Why did Christian women stop wearing hair coverings?

[jadenfrancis]

So, for centuries, it was common for Christian women to wear hair coverings. Women covering their hair is mentioned in the Bible, and the Virgin Mary is still usually depicted with her hair covered. Yet, it's very common for Christian women to no longer cover their hair, particularly Western women. I'm curious as to why. Is it linked to the social changes in women's status over the last century or so or something else?

[Alan]

So, for centuries, it was common for Christian women to wear hair coverings. Women covering their hair is mentioned in the Bible, and the Virgin Mary is still usually depicted with her hair covered. Yet, it's very common for Christian women to no longer cover their hair, particularly Western women. I'm curious as to why. Is it linked to the social changes in women's status over the last century or so or something else?

Not sure that it was ever a Christian requirement or tradition, it was Jewish tradition.

[RB]

So, for centuries, it was common for Christian women to wear hair coverings. Women covering their hair is mentioned in the Bible, and the Virgin Mary is still usually depicted with her hair covered. Yet, it's very common for Christian women to no longer cover their hair, particularly Western women. I'm curious as to why. Is it linked to the social changes in women's status over the last century or so or something else?

They still do, the covering that Paul is speaking about is their hair, and the length is not precisely given as to how long they should wear their hair~and for good reasons.

1st Corinthians 11:3-15~"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering."

These scriptures are so plain that they truly need no comments to explain the covering given by God to the woman~it is her hair. It is a shame for a woman to shave her hair, just to be shaving it.

[3 Resurrections]

Hi Alan,

Apparently it is STILL orthodox Jewish tradition for married women to cover their hair today.  Just not in the manner that you may think.  One rabbi-approved manner is to wear WIGS for that covering.  Seems weird reasoning to me, but who can explain it...

I have a Jewish lady that has been a client for many, many years, and in all that time she has never changed her hair style or gotten a single grey strand.  I didn't want to be nosy, so I looked it up online, and sure enough, Orthodox married Jewish women can don a wig to satisfy the rabbinic requirement of modestly covering their hair.  If the wig actually looks better than their own hair, that is immaterial - the requirement of a modest hair covering has been fulfilled nominally! 

Phariseeism is alive and well in the 21st century...

Oh, and RB is spot on with his analysis of hair being the described covering in scripture - not a hat.  There is a reformed Presbyterian church and seminary in my city that REQUIRES all female members to wear a hat of some sort for services - even if it is no more than a doily pinned on top.  Ridiculous. 

As I said, Phariseeism is alive and well in the 21st century....