Why do people think that it's Taboo for women to have very short hair?

I recently had my hair shaved and buzzed from waist length like my favourite actress Natalie Portman (It was so liberating) and donated it to Locks of Love, I had some very bad reactions from people in the street to my new shaved look and some friends have been very critical of me, airing complaints and saying I'd made a mistake!Why do people think that it's Taboo for women to have very short hair?
I think that people in Western culture have traditionally seen women with shaved hair as unattractive. Throughout history, a woman's hair has been known as ';her crowning glory';, and female hairstyles have always been an extremely important part of fashion and beauty. Long, flowing hair is just part of the traditional beauty ideal in western culture - just like slender bodies, and big boobs. It is discriminatory, and it does encourage a cookie cutter sense of beauty, but unfortunately it's also just the way it is here. Interestingly, it's not the same in other cultures like in some parts of Africa where the majority of women routinely shave their heads.





As to where this taboo may have started, there's a socio-biological theory that in the past, long healthy hair was a key indicator of a woman's fertility, and thus women with longer hair were more sought after by our ancestors. This preference was passed down to us.





A few years ago, I shaved my head too, and I know how hard it can be. People will either absolutely love it, or hate it - there's no in between! In the end though, it's all about how you feel. If you love it and are happy that's all that matters. If people's bad reactions ever get you down, just think about the 2 or 3 people who your hair donation will help and how happy you will have made them - that should lift your spirits!Why do people think that it's Taboo for women to have very short hair?
You did a great thing. Locks of Love is a very great charity and anyone who criticizes you for doing something to help someone else is not someone that you need to be around. Obviously that is something that you believed in and they should be supportive of you.





Now as far as people in the street, that is a different thing. No one can understand why people are so judgmental. But that is just life.





It would be the same thing for them to stare at you if you were like a thousand pounds walking down the street with a halter top on. Or if you know there is nothing wrong with and they look anyway. Its just life.





By the way Natalie Portman is one of favorite actresses and well as Julia Stiles.
People are rude and judgmental. Do not pay any attention to them. As for the one who openly criticize you, explain what Locks of Love is and then ask them what they have done to make a difference in this world.





You go girl, you should be proud of yourself. You made a sacrifice for humanity...that is a huge accomplishment.
Hey if your comfortable do your thing


4get what they think
I cut my hair very very very short (less than an inch of hair on my head lenght wise), and i've been told by people that it looks nice because of my face. I've been told it's not cute. Honestly I love it and my boyfriend loves it, but then again he loves everything I do to my hair.
you are being who you want to be...they are jealous
women look better with longer hair.


a woman's facial features are too soft for short hair. girls with buzz cuts look like pre pubescent teen boys. I'm sorry, I'm not sexist, it just looks wrong. just like mullets look wrong on everyone.
because people whether they realize it or not still believe that a ';womans hair is her glory'; but i say if you like it who cares what people say
It's because throughout history women have had long hair and men have had short hair. My personal belief is that women should have hair long enough to distinguish her as female because of what the Bible says:


';1Co 11:14-15 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. ';


{That means that all the pictures of Jesus showing Him with long hair are wrong!!}


Anyway, all that aside, it's your own business if you want your hair that short. And it was a very good thing to donate your hair as you did! Don't worry about what your friends say!
I WAS ALWAYS TOLD A WOMENS HAIR IS HER CROWN OF GLORY AND SHE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A HEAD OF BEAUTIFUL HAIR, AND MEN LOVE TO RUN THEIR FINGERS THROUGH OUR HAIR IS THE SECOND REASON I HEARD NOT TO GO SHORT.
i think it's becuse they're not used to seeing someone with sort hair. don't worry, they'll get used to it. good luck and have fun with your liberation
I've never seen people act like it's taboo for women to have short hair.





At one point I had my hair buzzed at the nape of the neck and no one said a thing.





And I think it's great that you donated your hair. I'm donating 10 inches in another 1 1/2 months.
Who cares what others think of your short hair?? You not only donated your locks but you probably look good with that short hair cut! Rock your Buzz Cut Girl!
no alot of people will just assume that you are gay
Its not for anyone else to like. You feel comfortable with your decision that's all that matters. I do like the fact that you donated your hair. Maybe your ';friends'; should listen to Inda Arie's song I Am Not My Hair:





I am not my hair


I am not this skin


I am not your expectations no no


I am not my hair


I am not this skin


I am a soul that lives within
Good for you! I had the same reaction when I shaved my head. I hated that people reacted so negatively to it when I loved how easy it was to manage.





Pull the guilt treatment on anyone who says a harsh word. Tell them you were doing it for the kids with cancer.
It was great you donated it to Locks of Love!!!! People just have a hard time with change sometimes!!!
I think there is nothing wrong with. If you like it, then don't worry about other people's reactions. Good job on donating it to Locks of Love. I don't see how you made a mistake. It's your body, and it's not up to them to decide if you've made a mistake or not. Some people just can't stand change.
As long as you feel comfortable with your own choice, it's ok!


Your hair will grow. Why not ask your friends to give a little patience? Your look and your hair both need some break.
Locks of love is a good thing!! I don't know how to answer your question...I ran into the same thing when I cut my hair. Who knows, but as long as you look good, and you like it...
i had my hair cut reallyy short, too. Last march. My mom was horrified, because i used to have REALLY long, thick, light blond hair. So i went back and had it layered. She thought it didn't look so boyish now, and took 2 weeks off my being grounded. :D And i think ppl are just dumb that way, they think all women, and girls should have long hair, really, it's your choice.
cz hair is supposed 2 b the crown of evry woman
most older people would say that women's hair an asset. They would also say that tattoos and piercing are not an asset. also, it is such a glbt thing that and many people are not quite used to that. (I am not for/against any of those categories. I'm just making assumptions.)
Because having long hair a sign of being feminine, especially if you have really long hair. You might not like the answer but it's the truth.
it's cool because you donated it. this is what i always heard: ';hair is a woman's glory';...... but it went to a good cause and good for you!!!
Well, ive seen a girl with cancer that had shaved hair and a really fat girl that shaved her hair in a desperate attempt for attention. So when I see a woman with very short hair I think either, a. she has cancer, or b. she wants attention in the worst way,
look at them and say hey, this is my head and it will grow back. I use to have hair down to my waist, and now your lucky if i let it grow long enough to touch my shoulder. Time was the biggest factor for me, short hair has more style possibilities, and less maintaining each day. How great that you got liberation from sharing. Please do not allow others to rob you of this empowerment, and as i said before it Will Grow Back. Most folks resist change, and your hair ( or lack off) will take others some time to adjust.
I don't shave all my hair off, but I do grow it out and then donate it to Locks of Love every few years; that's awesome!! If your friends can't accept you no matter what, then they are not very good friends. And people in the street - who cares? They're just idiots :) To actually answer your question, it's probably taboo just because women have always had long hair for the most part; going bald is just not something many women do. But you had a very cool reason; something to donate besides money, and it's for kids, etc. Cool!
Don't worry about what other people think.... They are just jealous. I'm sure some little girl out there is loving you right now for giving your hair to Locks For Love. Just keep doin' the GI Jane thing Girl. I'm sure you look great! Its just hair it will grow back.
People are so confident about what others should do with their lives sometimes, aren't they?!?!





I've wondered about that, too! My wife's head is shaved, and she looks beautiful, but people give her so much crap over it sometimes. I think it's that people still feel that women should have longer hair. It's also a very confident and somewhat counterculture look.





My wife says that keeping her head shaved allows her to separate people worth caring about from people who aren't--people who aren't give her grief.





Do what makes you feel happy and allows you to fit with the people you want to fit with. (Who prolly aren't the ones giving you grief!) If you want to let your hair grow back, do it for you, not them, and remember what they said a few inches back. If you don't, do that for you, too.