Rapunzel's Daughters: What Women's Hair Tells Us about Women's Lives

by Rose Weitz

Book Overview

Examining the role of hair in women's lives, Rose Weitz discusses what hair reveals about feminine identity, intimate relationships, and work lives, tracing the history of women's hair and offering... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374240825
• ISBN13: 9780374240820
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
• Length: 266 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.9" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Enilightening!

I can honestly say this book has changed my life. I am an undergrad Art Major and Women Studies minor and I can honestly say I learned more from this book than the books assigned to me in class. This book talks about how hair effects women of all class,race,and religion. I never though about my hair too much until reading this book. The thing that stuck out the most is that it said that women suffering from breast cancer are more upset about loosing their hair than they're breasts! I can honestly say that that surprised me more than anything else. I recomentd this book to anyone and everyone and I'm thinking as giving it as a gift to friends.

Covers what you've never even thought about

I thoroughly enjoyed Rapunzel's Daughters because I learned so much about hair. When I first saw the book, I was trying to figure out how someone could possibly fill a whole book about hair. However I was pleasantly suprised to find there is lots to talk about. The chapters are called The History of Women's Hair, Hot Combs and Scarlet Ribbons, Ponytails and Purple Mohawks, What We Do For Love, Paychecks and Power Haircuts, Bald Truths, At the Salon, I'll Dye Until I Die and No More Bad Hair Days. In the History of Women's Hair we learn about how hair was cared for and styled in the past. Styles and customs are separated into races since a Caucasian, Latin American and an African American all have different hair as well as different customs about hair. In Hot Combs and Scarlet Ribbons, we learn about what different people do are had done to their hair. The book is full of interviews with all kinds of women from all over. How girls hair was styled depended on what the parents, teachers, peers and media thought was fashionable. Girls rarely decided themselves how their hair would be styled. In Ponytails and Purple Mohawks, we learn about how some people style or colour their hair to stand out. It also talks about how many lesbians cut their hair and why they do so. It talks about fitting in with stories like the one about the caucasian girl in an otherwise african-american school and how she wanted her thin blonde hair in corn rows since everyone else in her class had them. What We Do For Love talks about styling and colouring our hair the way our husbands want us to. At the same time, when some women divorce or leave an abusive husband, they change their hairstyle so that they feel they can start over. Paychecks and Power Haircuts talks about hair in the work world. In some jobs, you are required to play up your femininity so women with long curly hair are preferred over short straight or braided hair. In some cases, you can be fired for cutting your hair. In other jobs, especially ones where women are in the minority, looking feminine will make you stand out so more masculine cuts and styles are better. Bald Truths addresses those with Alopecia and those who lose hair due to Chemotherapy. We may not always realize it but hair is very important to women and those women without hair can suffer greatly. Besides being teased and looked upon strangely, they tend not to get as many looks from guys since hair is a big attraction. The chapter also looks at women who shave their heads, to attract attention, show they are lesbian or just downplay their femininity. At the Salon explains what both hairdresser and client get out of a trip to the salon. It's more than just a new do. Many hairdressers act like social workers, listening to clients problems and suggesting ideas. I'll Dye until I Die covers the history of hair dying as it went from something only a few did in secret to the present where lots do it. It talks about how coloring to cover grey ca

Cultural history of women's hair

A fascinating look at women and their relationship with their hair. Weitz conducted many interviews and personal research to provide the nine interesting and thought-provoking chapters. She begins with a short history of women's hair, touching briefly on some ancient, medieval and early modern sources and pictures. Most of the book focuses on modern women and the advances within the past one hundred years such as chemical treatments for straightening and relaxing the hair, as well as permanent waves and dyeing treatments. She devotes special portions of the book to African hair, and other ethnic/cultural hairstyles, and how hair makes up the identity of many women. Some particularly interesting styles she mentioned were the Mexican-American "chola" style, dreadlocks, and lesbian hair styles. Why do women dye their hair? How are women affected when they lose their hair (whether they have alopecia, chemotherapy, or a voluntary buzzcut?) What are women's relationships like with their stylist? You will find out some very interesting answers to these questions when you read the book!

Let down your hair

One of the most satisfying experiences when reading a book is when we can see ourselves in its pages. Rapunzel's Daughters allows the reader to see herself, to see others, and to see "other". There are so many ah ha moments in the book as well as much new knowledge. The reader is drawn to the stories because they reveal a common experience. The reader also learns about a variety of "other" experiences, meaning we learn about the intimate stories of groups of people who are not usually accessible to us. These insights give us the opportunity to see people through new eyes. The writing style of the author is eminately readable. It is clear, thoughtfully organized, and her skill at making transitions is laudable. It is not often that an academic writer can bridge the space between scholarly content and a good read. Remarkably, this author has done exactly that.If you are looking for a book that is enjoyable to read and one that will give you new insights into women's lives, let down your hair and read Rapunzel's Daughters by Rose Weitz.