Why are hairstylist stereotyped as being dumb?

1. 79

   barbergirl28posted 13 years ago

   Why are hairstylist stereotyped as being dumb?
   
   After getting a rather rude comment - and responding back, I was told... "***Your*** opinion (what are you...a hair cutter) means ***nothing*** to me!" It makes me wonder why people perceive cosmotolgists, hair stylists or even barbers as being ditzy or stupid. When this is a profession that so many people rely on, why is it so looked down upon?

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2. 72

   skisyposted 13 years ago

   I certainly agree it shouldn't be looked down on, but sadly a lot of jobs are looked down on, possibly it's purely because they're often not closely related to a high level of traditional education or seen as very academic or technical.
   
   Realistically this shouldn't matter, and is not always the case anyway. These types of jobs requires talent and skill to do well, just like almost any job. Some people think because they earn more or write more reports or because they have a masters degree or PhD that they are better and may look down on others.
   
   Of course some jobs do take more time, experience and knowledge to do than others, this is the case anywhere. But then some people are just better at certain jobs than others. No job makes the person inferior and I am yet to meet a person who is capable of effortlessly doing any job.
   
   I certainly wouldn't do a very good job of cutting hair! I've never worked towards learning how, or been particularly talented at it. So I'm happy to leave it to the experts.

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3. 68

   danthehandymanposted 13 years ago

   I can't speak for most people, but I appreciate and enjoy intelligent conversation with my barber. It's pretty boring to get your hair cut when the barber is socially inept. I've had a few barbers that fit the second decription, and that's why I appreciate the barber I've used for nearly 20 years.
   I'm surprised the jerk you describe still has ears ... opps the trimmer slipped. No matter his personal problems, he has no right to demean others, especially someone that's holding cutting instruments near his head. Hope he never asks for a razor cut!

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4. 80

   J.S.Matthewposted 13 years ago

   I have to say that I was not aware of this type of stereotype; I have never heard it before. I live in a small city and there are a lot of thriving salon and barbershops. Many people I know get a trim every week!
   
   I will also point out, that in my area there are a lot of talented Latino barbers that are true artists. Some of the "Line-ups" I have seen take a lot of time and talent. Maybe I have dumb ears or maybe this is a regional stereotype? I have not experienced this in my life!
   
   Great question!
   
   JSMatthew~

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5. 60

   your cybersisterposted 13 years ago

   This is a stereotype that I am unaware of, but I would be pretty sure that the person making that remark is the stupid one.  I have never met a stylist that I thought was stupid or ditzy.   Why would anyone let a person they felt was "stupid" or "ditzy" near them with scissors or a razor or harsh chemicals?  I wouldn't!  I don't believe that a person's profession is generally a measure of their intelligence - many people's jobs have more to do with their talents, or interests, or what type of employment they could find than on what their I.Q. is.  I have met people with jobs that are considered prestigious who I thought weren't very bright and very bright people doing mundane jobs, so go figure...

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6. 60

   cajunguyposted 13 years ago

   It's a matter of perception and how you present yourself.  For example, I find it a bit ironic that you ask this question yet have not proofread your question prior to posting and corrected the spelling/syntax error.
   
   People by their chosen occupations are not smart or dumb.  Being well read and well spoken and able to carry on a conversation over a variety of topics can negate this stereotype almost immediately.

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      clearflowcleanersposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Cool

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7. 74

   Wesman Todd Shawposted 13 years ago

   I don't know.  I know what you mean though - I don't see it that way at all.  I'd be TERRIFIED of messing up someone's hair.
   
   I guess the answer in the end is that most people don't think cosmetology school is very difficult.
   
   The real situation is that if you know all about how to cut hair, and do it well - there is still the matter of the business that needs running.  Also, and I'm sure that you know better than I - you have to have your customer's like you, or they don't have you cut their hair.
   
   I know folks that take tremendous amounts of pride in their hair cutting.  Those are the folks that do an outstanding job.  People can tell how YOU regard your profession, and sometimes they form their perceptions based in parts (larger or greater) from what you had projected in their general direction.
   
   In any case - I need a haircut, and . . . .gosh, you are lots more attractive than the people I sometimes pay for that service.  I also think you are smarter than them - . . . . because you seem so tolerant of this message that you've not seen yet.
   
   How bout we just do away with stereotyping any working person as "dumb."  I'm all for calling crooks wicked regardless of who their daddy is, and how much money they could offer me to shut up.  I think that working is working - and we can't all cut hair, or . . . ."_____"  It takes a whole village to run a bigger village. . . .or . . .yeah, something like "nevermind."
   
   Also, I have "beaded hair."  I'd never heard of it, but a studious cosmetologist noticed it, and soon the whole family was found to have a predisposition towards "beaded hair."    I tried to package some once, but someone told me that it looked about as smart as a box of hair.  Imagine the chances involved in such an accurate guess. . . .nevermind, I made that up.
   
   It's bad when you forget what you made up, and what you didn't.
   
   ~edits continuous nonsensical comment~

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8. 60

   wingedcentaurposted 13 years ago

   I suppose hairstylists are stereotyped as being dumb, because the profession is about 'beauty.' The United States is a rather strange country in this regard, in that on the one hand our culture devotes so much time, energy, and capital (I mean marketing and advertizing) on beauty, on being thin and/or 'in shape,' looking 'young,' tucked and lifted, and so forth.
   
   Our culture clearly values beauty and we believe that the pursuit is so overwhelming, that anyone involved in the beauty/fitness industry can't possibly think about anything else. A hairstylist shouldn't dare give her opinion on the so-called "Arab Spring," taking place all across North Africa and the Middle East, for example, so we believe anyway.
   
   We are a culture that is uncomfortable at being given evidence that our "tradespeople" dream and think about things other than "their job," because this says something about the structure of society and forces upon us uncomfortable questions like "Are we really a meritocratic, equal opportunity society?"
   
   And so on and so forth.

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      clearflowcleanersposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Awesome

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9. 60

   Yankee Rebposted 13 years ago

   they are dumb?  gee ... I am almost 53 and have had a couple good cuts in my whole life .... and my hair is straight like Native Indian.

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10. 56

    night-furryposted 13 years ago

    i think its because their skills do not fit in any of the 7 types of intelligence. just a thought though

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11. 61

    b2b-sales-europeposted 12 years ago

    Don't surround yourself with people judging others. You only tipped the iceberg.
    Telling somone to shut up or degrading him as person doesn't stop with jobs, you know what I mean.
    I am not talking about p.c.. Its human decency to treat each other as equals.
    
    Not only are a lot of people rely on jobs in the beauty business, look around, that most people are living around their presentation, look and impression on others. This way you are part of a underestimated craft, providing self-esteem, proud, etc.. .... I might not even like this, but its true.
    
    Treat yourself and others with respect and get rid off people neglecting you the feeling of being something special, because we all are and we all need this feeling.

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