The Equality of Haircuts

What's My Cost?

The dingle of bell chimes announced my entrance into the Smart Look Hair Designer Barber Shop in Oliver, BC. 

It was the price difference posted on the window between a man’s haircut at fourteen dollars and ninety-nine cents and a women’s cut at twenty-two ninety-nine that caught my eye. The discrimination was obvious.

“Hello. I’d like to speak with you about the lack of balance between your two adult cut costs,” I said. “I’ll sit and wait until you’re finished.”

The barber was working on a man’s head. Clipping, rubbing, clipping. He swept the fallen hairs from his client’s shoulders and removed the cape. Together, they approached the counter. The shop owner accepted payment and said goodbye to his customer. He turned and looked at me.

“What’s the problem?” he said.

“I noticed that a woman’s cost for a haircut is higher than a man’s, and I’m wondering why you think it’s fair to charge me a higher rate?” I said.

“Woman’s hair is different. It’s longer and more difficult to work with”, he said.

I removed my headband and revealed my short hair. Cut at the back with clippers, snipped close over my ears and nearly standing on end at the top of my head. A ‘pixie cut’; an older women’s short hairstyle.

“If I asked you to cut my hair, would you charge me the same as the man who just left or would you expect me to pay a higher price because I’m a woman?” I said.

“I told you already. Woman’s hair is different than a man’s, so yes, you would pay the woman’s price,” he said.

“May I suggest that your price for men and women be the same. It should be equal. What do you think of that idea?” I said.

“Do you want a haircut?” he said.

“Sure, if I get it for the same fee as a man’s haircut. Let’s call it an adult haircut,” I said.

“No. You must pay the woman’s price!” he said. His nostrils were flaring.

“Thank you for speaking with me,” I said and left the shop.

Gender equality means that the different behaviour, aspirations and needs of women and men are considered, valued and favoured equally. Equality means that human rights, responsibilities and opportunities should not depend on whether they are born male or female.

And, in one of His talks, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá emphasises the uniqueness of the Bahá’í position on the equality of women and men. He states that Bahá’u’lláh establishes the equality of man and woman. This is peculiar to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, for all other religions have placed man above woman.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 455)