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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Can you be a feminist if you have long hair?

152 replies

Fizzypoo · 30/07/2019 21:12

I would love to be a feminist. I have read some books, I have read the feminist boards on here for a number of years (before GC) and I have learned about the structural inequality women have, and still have more to learn.

But I have long hair, I like looking hot on a night out and realise this is for Male attention. I have a lovely boyfriend, 2 DC and work in a LA job where I have to be careful about what I say online (and even who I follow on twitter as I'm GC). I would love to be a no nonsense sort of person like Greer and have that inner confidence in what she says with no fucks given, but I'm not.

I would like to go to meet ups in the city I live near, but I don't think I would fit in! I feel like a young naive girl as opposed to a strident feminist woman who knows her shit. Can I really belong in feminism?

OP posts:
barelove · 30/07/2019 23:27

DtPeabodysLoosePants

I think if you used an eyeliner to draw some pit and leg hair on when you're wearing your dress, you might just pass. Actually, I'd draw a few straggly pubes on too just to be on the safe side. Especially on windy days.

Cohle · 30/07/2019 23:27

If you think OP is a troll why not report or just ignore?

Taking the piss out of a woman who is worried about whether or not she will be welcomed by feminist groups is incredibly unhelpful, not least for lurkers even if you doubt the OP.

SarahH19 · 30/07/2019 23:28

LOL

barelove · 30/07/2019 23:32

Cohle

I don't think the OP is a troll Grin

I think her question's being answered very well by lot's of us. My contribution is to demonstrate that some feminists don't give a toss about how what we look like or wear is perceived by other feminists, and that we've got a healthy sense of humour about it.

Cohle · 30/07/2019 23:41

Yes, and I'm obviously not talking about the genuine responses including the funny ones.

I just don't personally think the "this is troll-y as fuck" and "this must be a joke" style comments are particularly constructive.

barelove · 30/07/2019 23:47

I just presume there've been a few goady threads started recently and these posters are just being cautious. May be they are commenting and reporting. It does seem a funny question imo. Hence my stupid answers.

Endofthedays · 30/07/2019 23:48

I would actually like to do a tally of famous short haired vs. Long haired feminists.

sakura184 · 30/07/2019 23:49

No I think it's really a valid question and I don't think it's really fair to say things like "no you have to have hairy legs and dungarees" taking the piss: because some feminists do have hairy legs -- for feminist reasons. And there was a feminist reason for dungarees.

And there is a good solid feminist reason for cutting your hair short.
And I don't think it has anything to do with being a butch lesbian, although that is just one reason I think butch lesbians are amazing.

I disagree with Sheila Jeffreys because she says butch lesbians are acting out masculinity, when we are trying to destroy gender. But I don't think they are.

Anyway you can cut your hair short for the feminist cause and lots of women do.

I know my posts sound annoyingly earnest but it's because I think cutting your hair can be brave, especially if you go really really short

barelove · 30/07/2019 23:50

My money's on the long haired variety Smile

Endofthedays · 30/07/2019 23:50

Long hair:

Ariel Levy
Naomi Wolf
Gloria Steinem

Short hair:

Julie Bindel

FreshAprilStart · 30/07/2019 23:52

You can be a feminist if you have long hair, but not if it's curly or permed.

Themz the rules.

Endofthedays · 30/07/2019 23:52

Long: Kate Millet

Short: Marilyn Waring

YourSarcasmIsDripping · 30/07/2019 23:53

No woman ever,dead or alive made solely feminist choices in all aspects of her life.

barelove · 30/07/2019 23:55

And I don't think it has anything to do with being a butch lesbian, although that is just one reason I think butch lesbians are amazing

One of the reasons I think butch lesbians are amazing is because they can all 'out arm wrestle' blokes. They can can't they? Confused

sakura184 · 30/07/2019 23:57

I watch a YouTuber and she says short hair seems to be one of the last bastions. So a woman can be very feminist but still wont cut her hair short, when really we all should, because we all know that femininity is imposed on us define us to mark us out as our class.

I just feel like this thread is denying that women do cut their hair short for feminist reasons, and to show they're feminists.

barelove · 30/07/2019 23:57

No woman ever,dead or alive made solely feminist choices in all aspects of her life

I am doing, but honestly, it is EXHAUSTING! And costs me a fortune in buzz cuts.

Northernsoullover · 31/07/2019 00:01

I get where the OP is coming from. The older I become the more I learn about feminism. I'm very GC and don't follow fashion too much. I prefer to wear jeans, trainers, hoodies. However I do wear a lot of makeup. Foundation to cover my vitiligo and bright red lipstick.
Having seen many threads on many forums about feminism and makeup I wanted to ask an opinion in the same way that the OP has. I did wonder though if I might get rounded upon for either being naive or not taken seriously. I guess the replies speak for themselves..
Anyway being as I'm here I may as well ask? All the WPUK videos I have watched it seems to be a fairly makeup free zone. I'd be interested to know others opinions. If it goes tits up I can always revert back to my old username Grin

Mitebiteatnite · 31/07/2019 00:04

Feminist with really long hair here. I won't cut it because I love it. I haven't dyed it for 4 years now, but I just bought some silver dye. It's not blue but hey ho!

Totally missing the point of the thread, I know Blush

Can you be a feminist if you have long hair?
sakura184 · 31/07/2019 00:04

One of the reasons I think butch lesbians are amazing is because they can all 'out arm wrestle' blokes. They can can't they?*

I'm sorry I don't get this or what it means.

I meant I thought they were amazing because they defy violently imposed feminine stereotypes.

Being very feminine myself, and not being able to imagine living any other way, I see and understand precisely what they have done and can't imagine how hard it must be to navigate the world.

vesuvia · 31/07/2019 00:04

My light-hearted answer: I hope you can find the courage to attend your first feminist event by drawing strength from your involvement in the Labour party, where you were able to participate despite being forced to wear the compulsory miners' hard hat complete with lamp, which I hear doesn't go well with long hair. Wink

My serious answer: long hair is allowed in every form of feminism that I can think of, so hair length will not be a barrier stopping you from getting involved in feminism.

Endofthedays · 31/07/2019 00:05

Sometimes I wear makeup and sometimes I don’t.

Basically I only get as far as makeup if all my other ducks are in a row.

YourSarcasmIsDripping · 31/07/2019 00:06

bare I'd say I'm impressed ,but it seems patronising.

It must be very hard work, especially with theories and things changing every so often.

There are so many things I don't even know about/fully accept or understand, that I can't even start applying then in my personal life.

Endofthedays · 31/07/2019 00:07

Mite, your hair is gorgeous.

barelove · 31/07/2019 00:11

Northernsoullover

All the feminist meetings I've ever been to have had your average representation of women there, with every variety of looks and outfits. I think it's true to say that most feminists just look like normal women and wear whatever makes them feel comfortable, be that make up, chicken fillets or a buzz cut. Seriously, wear what the f*ck you like.

sakura184 · 31/07/2019 00:14

Yes wear whatever you like but femininity is challenged in feminist theory.

That's one of the objections to trans ideology

So feminists cut their hair short to defy feminine convention

I myself haven't managed to yet