Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast
Whiskerology: the meaning of hair in colonial America
Apr 24, 2025
Join historian Sarah Gold McBride as she unpacks the fascinating cultural significance of hair in 19th century America. Explore how hair thickness, color, and style were used to judge race and gender. Delve into beards as symbols of masculinity and their connection to citizenship. Discover the cultural and religious importance of long hair for women, and how male hairstyles evolved, reflecting societal shifts. McBride also reveals the surprising link between hair color and perceptions of criminality during urban growth.
28:23
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Quick takeaways
- In 19th century America, hair became a defining element of identity, intertwining with societal views on race and gender.
- Facial hair symbolized masculinity and political power, particularly among male leaders, reflecting cultural ideals and societal norms.
Deep dives
The Biological Significance of Hair in the 19th Century
In the 19th century, hair became increasingly recognized as a biological attribute rather than merely a stylistic choice, marking a significant cultural shift in America. This era brought about a perception that hair was integral to a person’s identity, equating haircuts to bodily changes akin to surgery. Individuals began to view hair not just as personal aesthetics but as reflections of inherent racial and gender traits, with certain hairstyles denoting more than fashion. For example, the belief emerged that only white men could grow beards, effectively assigning value to hair based on race and reinforcing societal power structures.
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