Hair and Hat Ritual Shaming Punishments in Nineteenth-Century Iran

Abstract This article considers three temporary and reversible penal shaming acts in nineteenth-century Iran: the shaving or cutting of hair, irrespective gender; men's facial hair; forcible removal headgear coerced wearing silly headgear. Drawing on anthropological, historical, sociological studies this study argues that hair hat punishments embodied elements ritual, sexuality, social control, marginalization. In order to understand meaning these acts, looks at general taboos around head exposure alongside licit voluntary forms hair. Illicit sex, heresy, alcohol consumption were recurring moral crimes most often associated with such humiliating punishment. Since restoration honor was not sole prerogative government, carried out by those acting behalf a religious authority individually collectively ordinary subjects outraged violation.