Ever since I got a really short haircut, I've been told
- you have a stereotypical feminist haircut
- the inmates at thane mental hospital/beggars home/prisons have the same haircut
- aye 'ladka'
- you look like a hottie
- you can totally carry this look off
- I need some time to get over this
- why would you do this to yourself?
- hairdressers these days, they dont know how to cut hair, they cut it too short
- so, will you go bald next?
- lesbian?
- It brings out your eyes
- Your teeth look too big
- Its okay, it will grow out
- She cut her hair because she has too much 'masti'
- I love it!!!!
- You look like a former Chief Minister of Bihar
If I am completely honest with myself, I know that I love my hair. I love that it goes against the gender stereotype of hair. I love that it resembles the haircut that 'so called outcasts' are slapped with. I love that it questions assumptions about my sexuality. I'm amused with the sympathy people seem to offer because they assume that I would not chose to keep my hair short. I love that people automatically make assumptions about my personality. I love that so many are so critical of something as common as short hair. And even though it teaches me a lesson in gender socialisation and gender role stereotype, what I love the most is that I don't need to comb it!
Jan!!! this post speaks is so funny! It speaks to something I wrote when i cut my hair. did you read
ReplyDeletehttp://chotusing.blogspot.in/2012/02/whats-with-hair.html
PS: My favorite is the second one!
Tilpu, I also got called 'Lit-Shit'and 'Social worker'!
DeleteI agree, I dont get what the big deal is, its hair.
At the expense of sounding geeky, we now have the epistemic advantage of being women who have short hair.
Thanks Paul. I read your post. I once did something similar. I walked into a local 'ladies beauty parlour' and chopped off my hair. :)
ReplyDeleteJan,
ReplyDeleteI remember my experience, when I had shaved my head. People, both adults and kids would take a bet, right in front of me to guess if I am a girl or a guy. I have many other such experiences. Can write a whole page! But, you have pretty much summed it up well. Good One Jan!