Monthly Archives: May 2012
It’s Celebration Time for the Hair-Challenged Male
Bald is beautiful. What a cliche! Until I began to notice in the past few years that, shoot, yes it is! Whether in a shopping mall, on the street or at my favorite visiting place (!), Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport (and now in India too), more and more men were going completely bald. By choice. And they were getting second and third looks. How about that?
I thought it was just me but then of course my favorite newspaper ran a piece on it recently. Bald is not only beautiful. It’s gone viral!
Yul Brynner didn’t know what he was starting. But, it sure took a while to catch on, didn’t it?
So, here’s the question, how come completely bald by choice is good, but partially bald by nature is not so hot (sorry guys)?
The good news is that there is a cool (really cool!) choice that men who have fretting for years can make. It’s not just men who fret, it’s their partners and their moms. I’ve seen it happen all the time.
That’s because 25% of men begin balding at age 30, and over 65% by age 60. There is a 4 in 7 chances that you may be the lucky one to receive the baldness gene. 🙂 And, further, men whose fathers had experienced hair loss were 2.5 times more likely to experience hair loss themselves, regardless of the mother’s side of the family.
Seriously though, the psychology of hair thinning is known to be a complex issue. Hair is considered an essential part of overall identity (especially for women, for whom it often represents femininity and attractiveness). But men too – they typically associate a full head of hair with youth and vigor.
Many are uncomfortable talking about the issue. Hair thinning is a sensitive issue for both sexes. For sufferers, it can represent a loss of control and feelings of isolation. People experiencing hair thinning often find themselves in a situation where their physical appearance is a contrast with their own self-image, and they end up anxious or even tormented about appearing older than they are or less attractive to others. Psychological problems due to baldness, if present, are typically most severe at the onset of symptoms.
How many of you know men who worry, worry and worry some more, while you are wondering why it’s such a big deal? Studies have shown just how big a deal it is for them. Homo sapiens and a touch (or more of) vanity seem to go very much hand-in-hand. It’s just how we’re made.
Coming back to the question I raised earlier – how come completely bald by choice is good, but partially bald by nature is not so hot? – a study that was conducted showed that males with facial hair and those with bald or receding hair were rated as being older than those who were clean-shaven or had a full head of hair.
While billions of dollars have been spent on how to halt baldness (Rogaine, Propecia, etc.) or reverse the process (hair transplants, hair pieces), it appears that there may be a much simpler solution after all.
The solution is real. It’s simple. It’s good. It’s cool. And it’s your choice to make. This is certainly good news for men and it appears that more of them are catching on. [Though not the guys below…yet].
So all you guys and girlfriends, wives and partners. And moms. Stop all your fretting! And try saying this:
Bald is beautiful. Bald is sexy.
As long as it’s completely bald. And by choice.
Have I convinced you yet? If I have, forward it to those you know who could use this.
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Aamir Khan Jolts India With Some Soul Shattering Reality
Allow me to gush. Please.
For months, he has been teasing Indians with short promos about his new TV “reality show” Satyamev Jayete without revealing what it is all about. All people had were those teasers and their own imaginations to work with.
But then Aamir Khan, the perfectionist, has an extremely high credibility quotient. Such that when the show debuted today (the day I write this – Sunday, May 6th), millions tuned in to watch. I dare say, millions came away awed and amazed. I know I did.
Satyamev Jayete literally means Truth is Invincible or Truth Alone Prevails. He could not have chosen a better title for his show.
When I did bother to think about it, my impression from having seen a promo or two, was that we would be presented with a travelogue of India and conversations with ordinary but interesting people that he would meet on his journeys across the country. Something that was mostly pleasant, captured well on camera (India captures splendidly on camera – all those brilliant colors!) and because this was Aamir, entertaining and worth a watch as well.
Boy, was I off the mark!
Little did I realize that he was going for the gut – mine, by dealing with hard and hard-hitting issues like this one!
His entire debut episode centered on a single topic – that of female foeticide. It is described on his website (after the fact) as such:
In this episode Aamir talks about the killing of unborn girls, or female foeticide, an alarming and frightening reality. It involves the collusion of families, doctors and a social structure that encourages the desire for a boy child – at any cost. The result has been the death of over 3 crore unborn girls since independence and a generation of young men, many amongst whom will find it very tough to get a life partner.
[Note: 3 crore = 30 million!]
The episode contained the sensitive and soul touching stories of real women who had undergone frightening experiences with forced abortions by in-laws or husbands, not once, but over and over again – whenever an ultra-sound showed that the baby was a girl. It showed how they dealt with these tragedies and how they overcame them to end up having daughters.
But it did not end there.
It went on to examine why this happens in India, how this insane practice got started and became tragically virulent, and the sad consequences to this society if it continues – the entire cycle supported by:
experts, facts, real stories and true journalism.
From a Bollywood actor?!
With lumps in our throats and even tears in our eyes, we watched these horrific yet awe-inspiring stories and went on to watch Aamir reveal some remarkable facts – for example, I (like most people) didn’t realize that most female foeticide does not just happen among the poor and rural masses. In fact, it is more prevalent among the richer and educated citizens. What?
We sure do jump to quick conclusions based on such superficial assumptions, don’t we?
Well-thought out, thorough and gripping.
A show that combines all these factors cannot be produced overnight. It has obviously taken an immense amount of time, research, talented people, and dedication to get it to…PERFECTION.
Ultimately it portrayed a reality in all its grisliness, speaking frankly of horrors that people avoid talking about but in a way that touched hearts. And to the logical minds in us, it spoke about why these atrocities were occurring, why they should stop and more importantly, how they could be stopped.
What was unexpected and different is not in what the reality was, but in how effectively it was presented…leaving people with a multitude of deep, unforeseen emotional reactions.
I write this while the show is still fresh on my mind from this morning. I can’t help it…words are simply pouring out of me.
Each of us that watched it together felt the impact (the initial reactions from people around India appear to have been similar). We were touched deeply and were inspired to do something about this serious issue.
Aamir Khan!
My salute to Aamir Khan for his guts, passion, conviction, leadership and an outstanding contribution to the nation. The guy’s stature just keeps growing and growing…
And don’t even bother to discuss this “reality show” in the same breath as all the other trivial TV shows that are out there!
The way I see it – people talk and writers write (so do bloggers) but most have a limited reach. Here’s someone who has combined his clout and star power with a medium that reaches millions of households in India. What’s different is that he’s taken advantage of his super stardom to get serious and comprehensively address a burning current issue (with more to come, I’m sure). From Aamir Khan the actor to Aamir Khan the activist? [Remind you of someone else…say, George Clooney?] Success to you, Mr.Khan!
By using this powerful combination on TV, he has (so far) been able to get great coverage and draw a huge audience…can this broad awareness be transformed into a movement for real change? That’s brilliant!
Plus he has also neatly blended his business side (he is paid well for each episode he produces – it appears he is putting his heart and soul into it, and with this result – why ever not?) with the humanitarian and patriot in him. Good for him!
Okay, I’ve gushed enough. I’m really writing this for those of you who have not had a chance to watch this show.
Be sure to catch it – it’s online now.
[I do hope that it comes out soon with English subtitles – somehow barely-there, passable Hindi is inadequate for such a deep presentation where I don’t want to be missing a word].
I can’t wait for what next Sunday will bring. Now there’s actually a damn good reason to turn on that idiot box!
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Show promo with its title song:
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The Yin and Yang of Life Anywhere 