Discrimination against men with long hair in work places

[fhawk362]

I've had long hair for most of my life. I wear it tied back most of the time, as it is really long and gets into things if I don't.

Nine years ago when I applied for my first teaching job my advisor from the MAT program asked if I would consider cutting my hair for the job (the principal must have asked her to do it). I told her "no" and explained that I didn't think it should make any difference. Some people might not feel comfortable around men with long hair, but the same could also be said about men with beards or shaved heads. I got the job, long hair and all.

At my second school (my current job and the job I will probably retire from in twenty-some years) they would probably flip out if I ever cut my hair.

The photo is of me at work with Sophi's show-and-tell climbing on my back.

Schools are pretty good with letting teachers do as they please, my father is a highschool teacher, he too has long hair and has had long hair his whole life.

 

[fhawk362]

GET A HAIRCUT YA HIPPIE!!!!! Lol I had to say it. But on a more serious note, I realize it is a different line of work than you are applying for, but we do not allow long loose hair. My family owns a dairy farm and men and or women who work for us must always keep their hair short or up and out of the way at all times. Here it is not matter of proffesionalism, but safety. We do not allow long hgair for the same reason we do not allow overly loose clothing. It is unsafe. It is very easy for a braid or pony tail to get sucked into any one of the many peices of powerful equipment we work with on a daily basis.

Haha, if my long hair put me in a hazardous situation I would cut it myself, no one would have to tell me lol.

 

[fhawk362]

You never said what type of job you are trying to get. If it is working around machinery, and long hair could become a hazard, then they have the right to tell you no long hair since it could end up causing them money if you get hurt or killed. If it is for purely cosmetic reasons, it sounds like they are begging for a lawsuit. Unless you are applying to be a stripper, basing employment on physical appearance is one of the biggest no-no's and they are really playing with fire with that one. It IS a form of discrimination, and has no bearing on how well you could perform the job you are applying for (which is only what they are supposed to base their decision on). I find it funny that they came right out and told you that it was because of your hair and not something like "there was someone more qualified".


Edit: todd beat me to it, but you get the point.

There is no hazard in having long hair at the jobs I am directly referring (Disney World(surprisingly enough as everyone in the Disney movie pirates of the Caribbean had long hair), Publix, as well as a photo company called Amazing Pictures) , and I'm sure there are plenty more.

 

[fhawk362]

ive seen plenty of guys with long hair working in hotels and they make it look well-groomed, theyll slick it back or something like that.

I too try to keep a clean look, if I keep a beard it is properly maintained and I put my hair back most of the time because it does give me more of a professional look.

 

[fhawk362]

What a statement So this is why I have short hair Doesn't have anything to do with the fact that I find long hair uncomfortable, hot and a PITA to take care of.


BTW I work in the construction industry, the length of anyone hair is of little concern. Maybe this is where you should be looking. Though if you are typical of your generation you too are afraid of any type hard physical labor.

Manual labor doesn't bother me, actually I'd prefer it, but the construction industry in Florida is in the crapper and being a full time student I can't work a full time job, but I've been looking into warehouse jobs that could hire part time.

 

[Thecooler]

"I've been looking into the psychology behind it, from what it sounds, and this makes perfect sense to me, is that men with short hair and no facial hair have a more feminine and more submissive look, like a young boy or a female. Men cut their hair to please their superiors by showing them that they are obedient, which takes away from the man's power, making him feel less like a man by being more submissive, just as I feel about it, which is why I've never cut my hair for my girlfriend. "

You would not mind telling me where you got this information from? Please don't tell me it's from Wikipedia.

 

[warmouth]

You never said what type of job you are trying to get. If it is working around machinery, and long hair could become a hazard, then they have the right to tell you no long hair since it could end up causing them money if you get hurt or killed. If it is for purely cosmetic reasons, it sounds like they are begging for a lawsuit. Unless you are applying to be a stripper, basing employment on physical appearance is one of the biggest no-no's and they are really playing with fire with that one. It IS a form of discrimination, and has no bearing on how well you could perform the job you are applying for (which is only what they are supposed to base their decision on). I find it funny that they came right out and told you that it was because of your hair and not something like "there was someone more qualified".


Edit: todd beat me to it, but you get the point.

I work soldering, Brazing and welding and have never had a problem with my long hair. I spent 10 yrs in the Army and know all about conformity and I agree with you and can honestly say the length of your hair does not improve or degrade your job performance in the least. Like i said earlier I cut my hair and trimmed my beard to get a job, and have now grown it back (one of my bosses used to be in the army and gives me hell all the time about it) my hair goes to the middle of my shoulder blades in the back and my beard is about 10 inches long .

 

[frnchjeep]

I work soldering, Brazing and welding and have never had a problem with my long hair. I spent 10 yrs in the Army and know all about conformity and I agree with you and can honestly say the length of your hair does not improve or degrade your job performance in the least. Like i said earlier I cut my hair and trimmed my beard to get a job, and have now grown it back (one of my bosses used to be in the army and gives me hell all the time about it) my hair goes to the middle of my shoulder blades in the back and my beard is about 10 inches long .

I do custom exhaust, so I am under a car welding over my head all day. I have a long goatee (like scott ian from anthrax) that sticks out from under my welding helmet. Every once in a while i can smell hair burning from a bead of slag that landed in there, but thats it. Welders get burnt all the time, so it's no big deal. I always look like I have freckles on my arms from welding in a t shirt.

 

[warmouth]

I do custom exhaust, so I am under a car welding over my head all day. I have a long goatee (like scott ian from anthrax) that sticks out from under my welding helmet. Every once in a while i can smell hair burning from a bead of slag that landed in there, but thats it. Welders get burnt all the time, so it's no big deal. I always look like I have freckles on my arms from welding in a t shirt.

I work in a factory so we have to follow Osha and wear sleeves,gloves and goggles. I still get burnt every once in a while but no more than one of the shorthaired guys I work with.

 

[fhawk362]

"I've been looking into the psychology behind it, from what it sounds, and this makes perfect sense to me, is that men with short hair and no facial hair have a more feminine and more submissive look, like a young boy or a female. Men cut their hair to please their superiors by showing them that they are obedient, which takes away from the man's power, making him feel less like a man by being more submissive, just as I feel about it, which is why I've never cut my hair for my girlfriend. "

You would not mind telling me where you got this information from? Please don't tell me it's from Wikipedia.

Sorry I should have cited from the start.
But no, I dont trust wiki anymore except for obvious stuff, here are two links about the subject I got the second link from the first link. The second link is work done by Professor Raj Singh at Valparaiso University located in Indiana on the subject.
http://www.menstuff.org/pov/povs/longhair.html
http://www.choisser.com/longhair/rajsingh.html