Mary Holmes on the Emotional History of Hats...
>>>>>In different times and different cultures, women have either been forced to wear headdresses, or
completely excluded from wearing them. For instance, the Islamic veil has the practical function of not
letting people see woman's face. It's a very strong concept that the sight of a woman's face or hair,
like hearing a woman singing, is so sexually arousing that it will jeopardize the likelihood of her
remaining faithful. Like the binding of the feet in China, it ensures women's dependency because it
restricts them, by keeping them from doing certain things.
In old Russia, most women didn't wear hats. They wore the scarf, the babushka, over their head. Only
women in the upper upper classes had hats. If a young woman had a hat, she felt like she had made it
into the world. She either had very rich parents or a rich protector. In America in the 30s and 40s
most women wore hats. Women used to buy hats frequently as an emotional release. If you were in a
blue mood, or if you were celebrating something wonderful, you would go buy a hat. It was an elaborate
and widespread ritual.
And there was a whole set of manners and customs involved in wearing hats. As late as the 50s and 60s,
if a man saw a woman or child, he tipped his hat. It was unheard of him not to. And of course if a
worker went to talk to his boss, he would have to take his hat off. That is why people say "He came to
him hat in hand." You take off your hat in recognition of the greater person. You need to take your hat
off. He doesn't.<<<<<
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