Are women with shorter hair taken more seriously?

by Christina Sbarro (Subscribe to Christina Sbarro's posts) Jan 6th 2008 3:33PM

Since I live in a state that neighbor's New Hampshire, the primary have been a topic of much debate around town. Yesterday grabbing a cup of coffee I heard someone commenting about Hillary Clinton's appearance. "Her hair, it's so short. Looks just like Bill's."

And her guy friend said, "If it was long, she wouldn't be taken seriously."

I resisted the urge to turn around and poke a fork in his eye. Although logically, I can see where he's coming from. Short hair is more masculine, and men are taken more seriously. Right? Or something.

But, while I hate his premise, I do wonder: if Hillary Clinton had hair like Julia Roberts would she be in the running to be the President of the United States? (Keep in mind as you answer, that someday your daughter might be on the campaign trail.)

Comments (10)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

lisa 1-06-2008 @ 3:37PM

hillary's a woman?

Judy 1-06-2008 @ 4:19PM

I definitely think there's something to it. And I think, to some extent at least, you're right - it's all about women looking more like men: short hair, business suits, pants. Makes sense on some level, but it's wrong anyway.

How we wear our hair gives so much of an impression regardless of what we intend. I know my husband gets treated differently whether he has short hair or when he lets it grow out. And I have very long hair (almost to my butt) and I know I'd have to do something with it if I wanted to work in a more professional setting, or at least many such places.

It has its positives, though: I frequently get told I look a lot younger than I am, and I think part of it is that we (in this culture) have such a strong association between long hair and youth, especially with women, that people assume someone with really long hair can't possibly be almost 30 (or older - I'm not planning on cutting it when I hit 30).

LS 1-06-2008 @ 4:34PM

I don't think it's so much the length of the hair, as the way that the person presents herself.

Hillary presents herself as a tough, often genderless, go-getter. Long hair would get in her way. In fact, the only time I can remember her wearing it longer was when she went through the "I'm as much a homemaker as you are" phase.

On the other side of the coin, you have other professional women - Oprah, Ann Coulter - who routinely wear their hair at medium or long lengths, and both are taken seriously. (whether you agree with their politics or not)

All three, however, present themselves in a very professional manner, and I don't think that it's *just* the hair that garners respect for them.

Nancy Toby 1-06-2008 @ 5:55PM

This is a big stretch to make this a parenting topic.... but with her schedule, I'm sure the shortest possible hair is the easiest to deal with.

Marcia 1-06-2008 @ 6:11PM

A good friend of mine wanted to go into journalism and television reporting and they told her she wouldn't have much of a chance unless she cut her hair AT LEAST to her shoulders. They told her long hair is not professional. Well, sorry but I rather keep my long hair despite what anyone else thinks. As for Hillary, I agree that being on the road so much would call for more maintenance free hair, but that doesn't mean she has to look as manly as she does either.

Uly 1-06-2008 @ 6:22PM

Is her hair really that important?

Michelle 1-06-2008 @ 7:58PM

I have quite short hair. Sometimes it is cut in a pixie-cut. I can pretty much assure you I do not look or carry myself anything like a man. I am definitely a girly-girl. In fact, I think sometimes, it has made people take me less serious because it makes me look younger. (or, at least it did before 5.5 years of sleepless nights have taken their toll on my eyes!)

I agree with a pp. I think it has more to do with the way she carries herself: gender-free and hard, than with the length of her hair. I actually think her hair looks better now than it did when she wore it longer, even though I totally dug the hats she used to wear!

Jess 1-06-2008 @ 10:52PM

Wow is this how presidents get or don't get elected. George bush was a funny, affable kind of guy wasn't he during his election campaign. America just kinda liked George cause he seemed kinda simple and sweet. Turns out he is the worse post-war president America has had and has driven America down the path of war and impending economic collapse. He is also pretty dumb.

How much will her lack of feminine charm or short hair impact on the chances of Hilary becoming president. Does she have policies or is she just wearing the wrong colour jacket for that skirt, is her hair too blond today? Goodness what do we base the decision on this time?

deedee 1-07-2008 @ 4:22AM

Angela Merkel the German president didn´t care about her looks and had an awful haircut. Now she has some women around her, who tell her how tu use makeup and she got a more feminine hairstyle. I think she now looks better and is taken more seroius, because she´s more confident as a a women. She does things differently, is a better listener than her male colleages. So I think a longhaired women with a nice updo could be as seroius as a shorthaired lady.
There´s also a politician with long curly hair in Germany. She is democratic Andrea Nahles. Goodlooking but earnest and stressful for the men, who must not be tricked by her good looks ;-)

Jess 1-07-2008 @ 10:45PM

What hope do women in politics have if what they wear, how feminine they are or how they wear their hair is still even discussed?

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