Last week, again, a hair stylist took the liberty of trimming my eyebrows and ear hair without asking. Should I feel a little violated? What if I want me overambitious ear hair to demonstrate my maturity? What if I want my eyebrows to mimic Rowan Williams’?
I’m probably just depressed over middle age cosmetic issues, but the whole thing makes me wonder why my hair stylists – who so happen to be women – feel the freedom to trim hair other than that on my scalp. Were a stylist to do the same thing to a woman, a considerable tussle would ensue, maybe a law suit. Women do these things themselves, after all. Since appearance matters so much to others, women get used to making decisions about every part of their body. That is their burden and pride, so how dare someone else make that decision for them.
Since we men don’t own our own bodies so much as to care enough about cosmetic details, women take up a stewardship role. At least in the cosmetic sense, male bodies belong to women. Now, how is the opposite true in our society?
Men on the Moon 