While all of it makes little sense in movies, short hair doesn’t. Reason why military cuts hair short is so your hair doesn’t get tangled in trees, bushes or fences, compromising you. It’s really of practical nature. But given how many cockups they make elsewhere in movies, I don’t think they were going for that kind of realism.
The Expanse has the justification of it meaning that they don’t have to deal with representing long hair in microgravity situations, but they still have variety like Camina Drummer’s ultra-tight braids and Naomi’s curls which solve the problem without everyone having a crew cut
Man, Cara Gee, the actress that plays Drummer is just so stunning. Aside from her being so much my type, I enjoyed her portrayal of the character. Very commanding on screen presence.
She’s the definition of perfect casting. I also liked how they just kept extending her role because Cara Gee is so good. Drummer’s role in the books is much smaller
In universe, short hair also makes sense in zero gravity. James S A Corey are just on another level when it comes to such details both in the show and in the books. They actually talk about female hygiene products in The Mercy of Gods.
Either short cut hair, or at the very least, done up in a very tight bun, or fairly short ponytail or braids or cornrows or something.
As you say, tangling with the environment or your gear… in a hand to hand fight, you do not want hair that can be pulled or wrapped up, you don’t want long hair getting in the way of reloading a gun, longer bangs blocking your view through binocs or iron sights or a scope…
These were all used before the tampons and pads, with some more … unique solutions beginning to be mass produced in the late 1800s, eventually leading to modern tampons and pads.
So… I guess uh, assuming a post apocalyptic woman’s ‘survival’ stat is high enough, presumably they would return to much more locally sourceable, less complex to produce, decent enough solutions, after the last box of tampons gets looted from the last dilapidated Walgreens.
So… if your character is a postapoc woman badass… you could just add this into your own headcannon as an explanation, of sorts.
… I wonder how many post apocalyptic movies pass the Bechdel test lol.
EDIT: Going a bit further, and arguably off topic…
Common ammunition calibers, cigarettes, condoms, and possibly bandage/compress packs, tampons/pads, bic lighters… maybe also small sewing needle kits?.. would be pretty good candidates as physical commodity psuedo-currencies…
Basically for the reason that they are small, light, easily transportable, roughly standardized, are generally durable if stored properly… and are no longer in mass production… and basically everyone would either directly have practical use for them or know someone who does.
Bottlecaps as a currency would represent some level of general social cohesion beyond and above that, lol.
EDIT 2: … having long hair could …probably become something of a status symbol, as it would only really make sense if you were not roughing it all the time.
Men would also presumably keep their hair and beards short generally as well, and longer hair/beards could also become something of a status symbol as well.
Also I think beard hair is not permitted in military due to gas masks needing to have a good seal so perhaps it would he a good reason for not having long hair as well
That’s a little sexist. I also completely disagree. Short hair, especially in a military setting, is not about a borrowed appearance of strength, but utility and competence. Early episodes of Stargate SG-1 had some infamously awful commentary about emancipation, but Carter’s (Amanda Tapping) short haircut never compromised her femininity: she wore it like that because she was a frontline soldier and accomplished USAF pilot, and that’s what the circumstances demanded. It would have been weird and against her character to participate in missions with long hair.
Just for fun, this is the “”“improved”“” scene where Carter is introduced, without the part where she talks about her reproductive organs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gR-ouftevE
I think that’s what OP is getting at, that this attitude of “male” haircuts has been used in such a way. They’re not defending it, they’re pointing it out, alongside military doctrine.
Apologies I should have put an eyeroll or something to indicate tone. What I was getting at is that it’s seen as a man’s haircut so that’s why it’s given to the character.
I still firmly disagree with that point. Maybe it’s just a cultural thing that I’m not getting. I’ve never seen short hair as exclusive to men (other than as a result of male pattern balding because that’s just a weird thing the human body does), nor think that it makes women look masculine. I know and have known plenty of women with short hair and men with long hair, and never thought it anything other than a stylistic choice (barring other practical considerations).
This is something I’ve always found a bit perplexing - US female combat troops often have long hair, which they keep up and tight while working.
Both me and my other half often do physical work (I’m a volunteer firefighter, she does arbourist work on the side) and neither of us can stand having long hair … if I were doing military work, I can’t imagine how needlessly uncomfortable that long hair is!
Same goes for women MMA fighters.
In other news, my other half looks like Sinead O’Connor when she shaves her hair, while I look more like a Gulag escapee for some reason … so I have to live with a pixie cut or longer.
While all of it makes little sense in movies, short hair doesn’t. Reason why military cuts hair short is so your hair doesn’t get tangled in trees, bushes or fences, compromising you. It’s really of practical nature. But given how many cockups they make elsewhere in movies, I don’t think they were going for that kind of realism.
The Expanse has the justification of it meaning that they don’t have to deal with representing long hair in microgravity situations, but they still have variety like Camina Drummer’s ultra-tight braids and Naomi’s curls which solve the problem without everyone having a crew cut
Man, Cara Gee, the actress that plays Drummer is just so stunning. Aside from her being so much my type, I enjoyed her portrayal of the character. Very commanding on screen presence.
I absolutely love basically every scene she’s in. Especially with how much she committed to the Belter accent
Fa sho, beltalowda
She’s the definition of perfect casting. I also liked how they just kept extending her role because Cara Gee is so good. Drummer’s role in the books is much smaller
Same. Swoooooon much.
same same
In universe, short hair also makes sense in zero gravity. James S A Corey are just on another level when it comes to such details both in the show and in the books. They actually talk about female hygiene products in The Mercy of Gods.
Either short cut hair, or at the very least, done up in a very tight bun, or fairly short ponytail or braids or cornrows or something.
As you say, tangling with the environment or your gear… in a hand to hand fight, you do not want hair that can be pulled or wrapped up, you don’t want long hair getting in the way of reloading a gun, longer bangs blocking your view through binocs or iron sights or a scope…
Also… for tampons and pads…?
The ‘old ways’:
Lint wrapped around wood. Knotted ropes. Papyrus. Paper. Moss. Animal skins.
These were all used before the tampons and pads, with some more … unique solutions beginning to be mass produced in the late 1800s, eventually leading to modern tampons and pads.
https://cora.life/blogs/blood-milk/what-did-women-do-before-tampons-a-brief-history-of-period-products
So… I guess uh, assuming a post apocalyptic woman’s ‘survival’ stat is high enough, presumably they would return to much more locally sourceable, less complex to produce, decent enough solutions, after the last box of tampons gets looted from the last dilapidated Walgreens.
So… if your character is a postapoc woman badass… you could just add this into your own headcannon as an explanation, of sorts.
… I wonder how many post apocalyptic movies pass the Bechdel test lol.
EDIT: Going a bit further, and arguably off topic…
Common ammunition calibers, cigarettes, condoms, and possibly bandage/compress packs, tampons/pads, bic lighters… maybe also small sewing needle kits?.. would be pretty good candidates as physical commodity psuedo-currencies…
Basically for the reason that they are small, light, easily transportable, roughly standardized, are generally durable if stored properly… and are no longer in mass production… and basically everyone would either directly have practical use for them or know someone who does.
Bottlecaps as a currency would represent some level of general social cohesion beyond and above that, lol.
EDIT 2: … having long hair could …probably become something of a status symbol, as it would only really make sense if you were not roughing it all the time.
Men would also presumably keep their hair and beards short generally as well, and longer hair/beards could also become something of a status symbol as well.
Also gas masks really don’t seal that well with too much hair in the way.
Also I think beard hair is not permitted in military due to gas masks needing to have a good seal so perhaps it would he a good reason for not having long hair as well
Yep i agree! In movies it’s a way to make a woman look strong, because obviously a man’s haircut gives us some of the magical powers of a man.
That’s a little sexist. I also completely disagree. Short hair, especially in a military setting, is not about a borrowed appearance of strength, but utility and competence. Early episodes of Stargate SG-1 had some infamously awful commentary about emancipation, but Carter’s (Amanda Tapping) short haircut never compromised her femininity: she wore it like that because she was a frontline soldier and accomplished USAF pilot, and that’s what the circumstances demanded. It would have been weird and against her character to participate in missions with long hair.
Just for fun, this is the “”“improved”“” scene where Carter is introduced, without the part where she talks about her reproductive organs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gR-ouftevE
I think that’s what OP is getting at, that this attitude of “male” haircuts has been used in such a way. They’re not defending it, they’re pointing it out, alongside military doctrine.
Unless I can’t read…?
Yep that’s what I meant
Apologies I should have put an eyeroll or something to indicate tone. What I was getting at is that it’s seen as a man’s haircut so that’s why it’s given to the character.
I still firmly disagree with that point. Maybe it’s just a cultural thing that I’m not getting. I’ve never seen short hair as exclusive to men (other than as a result of male pattern balding because that’s just a weird thing the human body does), nor think that it makes women look masculine. I know and have known plenty of women with short hair and men with long hair, and never thought it anything other than a stylistic choice (barring other practical considerations).
OK thanks for giving me your perspective
This is something I’ve always found a bit perplexing - US female combat troops often have long hair, which they keep up and tight while working.
Both me and my other half often do physical work (I’m a volunteer firefighter, she does arbourist work on the side) and neither of us can stand having long hair … if I were doing military work, I can’t imagine how needlessly uncomfortable that long hair is!
Same goes for women MMA fighters.
In other news, my other half looks like Sinead O’Connor when she shaves her hair, while I look more like a Gulag escapee for some reason … so I have to live with a pixie cut or longer.