Physics career and guy with long hair?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of whether a man with long hair can have a successful career as a physicist. It explores societal perceptions, personal experiences, and humorous takes on appearance in the field of physics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that historical figures like Einstein and Newton had long hair, implying that it is possible to have a career in physics regardless of hair length.
  • Others humorously argue that long hair or beards could negatively impact perceptions in professional settings, particularly in experimental physics.
  • A participant mentions that once employed, performance is prioritized over appearance, indicating that long hair may not be an issue post-hire.
  • There are jokes about the correlation between hair length and reading ability, suggesting a humorous take on stereotypes associated with appearance.
  • One participant shares their personal experience of having long hair while working as a physicist, noting that it did not affect their professional relationships.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of humorous and serious viewpoints, with no clear consensus on the impact of hair length on a physics career. Some argue it is a non-issue, while others maintain that societal perceptions may still play a role.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes anecdotal evidence and humor, which may not reflect broader societal norms or professional standards in physics.

PookDo
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Silly question I know but can you have a career as a physicist and be a guy with longer hair?
 
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Einstein had sort of "long" hair, though it was more of a fro. Hippie physics.
 
It's okay if you wear a leather skirt, like the guy in Placebo.
 
PookDo said:
Silly question I know but can you have a career as a physicist and be a guy with longer hair?
No. You can't be a nuclear engineer, either, especially if you have a huge beard.

https://www.physicsforums.com/member.php?u=15685
 
PookDo said:
Silly question I know but can you have a career as a physicist and be a guy with longer hair?
Ever seen a picture of Newton?
 
zoobyshoe said:
Ever seen a picture of Newton?

AHA! wasn't that a long wig?
 
HeLiXe said:
AHA! wasn't that a long wig?
Nope. He had very long, prematurely grey hair. He joked that his hair had turned silver from experimenting with mercury so much.

Good pic here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Newton
 
PookDo said:
Silly question I know but can you have a career as a physicist and be a guy with longer hair?

Nope. Most physics experiments involve high speed turbines which will chop your beard (and head) clean off. Even theoretical physicists can't have beards because then people confuse them for raving psychotics when they start talking about string theory.
 
  • #10
I have long hair and wtf am I reading?
 
  • #11
Having a job and having long hair and a beard are one thing. Once you're hired, they look more at your performance than your hair/beard.

Getting a job when you have long hair and a beard is a different thing. Since they don't really know what your job performance is like, they rely on shallower things.

But it is statistically true that the average hair length of people with careers in physics is shorter than the average hair length as a whole. In fact, that could be the reason more men have careers in physics than women - it's the hair that does it!
 
  • #12
wukunlin said:
I have long hair and wtf am I reading?

Aaaah, so that's the problem. The ability to read is inversely proportional to one's hair length. :smile:
 
  • #13
Pengwuino said:
Even theoretical physicists can't have beards because then people confuse them for raving psychotics when they start talking about string theory.
Theoretical physicists and string theorists are raving psychotics.
 
  • #14
BobG said:
Aaaah, so that's the problem. The ability to read is inversely proportional to one's hair length. :smile:

According to military standards I have to follow I should be an AMAZING reader then!
 
  • #15
BobG said:
Aaaah, so that's the problem. The ability to read is inversely proportional to one's hair length. :smile:

also explains why Buddhist monks shave all their hair off so they are... infinitely good at reading :eek:
 
  • #16
If you are very well groomed I think you could get a way with it.

Long hair on purpose as apposed to long hair as a result of not cutting your hair.
 
  • #17
actually, I think that mixes pretty well
 
  • #18
I'm a physicist and I had long hair (past my nipples) until recently. I also shave like once a month because I hate shaving. No one I work with seemed to care. The only people who complained were my girlfriend's parents, who said I looked homeless.
 
  • #19
Yeah, that is a silly question. Of course not!
 

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