The First Time America Went Beard Crazy
The First Time America Went Beard Crazy
A book review of Sarah Gold McBride's "Whiskerology: The Culture of Hair in Nineteenth-Century America." The article discusses the cultural and political significance of facial hair, particularly beards, in 19th-century America, tracing its evolution from a sign of rebellion to a symbol of male authority and its eventual decline in fashion. It explores how hair was entangled with ideas about race, gender, and national identity, referencing historical figures and events.
Note
this article uses the dark arts of whiskerology to look back at the trend of facial hair (and head hair) for men. but it misses out on looking at the times of now, as it seems to me, that the beard is back.
Published
2025
Summary
A book review of Sarah Gold McBride's "Whiskerology: The Culture of Hair in Nineteenth-Century America." The article discusses the cultural and political significance of facial hair, particularly beards, in 19th-century America, tracing its evolution from a sign of rebellion to a symbol of male authority and its eventual decline in fashion. It explores how hair was entangled with ideas about race, gender, and national identity, referencing historical figures and events.
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