Long Hair—A Reflection On Youth Or Society?

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31107, 9 July 1966, Page 5

Long Hair—A Reflection On Youth Or Society?

( Specially written for “The Press' by

DAVID BRUNTON)

YEAR or so ago, long-haired youths were as far away from Christchurch as the beatniks of Greenwich Village. Times have changed. With less commotion than the mini-skirt, but just as surely, long hair has arrived.

Long hair is more than a new fashion adopted by a few extroverted youths; and it is something less than a badge of delinquency. It is part of a protest by young people against the world they have inherited —a striving to assert individuality in a society which they see as having carefully-ordered surface values, and hopelessly-confused inner attitudes. Most adults are revolted by the sight of young men with long flowing hair. Some, however, see the deeper significance of the new fashion, and believe that it is a problem which should be approached with caution and understanding.

Civilisation abounds in inconsistencies. In a contradictory society young people often have no real insight into the motives of their own behaviour. Many people see the teen-age revolt as a search for love and understanding.

Extremes of hair length are still regarded as rare in Christchurch, but a wellknown city barber, Mr R. Crawford, says that in the last few years he has seen hair get progressively longer. In one week he has had up to 20 young men come into his shop with shoulder-length hair. About 10 would be the average. Most of the haircuts he gives are to collar length. New styles often made hair look longer than it really was. “Short, back and sides, are very much a minority these days,” he said. “Less than 10 per cent ask for this type, and a good many of these people are country folk who are less fashion conscious. Parents’ Protest “The average style for young people in Christchurch is medium to long. It has got a lot longer longer in the last two or three years. Society’s attitudes to fashion tend to be very fickle. What is good today can be immoral tomorrow. On November 26, 1958, “The Press” reported a protest by local parents. “The mothers of Christchurch are reported to be ready to scalp suburban barbers if they keep sending their young boys home with crew cuts,” the article said. ‘Some of the mothers are outspoken. “Many of the barbers have already bowed the knee, and require a note before they will provide a crew cut.” The only advocate of short hair at that time was the Medical Health Officer (Dr. A. Douglas). Recently I talked with 20 members of a city youth club—ls boys, all with very long hair, and five of their girl friends. The club has a membership of more than 400. Almost half are boys, and a club organiser said about 150 of them wear their hair long. About 20 wear their hair well below shoulder-level. Education Of the 15 boys, most had had three years’ secondary education, two had stayed only two years, one had been asked to leave because of his long hair when he was working for University Entrance, and another had remained at school to the upper sixth form, and then completed two years at Canterbury University. Most were factory workers. Four had trades, and two were employed in a skilled occupation. Three were fulltime musicians. Eleven of the group drank fairly regularly, but only

seven smoked. Seven approved of a liberal attitude towards sex, six were opposed to premarital relations, and two “did not mind one way or the other.” None had had any experience of drugs, and all were violently opposed to any sort of drug being freely available. Little Opposition Most of the group lived at home with parents. Only a minority had met parental opposition to their hair style. Without exception the reason given for wearing long hair was to assert individuality or because of a dislike for short hair. The five girls approved of boys with long hair. They themselves liked to be different, and they said that boys with long hair were usually more interesting. Margaret, aged 18, said boys with long hair were usually more polite, quieter and more intense. Since mixing with the long-haired set, she had met many more people and had made more friends. “People often come up to you on the street to talk about our fashion,” she said. “Attitudes are changing in every sphere of life. This is all part of the change. “God-given Glory” “Boys with long hair are not so preoccupied with trying to attract attention in other ways. I find that many boys with short hair think it is clever or tough to tell dirty jokes in mixed company. At least you don’t have to put up with that sort of juvenile behaviour from a boy whose hair is long.” Dr. J. L. Moffat, senior lecturer at Christchurch Teachers’ College, and a prominent educationist, not only approves of long hair, but considers that it should be encouraged. “A good head of hair is the God-given glory of young people of both sexel,” he said. “Older people rail against it through envy or jealousy. Men whose hair is falling out with the onset of middle age, resent those fortunate enough to possess an abundance.

“A portrait gallery of the great kings, generals and statesmen would show that many more of them wore their hair long than short,” he said. “There is an inconsistency in parents sending their children to Sunday school and holding up Jesus as the example par excellence, and then condemning these young people when they copy His hair style.”

The District Commissioner of Apprentices (Mr V. E. Thomas) was not so sympathetic. He said the situation had got progressively worse

over the last 10 years until now there was not a week went by without the question being raised in his department, and many hours of discussion being spent on the problem. He said the legal situation was quite clear. If in any way the long hair endangered the wearer or any other apprentice then the employer could insist that the hair could be cut or protective clothing worn. If the employer’s good will was in any way affected by the appearance of his workers, he would also have the right to ask for the termination of the apprentice’s contract. Employer Reaction “The boys’ contracts state quite clearly that the first obligation of an apprentice is to serve and obey his employer,” he said/“As a rule it is the labourers who cause more concern. Frequently we have to ask a man to have his hair cut before he approaches a prospective employer. We have to guard our good will, too. “I am certain of one thing. No employer in this city would take on a boy with excessively long hair as an apprentice.” The unions have taken a firm stand because of the danger of long hair being caught in machinery. Some unions have resolved that all long-haired members should have their hair cut. One of these is the Canterbury and Westland Motor - body Builders’ Union which took the step after a youth was injured when his long hair tangled in an electric drill. Asked to define a reasonable length, the union secretary (Mr L. C. J. Southon) was reported as saying: “So that I can distinguish what is a boy and what is a girl.” Refused Promotion Paul, aged 18, a rubber moulder, agrees with Mr Southon’s attitude. He said that long hair would be a definite hazard in a factory where there was moving machinery. His own hair is about 16 inches long. Paul lives with his grandparents, because his own parents refuse to have anything to do with him because of his hair. His grandparents tolerate it, although they do not like it. He has had two years education at a high school. He was offered the position of foreman in a previous factory job on the condition that he had his hair cut. He refused.

“I prefer to retain my individuality. It has become a real principle with me. What amazes me the most is how much hatred people can work up towards us when they don’t even know us. There must be something wrong with them. I think we have a right to please ourselves.” Dr. Moffat is less sympathetic towards the unions’ stand. Elders’ Failings “They would be better employed seeing that all dangerous machinery was fitted with suitable guards,” he said. “So much of our way of life in this country is becoming part of a standard pattern, that any expression of individuality is desirable. It is time we stopped laying down the law to younger, more virile, and more energetic people than ourselves because of our jealousies.” The Rev. R. A. Lowe, director of the Christchurch Diocesan Board of Christian Education, considers that there has been a tragic breakdown in communications between the younger and the older generation. The increasing attack on the rights of the individual concerns him, too.

New Zealanders take themselves too seriously,” he said. “We should stop judging young people on external things. Long hair has long been regarded as a secondary sexual attribute, and a symbol of virility. It is our attitude and not their hair-styles which is wrong.” Mr Lowe said he hoped society's real concern was to protect young people from the dangers of moving machinery. It was the hidden, inner attitudes which worried him. Was protection the real reason for banning long hair? “Personally I think the long hair is an outward sign of frustrated creativity,” he said. “We don’t open many avenues for young people, who are in fact already doing far more than we dreamed of. We must revalue our priorities, and stop trying to impose those values on the younger generation which we failed to attain ourselves. “The vast majority of these

people are not homosexuals or queers. Older people are repelled by their appearance, but for the most part they are much more normal in their attitude to sex and life as a whole than my own generation were.”

Michael, aged 21, a fulltime musician, has firm reasons for wearing his hair below his shoulders—“lt’s a year long.” He spent two years at university but playing in a dance band interfered with his studies so he gave up his studies. Poor Heritage As well as very long hair, he wears a beard. He does not smoke, drinks rarely, but has a liberal attitude towards sex. His parents are happy with his choice of career and his mode of clothing and hair style, as long as he himself is happy. “For me there is more to long hair than just not conforming. I enjoy creating a barrier, and then meeting the challenge of breaking it down. An unusual appearance makes older people stop and ask what is wrong with me. It is surprising how quickly their prejudices vanish after they have broken the ice, and realise there is nothing wrong at all.” Mr H. E. Cohen is the senior psychologist at Paparua Prison. He thinks that young people have inherited a world in which there are altogether too many defects and inconsistencies. Young people are not only aware of these defects, but they see that the older generation is aware of their existence and, what is worse, does nothing about them. Insecurity Long hair is one indication of a revolt against this confusion. In his own generation a stricter control over adolescents forced the revolt underground. It took more unhealthy forms. This open protest is much better. “General insecurity is widespread in Nev/ Zealand,” Mr Cohen said. He defined this as being the feelings of anxiety aroused in people who are basically insecure, when they see the sexes approach each other in appearance and behaviour. “Only a man not sure of his own masculinity would be disturbed by this long hair,” he said. “We must learn from this and offer more understanding. Often these young people have no insight into their own motives of behaviour. They don’t know themselves why they grow their hair long.” Paul said the problem affected girls, too. “It doesn’t make sense, really. If a girl wears her hair loose and long, then she herself is loose and immoral. When she puts it up, she’s immediately sophisticated. “I have photographs at home taken when I was a baby. My mother wouldn’t have my hair cut then because she thought it looked so beautiful. Now she won’t tolerate it at all.” Beatles Blamed The Beatles are not Mr Thomas’s favourite group. “They have caused me more trouble than enough, apart from their music which I can’t stand. I believe they started all this long-haired business.” Mr Lowe believes that adolescence is now a lost concept, and a failure by adults to realise this has caused some of the difficulty. Children become adults themselves overnight, and resent the patronising attitude of the older generation. “Young people are achieving far more than we dreamed possible. It is difficult for a man to live with change. In my own generation a man could feel secure, but not now. I wonder if fundamentally we don’t resent kids showing us the way.” Michael indicated that not all criticism is ignored. Treated Fairly “We may be different, but we are still sensitive. Our hair is only the manifestation of an attitude. Criticism only reaffirms and reinforces this attitude.” What about the attitude of the police? “It depends on the individual. Like the rest of society, there are some who are very biased, but there are also some who are very openminded. For the most part they treat us very fairly.” Mr Cohen gave his attitude as a parent.

“If my own son had long hair, I would look at his friends. If they wore their hair in the same style, then his behaviour would be quite normal. If he was the odd man out, I would wonder where I had fallen down as a parent. I would try to find out what he was revolting against. “The long-haired revolution can never really be effective. The important satisfactions of life are inner ones. External satisfactions can never be lasting.

“What we must remember is that what society regards as normal is not necessarily healthy. Understanding and a closer-knit family life are the vital requirements of our society.”