Japan enforces ban on ponytails in school. The reason behind this bizarre rule will leave you scratching your head.
The world is a strange place. Many countries have cultural norms that may seem unusual to an outsider. One of the outlandish cultures can be found in Japan. Recently, in a rather absurd move, several schools in Japan have imposed a ban on female students. The ban in question has everyone scratching their heads.
According to reports, female students are not allowed to wear their hair in ponytails. The reasoning behind this is to prevent “sexual excitement” among male students. School authorities believe that the “nape of their(female students) necks” is ‘too revealing’.
That’s not all, Japanese schools have always had strict rules. Hair color, make-up, accessories to uniforms are a big no-no. This also includes strict criteria for the length of skirts and socks (somewhere, the Talibanare taking notes)
High schools in Tokyo ask students to produce a certificate or verification that their hair is genuinely wavy or any other hair (only black hair is allowed). This is to make sure there is no artificial alteration. And people say our schools are “too strict”!
These regulations (also known as buraku kōsoku or black rules) date back to the early 1870s. This was the time when the first Japanese government was established. These increasingly restrictive systems were introduced to reduce violence and bullying in schools. However, nowadays, Japan is the most progressive and advanced countries in the world. People are pushing back to put an end to these outdated and sexist rules.
What do you think about Japan’s no ponytails rule? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
