NationStates Jolt Archive

Why don't ladies grow beards? Or, if you'll permit me to 'turn it on it's head', why do gentlemen grow beards? Is it to keep the face warm (if so why do women have to face the cold unbearded?), or is it some sort of plummage: where the man with the best beard gets to mate?
Engage my curiousity please.
Also do any of you lovely girls out their suffer from 'man-beard envy'? Has anyone considered buying a prothetic beard?

I think most women don't grow beards because they are incapable. And I grow a beard every November or so and shave it around April so I get that extra warmth in the winter months.

That's what I'm meaning, why aren't (most)women capable of growing beards?
What do you girls look for in a man-beard (when courting)?

It be a good thing that women only grow hair in 2 places fast... hate to see her 5 o clock shadow. O_o

Probably an hormonal thing. A woman with more estrogen would be more fertile, but at the same time have less facial hair, that would make her more attractive to males.

Maybe testosterone plays a similar role in men, but I'm not really too sure about that since not all races grow the same amount of facial hair.

Maybe testosterone plays a similar role in men, but I'm not really too sure about that since not all races grow the same amount of facial hair.

Pure blood native Americans (north & south) are unable to grow beards! One of the reasons south American peoples believed the spanish to be gods.

Pure blood native Americans (north & south) are unable to grow beards! One of the reasons south American peoples believed the spanish to be gods.
Tell me about it! It takes me a good week to grow even a stubble. Anyway, the Aztecs (hardly all the native peoples) thought the Spanish were gods because Quetzalcoatl had been bearded as well and he had promised to return. So, it wasn't like beards were sacred, it was more the description they had of their old god.

Tell me about it! It takes me a good week to grow even a stubble. Anyway, the Aztecs (hardly all the native peoples) thought the Spanish were gods because Quetzalcoatl had been bearded as well and he had promised to return. So, it wasn't like beards were sacred, it was more the description they had of their old god.

Religious leaders among the Inca are known to have used false beards during ceremonies, so the beard may not be considered sacred per se, but did hold some religious significance.

are you an alien sent from space to learn more about the human race? you sound like gazoo from the flintstones. heh heh and yes i like that show!

I grow mine for "thinkin" purposes. I stroke my facial hair and come up with evil plans. Also my hero, the pirate, had a beard. I'm still working on the eye-patch and hook, however.

I think part of it has to do with the 'youth' notion.

In many cultures, growing a beard was a sign of adulthood. In many cultures, women reaching adulthood was sneered at: The whole older, more affluent man younger more fertile bride thing.

I, for instance, grew a beard when I was 15, and kept it until a year ago, when I shaved it off, when I was 21. Why did I shave it off? I was about to head back to a slightly more liberal area (wasn't exactly interested in dealing with Christian dating pools), and wanted to look young and sexy for the college gals, instead of like I was in my early thirties.

Worked like a charm, too.

Though she -does- want me to grow a goatee... but I'm saving that for her Birthday.

Facial hair is linked to testosterone levels. Therefore, most women who do not have a hormonal imbalance will not get more than the stray hair or two.

After menopause, the estrogen level drops -- which is when Aunt Petunia suddenly starts to get that mustache....

I'm not 100% certain, but I believe that in some ancient societies Queens who were regents in their own right sometimes wore 'beards' to impress their authority and power.

The growth of 'male type' hair (ie chest, back and beard) is indeed linked to testosterone, however many women (since women also have testosterone) are also hairsute (sp), in particular many ethnicities of the Pacific and Middle East tend to produce more hairsute women.

A beard can be looked at as a mask sometimes. But it can also be a preference once you understand the mask.

Yeah but what's the purpose of beards. I know eyebrows are to stop swet getting in your eyes (which incedently stings), but what do beards do appart from catching crumbs of food?

What an odd little thread. no facial hair here thank goodness. i did see a woman one time that had lots of black stubby hairs on her chin. poor woman :(

women have enough places to shave already!

hmmm i thought men grew beards because they dont have chins
in any case, any woman should make a bearded man shave before she gets serious about him, finding out your beloved is chinless can ruin your regard for him

some pre-menopausal women have facial hair they have to deal with, its probably a hormonal imbalance but it can be taken care of with electrolysis. *ouch*

after menopause the lesser estrogen make most women grow a bit of darker hair but it will never get to be like a man's beard even if she never shaves it.

im pretty sure that F2M transexuals can grow some amount of a beard after their ovaries are removed and they take testosterone shots.

its hard to tell female trolls from male trolls because both genders grow beards.

i find every man who has a goatee to be sexy. its very embarrassing to realize that thats why i thought an otherwise unexceptional man was attractive.

and just what is up with a man who grows a beard but NOT a moustache? that just looks eccentric.

hmmm i thought men grew beards because they dont have chins
in any case, any woman should make a bearded man shave before she gets serious about him, finding out your beloved is chinless can ruin your regard for him
shutupshutupshutupshutupshutupshutup.

I fell for that once, shaved my glorious three inch goatee for a girlfriend....never again, I say-NEVER!!!

i find every man who has a goatee to be sexy. its very embarrassing to realize that thats why i thought an otherwise unexceptional man was attractive.
Did I mention my three-inch goatee?

and just what is up with a man who grows a beard but NOT a moustache? that just looks eccentric.
Ah, the Maynard. Classic. I'm too attatched to the forked 'stache that I have to go for that, and since I've never shaved the 'stache I don't want to start.