Why is long hair considered more feminine?

[YeuxMystificateur14]

When looking at the Bible story of Samson and Delilah
he had very long hair; Sikh men have long hair under their turbans; In Native American & Native Canadian culture men wear their hair long too. Given these points, why is it heavily precieved as feminine if both genders can grow it long?

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+1 y

I apologize for not thanking all of you for your replies. thank you very much for taking the time to explain "why?" to me, it really did help clear my confusion and choosing MHO was not an easy choice.
All the best to all of you :)

[Anonymous]

that is a good question, mankind created the standard ages ago and civilization shunned the concept of long hair in men, but it has endured through the ages becoming a severe minority, most guys don't "fit" the long hair theme simply because society dictates it, and long silky hair has always been feminized by guys since it loosely reflects a "delicate lady", up until 100 years ago women were merely housewives, launders, maids, tenders, cooks and prostitutes, those who were beautiful became social/marriage dolls and those with long hair were considered very feminine and magnfies their beauty, which is why hair has literally been a direct symbolization of either masculinity or femininity, in some cultures hair in the past even symbolized ones own kinship, if a woman were to cut hair hair off to her shoulders she would have dishonored her lineage as well as her gender, and up until 50 years ago women never thought to have short hair, only recently (within the last 10 years) has it been accepted and become gradually attractive in modern society, adversely a guy with long hair reflects the opposite image, society has literally dictated everything that makes guys masculine and girls feminine, but in fact some guys can be attractive with long hair and some girls can be attractive with short hair

[YeuxMystificateur14]

My goodness, thanks for your explanation, I never knew that shoulder length was dishonouring for women's families. This is very interesting, Thank you again.

[Anonymous]

Because everything has to have a gender role apparently :(

[YeuxMystificateur14]

Good point, it does seem that way.

[HoodedCrow]

Because they were raised with only short hair is accepted

[YeuxMystificateur14]

Sorry I should have said what I said to the guy who spoke about the rarity of men growing their hair out to you. I was individually reading then answering each response. With that being said, once again, is it safe to say the more rare something is the less accepted it will be?

[HoodedCrow]

Basically, yeah.

[YeuxMystificateur14]

Thanks :)

[Anonymous]

I believe a lot of it has to do with the very military driven culture of the first half of the twentieth century. Historically long hair was common on European men, so short hair is a more contemporary thing.
The shift among men from long hair to short came about due to World War I, widespread conscription, and the necessity of creating a good seal around a gas mask.
There are actually evolutionary theories about longer hair among women, primarily that long, shiny hair is a sign of health and fertility (malnourished and sick individuals tend to have poor quality hair). Statistically, longer hair is seen among both sexes as being more attractive. So why you didn't find this particular woman any less attractive, it's quite possible a lot of people do!

[YeuxMystificateur14]

Wow, I didn't know any of this but it all makes a lot of sense though. I never put much thought into military influence but this just goes to show that it is important in areas that are not always expected.

[Anonymous]

I don't buy into the current "wisdom" that says all of our perceptions of masculinity and femininity are purely societal. I think they are largely innate. Some things are feminine by nature and others are masculine. Certain cars, for example, are perceived as having feminine features and others as masculine. Long and short hair are like that.

[YeuxMystificateur14]

You are right I'll admit, it is true. It's kind of like long nails, you think woman right away. As for cars, well, I have seen many with more sharper features and thought that looks very masculine so whenever I saw a woman driving it I was thrown off. A car that I find undoubtedly masculine is a Rolls-Royce Phantom.

[Opinion Owner]

Thanks for MHO.

[YeuxMystificateur14]

No problem, thanks for writing it in the first place.

[DanAG]

I thought we got rid of that stupid concept back in the 60s and 70s. But those weird ideas have crept back into society. We fought HARD to get rid of those stereotypes, along with dress codes and a lot of other trivial nonsense like that.

It's just hair. But people make such a big deal out of it.

(BTW I've had long hair for most of the last 40+ years)

[YeuxMystificateur14]

Good point, I guess it all goes to individually who suits what. Some look good with one or the other while others can get away with both long or short hair regardless of gender

[Mesonfielde]

Most obviously culture and tradition. This is one of those things where you learn over time that "women have long hair while men have short hair" and that's what you're used to so that's what you'll find normal and appealing, unless you're one of *those* people who go for what is deemed uncommon.

[YeuxMystificateur14]

Yeah that is true as much as people may try to ignore it, both of those factors will usually play a huge roll in our perception and most of them go way back.

[snazzyCAT22]

I'm not too sure, but I know that I'm more attracted to girls with long hair rather then their short-haired counterparts.

[YeuxMystificateur14]

That's fine, I guess it relates to as someone mentioned on here it being innate in your case.

[snazzyCAT22]

Maybe so, I mean girls can look attractive with short hair, it just depends on the person.

[YeuxMystificateur14]

Yes that is most definitely true.

[ritxi]

Althought both genders mostly had long hair in the past, the history has changed it. Warriors have been mostly males and they have more risk having long hair because they can be pulled of it.

Nowadays, wars are not as commom as in the past, but I think that long-haired girls who wouldn't date a guy with long hair make long hair more feminine.

[Anonymous]

Women's hair grows faster than a mans meaning it can get longer during its growth cycle, and men suffer from baldness more than women.

[YeuxMystificateur14]

That's interesting, I never knew that women's hair did that. As for the baldness, yeah that's true.

[Anonymous]

Because guys rarely grow their hair out. If all men have short hair, it would make sense that long hair is feminine, or vice versa with most women having longer hair.

[YeuxMystificateur14]

Undoubtedly that is very true, I guess is it safe to say that the more rare something is the less accepted it will be.

[Insaan]

It's not like that. But girls are so beautiful to watch especially when they have long hairs. Please have it :)

[YeuxMystificateur14]

That is true, plus there is a certain grace that long hair carries on it's own to a girl. Though at the same time it is more magnified when the girl is internally graceful already.

[Insaan]

Yeah.. so keep the long hair bibi :) :p

[YeuxMystificateur14]

Alright, well thank you.

[LastGirlScout]

What is native Canadian?

[YeuxMystificateur14]

You know the way Native American People are the first inhabitants of America, the same thing goes for Canada. They have first in habitants too, but they are also called First Nations or Aboriginal People.

[LastGirlScout]

But America is a continent, not a country. Its the same place as Canada.

[YeuxMystificateur14]

Yes you're right, hence the term North America, but because of the borders dividing the two, politically they classify them as either Canadian or American. I may be wrong but this is what I learned in high school, yet I am always open to learn. With that being said, if you are willing to teach me more I'm completely up for it. :)

[LastGirlScout]

No I've just never heard of North American Indians being called native Canadians.

[YeuxMystificateur14]

You what know to think of it, I haven't heard of it too often either but some people do say it but it's just not that commonly used.

[kep79]

because women pay more attention to their looks