Mom

[redbird]

When I spoke to my mother a few days ago, I mentioned that I'm growing my hair out. Her response included the phrase "I don't approve".

I assured her that I understand about trimming split ends, and we went on to other things.

But I keep thinking about this, partly because I don't remember her explicitly saying she didn't approve of anything in close to 20 years. She hasn't said that about the tattoos, which are much further away from any social norm I might be expected to fit. Maybe she knew that a tattoo, once done, is there barring expensive surgery, whereas hair can always be cut again?

[Poll #224613]

Comments

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

Certain kinds of social liberals believe it is admirable to be tolerant of choices in personal appearance that look like social or political or artistic statements. Drastic changes in how someone looks may trigger that tolerance. "Oh. A nose ring. I'm supposed to be tolerant of that sort of thing." Less drastic changes may simply fail to trigger the tolerance, so you get a more immediate "I don't like that," which can sometimes be expressed as "I don't approve of that." Your mother may think that long hair will make you look old or unattractive, and this is more bothersome to her than having you look like you dabble in counterculture.