One shaved head, a million meanings
One shaved head, a million meanings
The closest I’ve ever been to a buzz cut was in middle school when I had short hair with shaved sides. My previous hairstyle was shoulder length, which made the cut so much more dramatic. I never felt very attached to my hair, but cutting it off made me realize others were, to my hair and particularly to their own. I had girls asking me why on earth I would do that to my beautiful long hair. Beautiful and long being interchangeable in this scenario. One guy even asked me if this meant I was trans, mind that we were like thirteen. To say the least I was confused, all that attention and questions just because of a haircut.
There’s a lot of symbolism in a shaved head, especially on women. Recently I came across several tiktoks discussing why it’s so common for black female models to have buzz cuts. Sadly it’s not motivated by how well they fit in it or for the artistic vision, but something so simple yet so systematically shitty as the fact that stylists don’t know how to do their hair. The tiktokers then go on to discuss how shaved heads historically have been a sign of oppression, either as punishment or to keep lice out of e.g concentration camps. It being a sign of oppression can then be argued is maintained by the systematic racism leading to exclusion of black hair types from basic hair stylist training.
On the complete opposite side of the spectrum of buzz cut symbolism we also see groups such as neo nazis adopting the style. Initially emerged from more inclusive working class subcultures. It’s odd how their predecessors could shave prisoners' heads to strip them of their identity, but now when they choose to do it to themselves; it’s supposed to be threatening and a group signifier. Maybe mass shavings of heads will always be a step back from individuality, but the fear it is meant to instill will differ depending on the context.
The shaved head does, however, not have only morbid associations. It can also be a sign of, for example, female liberation. This is what speaks to me when entertaining the idea of shaving it all off. Not only is a woman with a shaved head saying fuck you to gender norms, I also think it is something empowering and deeply feminine with not letting hair being the main contributor to your gender expression. Ironically, not shaving other parts of your body is considered an almost equal statement against patriarchal norms. We’re expected to have a lot of hair but only in a singular area.To have or not to have a certain amount of hair, or any hair at all, has nothing to do with being a woman.
However, shaving your head as an act of liberation or rebellion against gender norms might not be perceived as a rebellion because of, again, gender norms. We have seen how a shaved head can label celebrities as “crazy” or that obviously it’s because of their breakup. Because we need to shave, dye or at least cut our hair after breakups, obviously. Honestly I think we can use this stigma to our advantage, let’s do something drastic to our hair and see which of our friends and family are stuck in the stone age. Then you can educate or Marie Kondo your social networks. Your choice.
A shaved head can say a million things, most of which contradict each other. If you do it, you choose the narrative. People will make the most ridiculous assumption about your personal life, let it be part of the fun and a way for you to test other people, not yourself. Your buzz cut can be a statement, but you can also do it just because it looks cool.