Why do most men cut their hair short and most women grow it long?

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 18-03-2016 07:28PM

Also why would you wear male shoes with female clothes?? Female shoes are the best thing about being female. If I were a pikey and wore tracksuits, i would like to think I'd still wear stilettos because I am a bad bitch. Snapback, adidas and a pair of louboutins pls and thanks

aaronjumper · 18-03-2016 08:04PM

If my hair gets too long it gets in the way of my eyes and tickles my ears, neither of which are things I like so I keep it short.
I've been told I look better with longer hair but I'm not putting up with being annoyed for style.

Can't speak for anyone else. They like it the way they have it?

recylingbin · 18-03-2016 08:07PM

2 words : canine chic.

Samaris · 18-03-2016 08:24PM

It's just the current fashion. In other parts of the world through time it has been traditional for women to cut their hair when they got married and it has -often- been tradition for a woman to put her hair up at a certain age, including in the UK up until the 1930s or so. Possibly later.

Long hair was also traditional here on menfolk, it was just how it was for the Vikings as well.

When you consider it, long hair is in some ways more practical. Have you ever tried to cut your hair with a knife? Scissors have been around in some parts of the world since 1500BC, but they wouldn't have been standard items in an early Irish household (barring snips, but I don't think the woman of the house would have been too happy with her husband nicking her carefully sharpened snips for cutting his hair. I got into enough trouble at home for using the cloth scissors on paper, let alone hair!)

I don't -know- when short hair became The Done Thing for males, certainly hair was kept long...lemme think...17thC, yes, 18thC...I think it changed sometime in the 18thC, or late 1700s. I wonder if the sudden explosion of industrial jobs in the Industrial Revolution had some part in that? The last thing you want around huge cogs and the likes is long hair. You can find a few reports from that time of young women/girls being killed by heavy industrial machinery due to their hair getting caught if you look, and males didn't have the kerchief/bonnet option.

There was a resurgence in long hair for boys in the late 1800s (Little Lord Fauntleroy), but then fashion shot as far away from that look as possible and pretty much stayed there until the beatniks and then hipplies, rock and roll -> metal made it somewhat more accessible again.

Open to correction on any of that, I've not been researching it, this is a bit stream of thought.

MadJack2016 · 18-03-2016 08:29PM

In ancient times long hair and beards were associated with German barbarism especially among the Romans who shaved and cut their hair short. Jews and Arabs also grew their hair long and wore beards as did the Vikings. The Normans wore their hair short and were clean shaved but when they went on crusade wore their hair long and grew flowing beards. Long hair became associated with the Cavaliers during the English Civil War and wigs and ponytails were associated with 18th century decadence and aristocracy.
Short hair became popular among revolutionaries and republicans so that aristocrats and the wealthy followed suit and short hair was in vogue for much of the 19th century although beards, whiskers, sideburns and elaborate mustaches were fashionable. General George Custer wore his blond hair long and wore a full mustache and beard. Beards became popular after the Crimean war and were very fashionable in the late Victorian and Edwardian period.
In World War I and World War II short hair was practical because of lice and men wore steel helmets which were hot and sweaty. Small neat mustaches were common.
The veterans of both wars wore their hair short when they returned to civilian life and this influenced hairstyles until the 1960s when men born post war started to grow their hair long again. Very long hair and beards in the late 1960s and 1970s gave way to acceptable business long styles with sideburns when rebellious young men grew up and got regular jobs.
By the late 1980s and early 1990s the styles of the 1940s and 1950s returned when men cut their hair short again.
The spiky or else the quiff look of the mid 2000s has given way to the side parting but with beards and stubble replacing the clean cut shaved look.

Samaris · 18-03-2016 08:31PM

blast, I meant to include WWI and helmets!

But very interesting! I should have thought of the revolutionary aspects too, that tended to lead to swings in fashion as people identified with X group.

Iwasfrozen · 18-03-2016 08:45PM

falseatheist wrote: »

I remember reading somewhere that during battles enemies would pull the long hair of males to catch them so they kept it short. But is there any truth to this?

More interestingly, it seems that a majority of people identify with their expected behaviour of their gender, (men not showing emotions, women wearing skirts, heels, etc) which is not wrong and they have the right to do whatever they want to themselves but I wonder why so many men and women are not keen to experiment.

I for example, am biologically a male but don't prescribe to my male gender identity. I have short but feminine hair which I sometimes grow long and during the summer I wear denim shorts . I shop for male shoes and female clothes in GAP, Timberland etc.

So would you ever experiment?

Women wear long hair and men wear short hair and shaved faces as a cultural legacy from the Romans.

KingBrian2 · 18-03-2016 08:54PM

Scottish and Irish heritage had men wear kilts while in the Levant pink was used by men as that was the fabric they used. Different cultures had different fashions that today we identify with either masculine or feminine. Sure the Tribal Africans and Amazonians have very bizarre dress sense. Some Africans even wore what we would consider women's clothes. Look down through the history of fashion many of the outfits look ridiculous by today's standards.

MadJack2016 · 18-03-2016 09:03PM

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

Women wear long hair and men wear short hair and shaved faces as a cultural legacy from the Romans.

Women have worn their hair long pretty much since the beginning of time.
Short hairstyles among women were briefly popular during the French Revolution.
Bobbed hair was popular in the 1920s and again in the late 1950s and 1960s influenced by Audrey Hepburn. It again became popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Actresses like Carrie Mulligan have popularized it again.
However generally men have always found shoulder length hair sexy and women generally grow their hair long to please them.

Shenshen · 18-03-2016 09:16PM

MadJack2016 wrote: »

Women have worn their hair long pretty much since the beginning of time.
Short hairstyles among women were briefly popular during the French Revolution.
Bobbed hair was popular in the 1920s and again in the late 1950s and 1960s influenced by Audrey Hepburn. It again became popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Actresses like Carrie Mulligan have popularized it again.
However generally men have always found shoulder length hair sexy and women generally grow their hair long to please them.

I'm not so sure about the "begining of time" thing there... considering our time began in East Africa, there are quite a lot of traditional very, very short hairstyles for women around.

KingBrian2 · 18-03-2016 09:27PM

MadJack2016 wrote: »

Women have worn their hair long pretty much since the beginning of time.
Short hairstyles among women were briefly popular during the French Revolution.
Bobbed hair was popular in the 1920s and again in the late 1950s and 1960s influenced by Audrey Hepburn. It again became popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Actresses like Carrie Mulligan have popularized it again.
However generally men have always found shoulder length hair sexy and women generally grow their hair long to please them.

Women used to dress as boys in order to blend into a sailors life during the late 17th early 18th century. Goes to show how fashions have transformed since then. Japanese fashion for women is very girlish by comparison to European and American fashion.

MadJack2016 · 18-03-2016 09:40PM

KingBrian2 wrote: »

Women used to dress as boys in order to blend into a sailors life during the late 17th early 18th century.

Very very few women were sailors or soldiers in the 17th and 18th century and most were caught out and sent home.

Japanese fashion for women is very girlish by comparison to European and American fashion.

Women's roles in Japanese culture is still traditional to a large degree but women's fashions in the West are noticeably feminine. Female bomber jackets, t-shirts, jeans and boots are clearly female.

KingBrian2 · 18-03-2016 09:48PM

MadJack2016 wrote: »

Very very few women were sailors or soldiers in the 17th and 18th century and most were caught out and sent home.

Women's roles in Japanese culture is still traditional to a large degree but women's fashions in the West are noticeably feminine. Female bomber jackets, t-shirts, jeans and boots are clearly female.

In the West male and female fashion is similar male and female versions of the same outfit while in Japan men primarily wear suits while women have a much more varied closet.

Capt'n Midnight · 20-03-2016 01:48AM

A man who would shave off his beard for a woman deserves neither.

AMKC · 20-03-2016 01:49AM

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Also why would you wear male shoes with female clothes?? Female shoes are the best thing about being female. If I were a pikey and wore tracksuits, i would like to think I'd still wear stilettos because I am a bad bitch. Snapback, adidas and a pair of louboutins pls and thanks

I agree 100% and I am not Female or even 100% male. I have way more high heels than any other footwear. Love wearing them

and miss when I am not wearing them. Would wear them all the time if I could.

Hijpo · 20-03-2016 02:02AM

It started out a little bit interesting to see people's thoughts on it. I made it to page 2 where it seemed to start tailing off towards people who like cross dressing, why men should do it and genderless beings with gender defining organs.

So I stopped reading and decided to tell you why I stopped reading.

AMKC · 20-03-2016 02:06AM

Aurum wrote: »

I've always found the double-standard when it comes to clothing a bit strange. If a woman wears trousers/jeans it's totally unremarkable and they can still be viewed as conventionally attractive, but if a man wears a skirt it's a complete subversion of his masculinity. Sort of reminds me of Eddie Izzard's response to people who ask why he wears women's clothes, “They’re not women’s clothes. They’re my clothes. I bought them.”

Agree. I think the western world and people in it need to change. Why is it that they have no problem with a woman wearing jeans and jumpers or shirts but if a man decided he wants to wear a dress and some heels or a skirt, a nice top and heels all of a sudden its wrong or its gay.

Hijpo · 20-03-2016 02:18AM

AMKC wrote: »

Agree. I think the western world and people in it need to change. Why is it that they have no problem with a woman wearing jeans and jumpers or shirts but if a man decided he wants to wear a dress and some heels or a skirt, a nice top and heels all of a sudden its wrong or its gay.

Because gender equality only works in favour of women.

maudgonner · 20-03-2016 02:18AM

KingBrian2 wrote: »

Women used to dress as boys in order to blend into a sailors life during the late 17th early 18th century. Goes to show how fashions have transformed since then. Japanese fashion for women is very girlish by comparison to European and American fashion.

Here's an interesting childhood photo. Guess who it is?

That's Franklin Delano Roosevelt, US president.

Apparently it was very common for young boys to wear dresses and have long hair until relatively recently.

AMKC · 20-03-2016 02:27AM

Hijpo wrote: »

Because gender equality only works in favour of women.

So much for equal rights. Womens rights have come on loads in the last few decades so maybe its time people changed and stop having a problem if a man wants to wear a dress and heels etc. They are only clothes in the end.

MadJack2016 · 20-03-2016 02:31AM

AMKC wrote: »

So much for equal rights. Womens rights have come on loads in the last few decades so maybe its time people changed and stop having a problem if a man wants to wear a dress and heels etc. They are only clothes in the end.

Well I suppose men are repulsed by a man dressed in a wig lipstick a frock and heels because they want to just see women wearing them exclusively in the same way when hot women were wearing low slung jeans with exposed midriffs and thongs about 15 years ago.
When fat girls with ugly flabby bellies and muffin tops started wearing them it destroyed the effect.

Ice Maiden · 20-03-2016 03:04AM

The acceptance of women wearing trousers was due to women fighting the lack of acceptance of it. If there are men who want to wear skirts, then fight to have this recognised instead of giving out about the double standard, which is much of the time espoused by men.

I mean, referring to western society as "they" - aren't we all part of western society?

And if a woman dresses in a very masculine manner, she is deemed butch. Most of the time when women wear jeans and trousers we still accompany them with feminine garments.

Aurum · 20-03-2016 01:37PM

Ice Maiden wrote: »

The acceptance of women wearing trousers was due to women fighting the lack of acceptance of it. If there are men who want to wear skirts, then fight to have this recognised instead of giving out about the double standard, which is much of the time espoused by men.

I think that men are far more reluctant to accept visual signs of femininity in other men. I find that women, in general, are fairly relaxed about it. Granted, a man in full drag is likely to be remarked on by everyone, but a guy wearing a bit of eyeliner or nail varnish, or clothing that is in any way outside the very narrowly prescribed norm for men is far more of an issue for men than women.

Ice Maiden · 20-03-2016 01:41PM

Aurum wrote: »

I think that men are far more reluctant to accept visual signs of femininity in other men. I find that women, in general, are fairly relaxed about it. Granted, a man in full drag is likely to be remarked on by everyone, but a guy wearing a bit of eyeliner or nail varnish, or clothing that is in any way outside the very narrowly prescribed norm for men is far more of an issue for men than women.

Aye, but somehow, a couple of posters manage to blame equality for women on it.

RDM_83 again · 20-03-2016 03:17PM

Ice Maiden wrote: »

The acceptance of women wearing trousers was due to women fighting the lack of acceptance of it. If there are men who want to wear skirts, then fight to have this recognised instead of giving out about the double standard, which is much of the time espoused by men.

I mean, referring to western society as "they" - aren't we all part of western society?

And if a woman dresses in a very masculine manner, she is deemed butch. Most of the time when women wear jeans and trousers we still accompany them with feminine garments.

I would disagree sort of disagree with that line of thinking in relation to the "butch" thing, I don't think woman are considered "butch" simply because of male clothes, I think they are generally only considered butch if they adopt exaggerated "masculine" body language, hair style and attitudes, its a complete package type thing.
Specifically in relation to the clothes thing I would say that a lot of it is to do with choosing clothes that are basically not very flattering but doing so as a deliberate social signifier, a pair of mens Levi's have a cut thats designed to suit X males body shape, it would tend not to "suit" most womans figures, this is different to the example of the woman I was talking about wearing all the chainsaw PPE because in one case the items are chosen for a practical reason whereas wearing a pair of mens Levi's doesn't hold any advantage over wearing a womans pair e.g they both have similar functionality, price and material, in this example the only reason to wear the mens Levi's is to signal masculinity or non conformism.
People pick up on this and presumably people noticing this is the intent.

TLDR: Being "butch" is different to wearing mens clothes for practical or simply not caring about fashion reasons.

Aurum wrote: »

I think that men are far more reluctant to accept visual signs of femininity in other men. I find that women, in general, are fairly relaxed about it. Granted, a man in full drag is likely to be remarked on by everyone, but a guy wearing a bit of eyeliner or nail varnish, or clothing that is in any way outside the very narrowly prescribed norm for men is far more of an issue for men than women.

My view on this and its probably a bit harsh is that men probably view stuff like eye liner and nail polish as a type of "peacocking", making yourself standout of the crowd and appear "different" possibly to be noticed by the opposite sex.
Men then react harshly to this because the nature of our society and probably biology is that single males "compete" for female attention (that sounds very sexist but I've not seen anything to indicate its not true)

Jimoslimos · 20-03-2016 03:48PM

falseatheist wrote: »

I for example, am biologically a male but don't prescribe to my male gender identity. I have short but feminine hair which I sometimes grow long and during the summer I wear denim shorts . I shop for male shoes and female clothes in GAP, Timberland etc.

Too right, I'd definitely get a second opinion from a qualified medical practitioner.

However you do seem to subscribe to a generic American fashion herd mentality.

MadsL · 20-03-2016 05:29PM

Why does anyone give a shit? Wear your hair how you want to regardless of gender. Sheesh.

Ice Maiden · 20-03-2016 05:47PM

RDM_83 again wrote: »

I don't think woman are considered "butch" simply because of male clothes, I think they are generally only considered butch if they adopt exaggerated "masculine" body language, hair style and attitudes, its a complete package type thing.
Specifically in relation to the clothes thing I would say that a lot of it is to do with choosing clothes that are basically not very flattering but doing so as a deliberate social signifier, a pair of mens Levi's have a cut thats designed to suit X males body shape, it would tend not to "suit" most womans figures, this is different to the example of the woman I was talking about wearing all the chainsaw PPE because in one case the items are chosen for a practical reason whereas wearing a pair of mens Levi's doesn't hold any advantage over wearing a womans pair e.g they both have similar functionality, price and material, in this example the only reason to wear the mens Levi's is to signal masculinity or non conformism.
People pick up on this and presumably people noticing this is the intent.

TLDR: Being "butch" is different to wearing mens clothes for practical or simply not caring about fashion reasons.

I know, that's why I said "a very masculine manner".

Mars Bar · 20-03-2016 07:12PM

I don't find men with long hair attractive myself but more power to them if they want it long. I'm a female with short hair and I'm a big fan of seeing other women with short hair. It suits so many women!

Ilyana 2.0 · 20-03-2016 07:51PM

My hair has been everything between elbow length and Michelle Williams-short in the last few years. Currently growing it back after its shortest point; I didn't regret chopping it off but I couldn't help feeling less feminine without a mane of hair to swish around the place.

It's funny how much you can be influenced by 'cultural norms', in spite of yourself.

Why do most men cut their hair short and most women grow it long?

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