Expert: Dr. Billy Kryger - 12/9/2009

Question
Hello. I'm curious about how long a women's hair should be. Can a women choose to cut her hair short (many older women I know do) or is she sinning when she does this. Also so many clothes look unisex now. Is it a sin to wear them?

Answer
Michelle:
    Thank you for your question.
    This is an issue that has been the subject of much debate.  There are those on the issue of hair who say that the Bible refers to the fact that a woman's head should be "covered"--referring to the length of her hair rather than the wearing of a hat or some other head covering.  I personally (and these are all personal preferences) do not hold dogmatically to that argument.  I believe the issue is modesty.  Like you, I know a number of ladies that have shorter hair--and it looks nice on them.  They still look like ladies.  I PREFER my wife and daughter to wear their hair long.
    On the issue of dress, the scriptures teach that "men should wear that which pertaineth to a man" and "women should wear that which pertaineth to a woman".  The idea is men should wear men's clothes and women should wear women's clothes.  The culture at the time of that writing was that both men and women wore robes that were similar except for some minor differences.  Men should not wear women's robes nor women men's.  Again the issue is modesty.  Men should look like men and women should look like women.  If an article of clothing makes a person's gender indistinguishable then that person should examine what he or she is wearing.  I prefer that my wife and daughter wear dresses or skirts.
    These are issues of personal preference but I believe that men should dress and wear their hair like men and women should do likewise.  I would not turn away a woman who came to my church wearing a suit and tie (or a man wearing a skirt, for that matter).