Why do men have beards? A historical and cultural overview

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Why do men have beards?

Scientists still debate why facial hair appears in men. Homo sapiens kept thick facial hair over time. Charles Darwin proposed that sexual selection played a role, suggesting prehistoric women may have preferred bearded men. Some modern biologists support this view, noting diverse female preferences and drawing on evolutionary psychology: a beard could signal puberty.

Other researchers dispute that explanation. Some argue beards helped men appear more formidable by visually enlarging the chin and projecting aggression and dominance. Experiments from decades ago hint that facial hair can influence perception. In a 1969 study, participants viewed a bearded middle‑aged man facing a clean‑shaven younger man; many female participants labeled the bearded figure as benign, while male participants perceived a confrontation favored by the bearded man. When a beard was added to the younger man, the dynamic shifted to a more equal debate in the eyes of the male viewers.

There are also practical theories. In 2020, American researchers tested blows to the chin with and without beards and claimed facial hair offered some protective effect in blows and might aid in competition. Yet there is little evidence that a beard improves combat performance in real life. Historical anecdotes show thatAlexander the Great ordered shaving to prevent enemies from grabbing surely by beards.

Across history, both bearded and clean‑shaven warriors existed, and armies often achieved results without relying on facial hair as a decisive factor. The idea that beards alone determined military outcomes is exaggerated.

From Sumerians to Knights

Attitudes toward male beards in antiquity varied and were not uniform. Mesopotamian cultures—Sumerians, Assyrians, Babylonians, and Medes—valued lush beards, and kings and heroes frequently wore them, with figures like Gilgamesh and Tiglath‑Pilesser III featured with facial hair. Yet fashion was not rigid: Nebuchadnezzar II, the builder of Babylon’s Hanging Gardens, is sometimes depicted clean‑shaven.

In ancient Mesopotamia, beards were tended and curled neatly. The Persian Achaemenid era followed suit, with rulers and soldiers alike bearing beards from Cyrus the Great through Darius and beyond. In contrast, Egyptian men often shaved, though the pharaoh might wear a ceremonial false beard to symbolize power, a feature also linked to some deities.

Roman sculpture shows a shift. Early Romans included bearded kings and figures like Lucius Brutus, who helped overthrow kings. Beards became less common during the late Republic and early Empire, with shaving rising in popularity after the Second Punic War. Scipio Africanus embraced shaving, and over time, facial hair became a symbol of a thinker or philosopher, while mourning could permit beard growth. Emperor Hadrian is sometimes cited as influencing facial hair decisions to conceal facial scarring.

The beard took hold in medieval Europe, likely thanks to Germanic influences. It came to symbolize knightly courage; clinging to or plucking a beard carried severe social penalties. Catholic clergy generally shaved as a vow of celibacy. In Russia, beards grew in prominence with Orthodox influences linking to Greek traditions.

The Age of Pogonophobia

With the Renaissance, beards fell out of fashion in many circles. In the 14th century, monarchs like Louis XIV encouraged shaving as a mark of refinement. By the 17th century, Peter the Great shaved much of the Russian elite to facilitate trade with Europe. The 19th century saw a revival of beards, followed by a decline into the modern era.

In the 20th century, shaving became common for practical reasons. Replaceable blade razors popularized by manufacturers; the military required clean faces for gas masks. Beards persisted among counterculture groups, but the mainstream norm favored smooth faces. Politicians and corporate leaders often followed suit, and the United States had not seen a bearded secretary‑general or president for much of the Cold War era.

This mindset remains widespread today. Beards are still restricted in many service roles and public positions. Some people associate facial hair with neglect, while others view it as a matter of personal style. Yet many employers now emphasize performance over grooming style, signaling a shift toward broader acceptance.

A notable movement in the UK is the Beard Liberation Front, which advocates for bearded individuals in the workplace and highlights concerns about pogonophobia, or fear of beards. The group promotes awareness through annual recognitions like the Beard of the Year, framing beards as a cultural and identity issue rather than a defect.

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