Understanding the Urge to Smell Women's Hair in Public

Understanding the Urge to Smell Women's Hair

Some men feel compelled to smell women's hair in public settings. This behavior may seem harmless to the perpetrators, but can make women feel extremely uncomfortable and threatened. Where does this urge come from and how can it be addressed?

Origins of the Urge to Smell Hair

There are several theories as to why some men feel an urge to smell women's hair, including:

• Natural attraction - A woman's scent communicates certain genetic traits that may attract a potential mate.
• Intimacy seeking - Smelling hair allows a sense of perceived closeness and intimacy.
• Fetish - Some men have a hair fetish and are sexually aroused by smelling hair.
• Power display - Smelling hair without consent demonstrates power and dominance.

In most cases, the urge stems from misguided attraction or a desire for connection. But the behavior often stems from or leads to objectification of women.

Impact on Women

Most women find a stranger smelling their hair disturbing and threatening. It's an invasion of personal space and boundaries, and can make women feel:

• Fear for their safety
• Anger at the audacity and entitlement
• Disrespected and objectified
• Violated, degraded, and alarmed

It threatens a woman's right to consent and physical autonomy. The trauma of such experiences can linger, leading to anxiety, hypervigilance, or fear of public spaces.

Is Smelling Hair Legal?

In most places, smelling a woman's hair without her consent is not explicitly illegal. However, it may be considered:

• Sexual harassment - Creating a hostile environment.
• Assault - Causing fear of potential harm.
• Invasion of privacy - Violating personal space and boundaries.

At minimum, public hair smelling constitutes disorderly conduct. Businesses can refuse service and ban individuals who smell hair from their premises.

Reporting Incidents

While not necessarily a crime, women should report incidents to:

• Nearby security or staff
• Law enforcement
• Bus or transit authorities
• Business management

Filing a report creates a record of the behavior and can lead to consequences for repeat offenders. It also helps authorities identify danger zones for increased monitoring.

Seeking Legal Recourse

For more serious cases, victims may be able to seek legal recourse for:

• Restraining orders
• Sexual harassment/assault claims
• Personal injury lawsuits

An experienced attorney can advise if there are grounds for civil or criminal charges against the perpetrator.

Dangers of Public Hair Smelling

Beyond making women uncomfortable, smelling stranger's hair poses risks including:

Crossing Boundaries

Smelling hair without consent crosses social boundaries and personal space. If confronted, it can lead to tense public confrontations or altercations.

Germs and Illness

Getting physically close enough to smell hair could spread germs and illnesses like colds, flu, lice, or skin infections.

Public Disturbance

The bizarre behavior can cause a public disturbance, leading to removal by staff or law enforcement.

Reputational Damage

In the smartphone era, incidents are often photographed or filmed, leading to public shaming and career consequences.

Trauma and Fear

Victims may develop anxiety, hypervigilance, or PTSD-like symptoms in response to the threat and loss of power.

The costs simply don't outweigh any perceived benefits - smelling strangers' hair must be avoided for everyone's health and safety.

How to Stop Smelling Women's Hair

Men who feel an urge to smell women's hair in public should take active steps to stop, including:

Cognitive Therapy

Work with a therapist specializing in sexual disorders or impulse control to understand triggers and build resistance techniques.

Medication

Prescription medications like SSRIs, anti-androgens, and GnRH analogues may help reduce sex drive or compulsive behaviors.

Avoid Temptation

Stay away from crowded venues or situations with exposure to women's hair until the urge subsides.

Mindfulness

Practice mindfulness and meditation to build self-awareness and remain present in the moment.

Support Group

Join a support group to share struggles and techniques for stopping the compulsion to smell hair.

Seeking professional help and making lifestyle changes can end this unacceptable public behavior before serious consequences occur.

Is Smelling Women's Hair Considered Assault?

The legal definition of assault is intentionally putting another person in fear of imminent bodily harm. Smelling someone's hair without consent doesn't always rise to the level of assault, but it can in some circumstances.

Physical Actions

If the perpetrator touches, grabs, or restrains someone while smelling their hair, it's much more likely to be considered assault.

Reasonable Fear

If a reasonable person would feel fearful in that context, such as being isolated or chased, assault may apply.

Vulnerable Victim

Hair smelling involving vulnerable victims like children, the disabled, or elderly is more likely to meet the criteria for assault.

Verbal Threats

Threatening, offensive, or lewd remarks while smelling hair creates reasonable fear and may reach the assault threshold.

While not an automatic given, hair smelling often contains elements of criminal assault. It always justifies reporting the incident.

Is Smelling Hair a Sex Crime?

Smelling someone's hair without permission is inappropriate but not necessarily a prosecutable sex crime on its own. However, it may cross into criminal territory if:

Sexual Intent

The perpetrator's intent is sexual arousal or gratification from non-consensual hair smelling.

Pattern of Stalking

The person engages in a pattern of repeated, unwanted hair smelling of the same victim.

Lewd Acts

The hair sniffing includes lewd remarks, groping, public masturbation, or similar acts.

Underage Victim

The act is targeted at an underage victim, particularly under 13 years old.

While not automatically a sex crime, non-consensual hair smelling should be reported. It may be part of a pattern of sexual offenses meriting charges.

Hair Smelling and Sexual Harassment

Smelling someone's hair without consent almost always constitutes sexual harassment. Under the law, harassment must:

• Be unwelcome
• Target a protected class like gender
• Create a hostile environment
• Impact employment, education, housing, or public services

Hair smelling meets these criteria as it is an unwelcome, gender-based act making women feel unsafe in public spaces. Businesses, transit agencies, and landlords may be liable for allowing it.

Reporting Sexual Harassment

To report hair smelling as sexual harassment, contact:

• Employer HR department
• School Title IX coordinator
• Housing authority
• EEOC or state civil rights office

Even if authorities don't pursue charges, reporting creates a record and can reveal serial offenders. It also prompts increased security and prevention education.

Preventing Hair Smelling by Strangers

While the responsibility lies fully with perpetrators to stop, women can take some precautions to avoid hair smelling incidents:

• Keep hair up or wear hats in crowded areas
• Carry pepper spray and whistle to ward off potential attacks
• Shop or commute with others when possible
• Choose central, well-lit seats on transit
• Report all incidents to staff and request escorts if needed
• Photograph/film offenders discreetly to aid identification
• Ask businesses to ban known hair sniffers from premises

Staying alert to potential threats and quickly drawing attention can limit opportunities. But ultimately, the onus is on men to end this unacceptable violation of women's bodies and rights.

Hair Smelling Disorder

Smelling hair without consent is not currently classified as a mental health disorder. But some psychologists argue it may constitute a type of paraphilia or sexual disorder stemming from:

Intimacy Seeking

A longing for physical and emotional closeness misconstrued as intimacy.

Sexual Fixation

A specific attraction to the scent, feel, or image of hair as sexual stimulation.

Fetishism

Being sexually aroused and gratified by smelling hair, or objects associated with hair.

Control Seeking

Deriving pleasure and dominance from violating social rules and consent.

Treatment would focus on understanding the motivations behind the behavior and establishing healthier coping mechanisms to prevent public hair smelling.

Is It Illegal to Smell Women's Hair in Public?

Smelling a woman's hair without consent is not explicitly illegal in most places. However, it may violate laws against:

Disorderly Conduct

Causing public annoyance, alarm, or recklessly creating hazardous conditions.

Sexual Harassment

Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that creates a hostile environment.

Invasion of Privacy

Intrusion into one's private space and affairs.

Assault

Placing someone in fear of imminent harmful or offensive contact.

So while not a distinct crime, public hair smelling often involves related misdemeanor or civil offenses. It should be reported to authorities and may warrant charges in some cases.

Why Do Some Men Like to Smell Women's Hair?

There are various reasons why some men feel compelled to smell women's hair without consent, including:

Natural Scents

The natural fragrance communicates certain genetic traits that may unconsciously attract them.

Intimacy Seeking

Smelling hair allows a sense of perceived intimacy and closeness with women.

Sexual Fetish

Some men have a hair fetish and are aroused by smelling or touching hair.

Thrill of Taboo

Transgressing social rules provides excitement and dominance for some.

While these motivations help explain the psychology behind it, they don't excuse this unacceptable violation of women's consent and right to personal space.

Hair Smelling Treatment and Therapy

For those compelled to smell women's hair without consent, seeking professional treatment can help end the behavior, including:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

CBT helps modify thoughts, emotions, and actions around hair smelling urges. Teaches coping mechanisms.

Psychotherapy

Talk therapy sessions with a psychologist help understand roots of the compulsion and establish boundaries.

Medication

Drugs like SSRIs, anti-androgens, and GnRH analogues can help reduce libido and control urges.

Support Group

Discussion groups provide peer support in setting hair smelling boundaries.

Avoidance

Evading triggers like crowded spaces helps break habits while making progress.

With professional guidance, those afflicted can overcome this socially unacceptable and threatening behavior.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.