Shaving your head for charity

[PhilDawson8270]

It's not always the content, but the context. The post, and statements were phrased in a manner in which the shaving was a negative thing.

The attitude that a woman shaving her head is a statement, instead of just being a hairstyle they may choose to have. And being likened to a guy shaving a beard to look presentable. Well you used the term shaggy mane, ya know, a phrase often used to describe hair on certain animals. When the looking presentable is all about social pressures.

It is really not difficult to draw the conclusion I did when it is framed as you posted it.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I've a good friend who had breast cancer followed by a mastectomy and chemotherapy. She gets enraged and upset whenever someone has their head shaved "as a stunt" for cancer charity as she feels it trivialises her hair loss and her illness.

 

[cyberknight]

I've a good friend who had breast cancer followed by a mastectomy and chemotherapy. She gets enraged and upset whenever someone has their head shaved "as a stunt" for cancer charity as she feels it trivialises her hair loss and her illness.

Mrs CK had cancer at 11 years old , one of the 1st to have combined chemo+radiotherapy she says, i will say no more .

 

[cyberknight]

I shave my head at least once every two days as i have very little on top and just that stupid looking band of hair around the back.

I have a 3 mm convict cut as i wear a hard hat at work , then a skid lid on the bike so "hairstyle " is not applicable.

 

[classic33]

I came close to having it shaved off for charity. Given at the time I'd been told there'd only be around 10-15% remaining at the back of the head, following surgery. I thought why not raise some money for cancer research/nurses. Give something back as it were.

I'd lost my nuts to it years ago.

 

[jefmcg]

particularly as some people do it just for fun.

It's much less fun that most things people do for charity is. It costs practically nothing to do, and being an elderly bald woman in a British autumn is much less something that people actively want to do, such as riding to Paris, climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, bungie jumping, walking the Kokoda trail, parachuting or any of a dozen other fun activities that lots of people happily pay to do, getting an aura of self-sacrifice by getting others to sponsor you.

I'm just not seeing a lot of old ladies shaving their heads for fun.

If someone asks me to sponsor them, I usually ask myself three questions: Am I just subsidising their holiday? Is this someone I love or a good friend? Is this cause something that is genuinely dear to their hearts? Your example would tick all three boxes for me.

 

[Sandra6]

I could only tick two as I genuinely can't stand my mother, but that is a good method for deciding.
I had a friend a few years ago who raised money so she could go to work in an African animal sanctuary for two weeks - now that is just a holiday!
I also get annoyed by the clubs and teams who loiter at the checkouts begging so they can go on a holiday.

 

[Drago]

Did this when I was 18 for a disabled kiddie who needed a specialised bed.

Since then I've spent most of my adult life with it shaved anyway.

 

[Electric_Andy]

Quite a few issues here. Firstly I'm good friends with my Mum so would support her if she did this sort of thing. However, I think it weird that you say you haven't spoken to your mum for ages then suddenly she's phoning you for money. Not really something I can relate to.

Would I shave my head? Well of course, if it actually helped someone i.e. if a friend or relative had a marginally easier life if they were surrounded by other baldies, I would not hesitate. I wouldn't just do it for shock value though, to raise money. It's a little insensitive, as your essentially saying "everyone going through Chemo is embarrassed by their baldness so I'm going to go through it with them because it's so terrible."