First, it started with people saying cis women getting breast implants was gender-affirming surgery and at least that kinda made sense on the very surface level. Now people are claiming all plastic surgeries are gender-affirming which made me check whether this was some orchestrated trolling effort. Doesn't seem like it.

Here's the tweet .

  • forcequit [she/her]
    ·
    2 years ago

    I wonder if male pattern baldness makes men feel emasculated

    side note fuck elon

    • Anemasta [any]
      ·
      2 years ago

      Emasculated is a weird thing I might not really understand, because I don't think there's a corresponding concept in Russian. Like obviously by itself it wouldn't make you feel less manly, because it's male pattern baldness is something that only happens to men and there are a lot of really manly dudes that are bold. On the other hand it impedes you ability to attract woman, which is supposed to be a big part of being manly so there's an element of loss of control when this happens to you.

      But I dunno. I don't think that being bold makes you more emasculated than having a skin condition or something, even though both of those things can make you less attractive.

      • SadStruggle92 [none/use name]
        ·
        2 years ago

        It's worth noting that baldness in men has historical connotations in Western Europe with impotence & powerlessness. This is because the Franks had weird fuckin' inheritance laws that required you to have long hair (as a man) to inherit anything; and disinherited sons were usually tonsured (had your hair shaved) & sent into the clergy, where in the Roman Catholic Church, you can't marry.

      • forcequit [she/her]
        ·
        2 years ago

        Idk if its about attraction per se, rather that it strays from ideal, and can cause emotional discomfort. emasculation is the act or process of removing or denying masculinity, which balding can be seen as a signifier of even though it's ultimately just another hormonal physiology expression

        • Anemasta [any]
          ·
          2 years ago

          I guess it's culture specific, that's why I'm not getting it.

          • forcequit [she/her]
            ·
            2 years ago

            Was interesting to read there's no distinction between handsome/beautiful. I can see how that could flatten the peaks and troughs in the "maleness" and "femaleness" of things, ergo bald is just another expression of the former and not seen as detriment

    • thisonethatone [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      Huh? Must be cultural b/c in my experience baldness is seen as peak masculine, especially the bald/beard/body hair combo.