Hair and Hairstyles as Metaphors for Librarians

Abstract

What roles do hair and hairstyles play for librarians and their images? Long hair, short hair, or hair tied in a bun, there are stereotypical and traditional hairstyles that librarians may have because it can be a perceived expectation of a specific industry culture. But can we explore “hair” and “hairstyle” as other kinds of images or metaphors for our work and performance instead? This paper will explain how hair and hairstyles can be perceived as metaphors for change, adaptation, and risk-taking based on our experiences as librarians. To accommodate a librarian’s image, hair plays a critical role in showing what can be “acceptable” and “unacceptable” in the workplace. However, altering hairstyles can have profound effects on one’s self-image: developing a sense of confidence, conformity and complexity.