The bearded woman has been a phenomenon of legend, curiosity, ridicule, and more recently, political statement and fashion statement. Politics, sometimes defined as the art and science of government. ... The term fashion applies to a prevailing mode of expression. ...

A small number of women are able to grow what may appear to be a beard. This is usually not truly beard growth, but simply dark facial hair. Cultural pressure leads most to remove it, as it may be viewed as a social stigma. Notable exceptions were the famous (and usually fake) bearded women of the circus sideshows of the 19th and early 20th centuries, before so-called freak shows became unpopular. Image of a nude woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ... A man with a full beard A beard is the hair that grows on a mans chin, cheeks, neck, and the area above the upper lip (the opposite is a clean-shaven face). ... A typical full beard and mustache. ... A social stigma is a stigma in the form of a distinctive characteristic in a person which can cause or be the result of marginalisation when used as an insult by individuals or groups. ... The Big Top of Billy Smarts Circus Cambridge 2004. ... In America, a sideshow is an extra, secondary production associated with a circus, carnival, fair or other such attraction. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Freak Show is the second album from the members of the Australian post-grunge band, Silverchair. ...

Some contemporary feminist women, wishing to question the boundaries of social norms, have not removed visible facial hair as a political statement. Notable examples include artist Frida Kahlo and professor Jennifer Miller. Feminism is a social theory and political movement primarily informed and motivated by the experience of women. ... In sociology, a norm, or social norm, is a pattern of behavior expected within a particular society in a given situation. ... hey! Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird - 1940 Frida Kahlo (July 6, 1907 – July 13, 1954) was a Mexican painter of the indigenous culture of her country in a style combining realism and symbolism, an active Communist supporter, and wife of the Mexican muralist and cubist painter... Jennifer Miller (1961-) is a US lesbian bearded woman, juggler, and fire-eater, and a professor for UCLA Department of World Arts and Cultures. ...

In some rare cases, female beard growth is the result of an hormonal imbalance known as hirsutism, or an even rarer genetic disorder known as hypertrichosis. Hirsutism is the excessive growth of hair, particularly on a womans face, torso and limbs, and is generally caused by increased androgens. ... Fedor Jeftichew Hypertrichosis, or Human Werewolf Syndrome, is a medical term referring to a condition of excessive body hair. ...

In fiction

In the chapters 40 and 41 of the second part of Don Quixote, the Dueña Dolorida and other ladies wear fake beards. They tell Don Quixote that the beards are the result of an evil charmer, and the knight has to ride Clavileño to the skies to undo the charm. Don Quixote de la Mancha (now usually spelled Don Quijote by Spanish-speakers; Don Quixote is an archaic spelling) (IPA: ) is a novel by the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. ... Clavileño the Swift is a fictional wooden horse appearing in chapters 40 and 41 of the second part of the adventures of Don Quixote. ...

In Monty Python's Life of Brian, some Jewish women wear fake beards to pass for men and stone a blasphemer who had pronounced the name of Jehovah. The Monty Python troupe in 1970. ... Life of Brian is a film from 1979 by Monty Python which deals with the life of Brian (played by Graham Chapman), a young man born at the nearly the same time as, and in a manger right down the street from Jesus. ... Yohoua [1]is a medieval era Latin transcription of the Biblical Hebrew name יְהֹוָה. Its first known appearance is in a work by Spanish monk Raymundus Martini, in 1278 A.D. Jehovah is a late medieval era German transcription of the Biblical Hebrew name יְהֹוָה. Iehouah [2]is the first English transcription...

Women in the fictional country of Elbonia and the female dwarves of both Tolkien's Middle Earth and Terry Pratchett's Discworld series have beards. The Republic of Elbonia is a fictional country from the comic strips Dilbert and Plop: The Hairless Elbonian. ... The Dwarves of J. R. R. Tolkiens fictional universe of Middle-earth are beings of short stature who all possess beards, and are often friendly with Hobbits although long suspicious of Elves. ... Terence David John Pratchett OBE is an English fantasy author (born April 28, 1948, in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England), best known for his Discworld series. ...

The Kids in the Hall featured an Irish bearded lady as the best friend of Chicken Lady, a popular recurring character on the series. The Kids in the Hall was a Canadian sketch comedy group, consisting of comedians Dave Foley, Kevin MacDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson. ... The Chicken Lady was a character portrayed by Mark McKinney on the sketch comedy show Kids in the Hall. ...

The HBO series Carnivale featured a bearded lady as a performer in the carnival. HBO logo HBO (Home Box Office) is a premium cable television network. ... Carniv le is an American dramatic television series produced by HBO. Created by Daniel Knauf, it stars Nick Stahl and Clancy Brown. ...

See also

• Hirsutism