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From time to time the male fashion as to the wearing of a beard, or, conversely, having a clean shaven face alternates periodically. In periods in which the beard is accepted (with slighter variations as to moustache, side-whiskers, etc.) it is deemed to be dandy and the only style fit to adorn the male. Yet, when it is not a la mode it is looked down upon as barbarous and brutish, uncouth and plebeian. (Barbaros = bearded.)*
Even if it were the intention of this paper - which it is not - to deal with the social factors involved with changes in general, or this particular change of fashions induced by group attitudes, it would be necessary at first to understand the individual attitudes leading to them and their motivations. Bearing this in mind, and to understand this seemingly paradox ambivalence in the male society's attitude, - duly accepted, incidentally, by the feminine world as well, - we have to make a seemingly nonsensical detour first to understand the unconscious human attitude towards the “bearded lady”.
I. The “bearded lady” is, apart from her regrettable real appearance at vulgar fun fairs in her poor display of