Bald Representation.

[Sunless Sky]

Just to preface this, I am balding.

Now, we live in an age where people of every race, color, creed, and sexual orientation are represented in media. Or at least there are attempts to represent them.

But, what about balding people? Now I am not talking about people who are full bald like the rock or Jason Statham. I am talking about people who are in the process of balding.

Think about it, whenever there are balding characters in movies and shows, they are either a) Evil, or b) comic relief. When did you ever watch like a rom com where the main guy was balding?

Where is my representation dammit?!?

 

[TheSkaFish]

I'm not bald myself, and I hope I never do go bald. I don't think it would work for me.

But, some of my favorite people are bald.

Tim Armstrong (Rancid) and Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) are both bald.
In Billy's case, it's by choice, and I think he looked better with hair.
But Tim has always been bald. He always wears a hat of some kind though, and he has a spiderweb tattoo on the top of his head. He takes baldness and turns it to a style advantage.

Finally, and last but not least, who could forget Sir Patrick Stewart aka Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
Normally, I don't think hair around the sides and bald on top is ideal, but Picard makes it work.
I can't imagine him any other way, and he's not only a serious and heroic character, but at the forefront of the main characters in Star Trek Next Generation. He's iconic.

 

[Sunless Sky]

I'm not bald myself, and I hope I never do go bald. I don't think it would work for me.

But, some of my favorite people are bald.

Tim Armstrong (Rancid) and Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) are both bald.
In Billy's case, it's by choice, and I think he looked better with hair.
But Tim has always been bald. He always wears a hat of some kind though, and he has a spiderweb tattoo on the top of his head. He takes baldness and turns it to a style advantage.

Finally, and last but not least, who could forget Sir Patrick Stewart aka Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
Normally, I don't think hair around the sides and bald on top is ideal, but Picard makes it work.
I can't imagine him any other way, and he's not only a serious and heroic character, but at the forefront of the main characters in Star Trek Next Generation. He's iconic.

Isn't Patrick Stewart full bald? Or was he balding during star trek?

I just looked up those other guys and they were all full bald as well.

 

[Sixx 2.0]

Ah, the balding brigade, the ones who’ve got just enough hair left to cling onto their dignity. Bruce Willis in Die Hard, for instance. He’s not full bald, just a bit "advanced" on top, still saving the day but one shampoo away from becoming Lex Luthor. Then there’s Daniel Craig as James Bond. A few thinning spots, but he’s still got that "I’m suave, even with a dodgy hairline" vibe. These guys are one bad hair day away from going full villain "I’m not bald yet, but I could take over the world if I wanted!"

 

[Sunless Sky]

Ah, the balding brigade, the ones who’ve got just enough hair left to cling onto their dignity. Bruce Willis in Die Hard, for instance. He’s not full bald, just a bit "advanced" on top, still saving the day but one shampoo away from becoming Lex Luthor. Then there’s Daniel Craig as James Bond. A few thinning spots, but he’s still got that "I’m suave, even with a dodgy hairline" vibe. These guys are one bad hair day away from going full villain "I’m not bald yet, but I could take over the world if I wanted!"

Exactly, it's the same in video games too. At least the ones I've played. In the 90s and 80s, there were more balding characters. Never the main character but still, they were there.

 

[TheRealCallie]

Jason Statham was balding before he shaved his head.

Also there's Jason Alexander, Stanley Tucci, Prince William. There's a lot of them out there, but I think the majority of them fully embrace the bald and just shave their heads so people don't know they are losing their hair.

 

[Sunless Sky]

Jason Statham was balding before he shaved his head.

Also there's Jason Alexander, Stanley Tucci, Prince William. There's a lot of them out there, but I think the majority of them fully embrace the bald and just shave their heads so people don't know they are losing their hair.

Yes, nobody wants to be balding. Either hair that covers most of your head or full bald. Why is it considered shameful to be balding? It's not like being out of shape for example, it's something that in most cases is genetic and out of one's control.

It's like if a woman gets shamed for having small breasts for example. Again, that's genetic and can't be helped. Of course, some women become so insecure of their breast size that they get breast implants. Just like guys who get insecure about losing their hair that they get hair implants. Why can't people just be encouraged to accept what they have and be content?

Somewhere in that rant is something related to representation in media.

 

[TheRealCallie]

I think it could also be attributed to not wanting to be seen that way. Like my 17 year old kid growing a beard because he wants to look older. Being full bald instead of having the loss of hair could make you look younger.

 

[Unsigned]

What's wrong with bald?
Nothing anything us guys have any control over.
It's better than being a long haired hippy, IMO...