Shamed for balding? Experts dissect how it hampers mental health and workplace dynamics

When Bandra-based Malcolm Fernandes started turning bald six years ago, he didn't see much of a problem, but it was people around him who would constantly feel the need to remind him of being bald. "Aunties keep giving me tips on how to grow hair as they feel I am ashamed of being bald," laughs Fernandes, who is one of the rare few who has always been confident about his appearance.

Since then, even when a little hair grows on his head in places, the city-based supply chain professional shaves it off because he loves the ‘bald look' as he feels it suits him. There are countless people like the 33-year-old who are bald and that includes both men and women but even as some of them are constantly battling the stigma with it, neighbours, friends and family do not fail to remind them of how having hair seems to be the epitome of being handsome or beautiful due to unrealistic beauty standards set by society.

A man from the United Kingdom, who was at the receiving end of such bald-shaming at his workplace, recently won 71,000 pounds (Rs 70 lakh) in damages against his company for discrimination. The 61-year-old sales director, according to a report by The Independent, was forced to quit because his boss didn't want "a team of bald-headed 50-year-old men". Ironically, the report says not only did the man have a full head of hair, but the boss was himself bald, but wanted "energetic" and "youthful" candidates for the job. After he was put on a "sham" performance improvement plan, he was evidently severely affected by the age-shaming.

Dealing with bald shaming
In the larger context, the UK man's case is a reminder of the difficulties faced by bald people, who are often age-shamed too. While he did have hair, the age discrimination associated with balding happens through casual shaming in society. One that not all of us who have a full head of hair realise and often partake in knowingly or unknowingly. Shiny Shrivastava, consultant psychologist, Bhatia Hospital explains, "Balding is often viewed as a stigma in Indian society. There may be an emphasis on having a full head of hair, and baldness could be seen as a sign of ageing, poor health, or lack of virility. This cultural attitude can make it challenging for men and women who are experiencing hair loss and can have a negative impact on their self-esteem and confidence." Shrivastava reminds that balding is a common experience and many people go through it and the simplest way to deal with it is by accepting it as a normal part of life.

Luckily, Fernandes seems to have organically accepted it as a part of his lifestyle. He explains, "The remarks haven't affected me because being bald is just like any other look. Even if my hair grows a little now, I shave it off, as I love this look. I think it suits me and I'm confident enough to carry this look with pride. In fact, it's literally like a fashion statement. Look at Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham... I mean they are slaying their bald look." However, he doesn't deny that while he is fine with a bald head, other people do feel the pressure of fitting these standards set up by society and that is why they go in for different treatments. "It's how you deal with it. I'm here to please nobody so clearly, I don't care what people think," he adds.

While it does seem easy when Fernandes shares his experience, it may clearly not be the case for others. That is why Shrivastava says dealing with the stigma is a personal process and may differ from person to person because they may need to try a variety of strategies to see what works for them best.

Premature balding and its effects
How you deal with balding often also depends on when you start losing hair and while it may be easier when you turn older, premature balding for younger men is sometimes not the best experience because it affects them in more ways in their prime. "It can have a significant impact on their self-esteem. Losing hair at a young age can come as a shock and can affect one's self-image and confidence," Shrivastava adds.

There are different ways it can affect one's self-esteem, the city-based psychologist with Bhatia Hospital says because it concerns appearance and since it is an important part of one's appearance, losing it can lead to a loss of confidence. She explains, "Losing hair can make young men feel like they are ageing prematurely, which can be difficult to accept and come to terms with. There can be social pressure on men to have a full head of hair and losing it can feel like a failure to meet societal expectations." One aspect that may often be ignored is that of being surrounded by others with a full head of hair, and that may make them believe they look different from other people. However, this may not always be the case as some may find ways to deal with the change in their appearance.

While balding may seem like a common problem among young and old, Shrivastava says it affects both age groups differently and it starts with age-related expectations. For older men, balding may be seen as a natural part of the ageing process, and they may be more accepting of the changes to their appearance. Younger men, on the other hand, may feel like their appearance may suggest ageing to people they interact with which can contribute to them looking less attractive, could be something more difficult to accept," informs Shrivastava. The fact that older men have less pressure to have a head full of hair compared to younger men is another reason. They also have the advantage of emotional resilience that builds over time to help them deal with it. The different effects also apply to their career -- as younger bald men may see lack of hair as a sign of ageing or simply lack of vitality, as compared to older men who depend on their experience even if they are bald.

Bullying and office decorum
Even for older men depending on their experience, it may not work in their favour like in the case of the UK man as offices may want to "infuse" young energy, and that is why it is necessary for workplaces to take it up seriously. "It is important for offices to have a strict policy against body shaming, taking into account issues faced by bald men as well as other forms of appearance-based discrimination. This is because body shaming can have a negative impact on employees' mental health, self-esteem, and work performance, and can create an unhealthy work environment," says Shrivastava. She says by implementing a strict policy against body shaming, offices can promote a culture of respect, inclusivity, and acceptance, where employees feel valued and supported regardless of their appearance. "Such a policy can include guidelines on appropriate behaviour, consequences for violations of the policy, and procedures for reporting incidents of body shaming," she adds.

The British Safety Council is one such charity organisation that takes an active part in ensuring that no one is injured or ill through their work. Hemant Sethi, country head - India, explains, "At the workplace, bald-shaming or body-shaming can affect one's self-esteem, wellbeing and productivity. A majority of work-related illness is because of either work-related stress, depression or anxiety."

He adds, "In the UK, one in four employees has mental health problems that include stress, anxiety and depression, which adversely affects the person's own performance and wellbeing, as well as that of other workers. Research from April 2022 found that poor mental health can cost UK employers up to 56 billion pounds per year."

Both Shrivastava and Sethi say they are seeing the attitude change towards baldness at the social level, and at the corporate level respectively. Sethi says not only are employers realising that mental health is hard to ignore but also that mental wellbeing needs to be prioritised at work. "Rather than just enforcing strict rules against body shaming, employers can promote good mental health and wellbeing every day by providing a workplace that is an inclusive, welcoming and supportive environment. One of the most important ways to support and maintain good mental health and wellbeing at work is to ensure that people feel comfortable talking about their mental health," he adds.

With many people finding it difficult to talk about their feelings at work, he emphasises that there is a need for supportive workplaces where staff should feel they can safely confide in managers, HR teams and colleagues and starting a conversation is the first step towards mitigating the problem.

Rules at the workplace
The need for policies at the workplace are necessary if they don't already exist but even if they do, how many of us really know about them? Srinivas Kulkarni, a city-based HR consultant, says most HR policies do have guidelines against harassment of any kind and that is evident with POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment), which is a mandatory training session for most companies but he points out that body shaming isn't specifically mentioned. He explains, "Most inductions and orientations include workplace culture, dos and don'ts and encourage employees to reach out to their HR/ER teams."

While this is encouraging, he says culturally people haven't given a lot of thought to how body shaming can impact mental health at the workplace. This includes the personalities of colleagues whether it's size, shape, colour and or features one may or may not possess. It is also the reason why most people tend to get away with comments directed towards people, saying it was a casual remark, which all of us have faced or indulged in. "This has to stop. One must encourage a better ecosystem to create inclusivity with the help of sensitisation workshops to let folks know where they need to draw the line," he states.

Like Sethi, Kulkarni says companies must have initiatives that encourage a great culture and have an open forum where people can reach out to the HR department or their immediate managers. The culture for this, he says, can only start at the top. The HR consultant explains, "Most folks emulate and aspire to be like their leaders. So, it's important that leaders imbibe these values of inclusivity and set the right example." The onus is not only on the employees but also on the leaders and that could be taken a step further. "Company orientation, inductions, sensitisation workshops and lastly guidebooks/handbooks as well as way forwards applicable always help things be documented to prevent such incidents happening," Kulkarni advises.

Shiny Shrivastava suggests the following different ways to deal with the stigma around balding:

1. Seeking support from family and friends who can provide emotional support and reassurance can be a way that even contributes to building better connections.

2. Support groups and online communities can also provide a space for individuals to connect with others who are going through the same experience.

3. Change the narrative around balding. Maybe view it more as a sign of wisdom and experience.

4. Focus on the positive aspects of their appearance and personality rather than their hair.

5. Some people may want to continue working towards being able to grow hair. They can thus consider treatment options to help manage their balding. There could be a variety of options available. Seeking the advice of a dermatologist or hair loss specialist can help individuals determine which options are best for them.

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