.Unfortunately past the age of 35 a lot of men can't manage a flowing mane, so they had to change the rules for themselves and decide not much hair was better, and bald was a sign of fertility. They didn't bother to change the rules for us though.