If you think, standing in the 21st century, that your looks is not a measure of your potential, think again. If you think scrutinizing a woman in terms of what she wears or her hairstyle is a thing of the past, think again. Because even in 2016, power still looks like a man in a business suit and a woman seeking to foray into a traditionally male dominated arena like business or politics, has to validate herself by shedding her more explicitly feminine traits.
From the first Egyptian woman pharaoh in ancient times who dressed up as a man to be accepted as a ruler to the woman was fighting to become America’s first woman President, the world has time and again seen women slipping into more masculine looks to be taken seriously. And the way they choose to do it most frequently is by chopping off the long locks. Even as the world saw one of the most volatile, rigorous and bitter presidential election campaign in the history of the United States, the glare on Hillary Clinton’s hairstyle has remained unflinching. Hillary may have lost the election but there is no denying the heights to which her political career has soared. And that brings to the forefront once again how more often than not, the powerful women of this world wear their hair short, probably in an attempt to shove their feminine sides under the rug. Studies have shown that a woman sporting a short haircut is more likely to be taken seriously and considered more professional and competent. From Theresa May, Angela Merkel, Dilma Rousseff to Hillary Clinton, all these women have cut off their hair as they ascended the career ladder. Even in our very own country where the long tresses of a woman is synonymous with her femininity, we have seen our first female Prime Minister Indira Gandhi wear her hair short. The trend has even been given a name- ‘pob’ meaning the political bob. And it would have been more fitting had Clinton won the Presidential election. Nevertheless her long and illustrated career in politics is enough to hold true this often seen trend.
Not just in high profile political or business careers, but even in our everyday lives, women tend to face this in their own jobs. A woman with long hair is often seen as being “high maintenance” or having “decreased forcefulness” effectively reducing their chances of career advancement. The feminine look is often equated with flimsiness and a lack of professional drive. Whereas sporting short hair gives them a no nonsense, authoritative look. Or maybe it is just easier for the over inflated egos of men to take orders from someone whose feminine side is not so visibly obvious.
So be it politics or business, a woman striving for that top job would be well advised to crop that mane if she intends to be taken seriously. In this still vastly male dominated world, if you are a woman aiming at professional success, talent and dedication you would need, but the real question you need to ask yourself is this- is your hair holding you back?
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