I think the long hair thing is regional. In some parts of the world, it means "you are a man", while in other parts, it could mean something else.

For the record, I don't think long hair=gay. Every gay person I've ever met was very neat in appearance and had short hair. I think long hair (and I'm not really talking about mullets, but just the unkept, grungy, or dreadlock look) means that someone's parents didn't teach him how to groom himself. Of course, that is in this little corner of the world. If my child chooses to let his hair grow out when he is 18 and no longer under my roof, that is fine. But don't expect me to like it. To me, it's not a matter of individuality but appearance. Why does hair have to be who you are? Can't you be who you are with nice short hair? You get far better results from society.

And for those who say, who cares what society thinks, think again. Society is where you work and live. If two people with the exact qualifications and attitudes walked into a job interview, but one has short hair and one long, who do you think is going to get that job to represent the company (with the exception of course with being in a heavy metal band or something of that nature). One can't live in their own little secluded world as an individual forever. Like it or not, society judges you on your appearance, and in most cases, one needs society in their lives. Unless one is self-employed or works out of his own home, then I guess that really wouldn't matter. But in most cases, society is where ones work is.

and it works both ways. In a society that finds long hair as a sign of manliness, the same scenario with the two men in a job interview, the long haired man would get the job. Different societies have different values. I'm raising my child up in MY society, because it DOES matter to me.

It's been over a year when I posted on this thread. Since then, I now have a 2 year old boy, and have took a class in Child Psychology that talked a lot on gender issues (and I had to write a paper on assessing toys by gender). And I haven't changed my feelings. My Chance is definately all boy, with very little encouragement from me. He even has access to his older sisters' dolls and such. He may hug and kiss on a doll for a second, but then goes right back to his army guys and trucks. He does love to play with the dollhouse van, but it's only to play Dukes of Hazzard or to hook a trailer up to it. And he would rather go haul hay or check cows or ride in the tractor (with Mommy OR Daddy) than play "girl" activities anyday! LOL! So far, I'm very happy with the way I'm raising my boy.