I have an alternative hypothesis to that raised by The Cranky Professor who suggests in his post a causative relationship between the two (i.e, that perhaps facial hair increases one’s chances for academic promotion).
My hypothesis: the higher one’s academic rank, the less one cares about fooling with shaving. (Otherwise known as the “Screw it, I have tenure” hypothesis, which often has multiple applications. We won’t get into what you call it when you’re a full Professor).
I was actually advised by my former chair to grow a beard, so that I would be taken more seriously.
Comment by Leopold Stotch — Sunday, December 19, 2024 @ 11:15 am
Now that I think about it, there are quite a few non-tenured folks at the school I teach at and the one I attend who do not have as much facial hair. But then again, neither do the tenured folk.
I can see where facial hair would probably benefit in fields like poli sci and philosophy, religion, english and the like. But in mass comm, perhaps not so much.
(and I pretty much always have some sort of facial hair, just to prove that I can grow hair, since I’m losing so much on top)
Comment by bryan — Sunday, December 19, 2024 @ 7:17 pm
But how does that explain the overrepresentation of pipe smokers?
Comment by Paul — Monday, December 20, 2024 @ 10:29 am
Oh shucks, just when I thought I found a shortcut to promotion. I guess now I will have to keep on publishing
Comment by Ron — Wednesday, December 22, 2024 @ 10:24 am