Question

In the outsiders. 2. Ponyboy doesn’t want to cut and bleach his hair with peroxide, but Johnny knows they need to alter their appearances. According to Ponyboy, how does a military or prison haircut serve as a method to break young men from their social

class?

Answer 1

Ponyboy from 'The Outsiders' knows that haircuts in the military or prison are used to strip individuals of their past social identity to resocialize them into a conforming group. These haircuts symbolize a degradation ceremony that forces individuals to conform to their new institutional roles by erasing individual identity markers.

Step-by-step explanation:

In The Outsiders, Ponyboy is resistant to cutting and bleaching his hair because it's a significant part of his identity and represents his social class connection. He understands that a military or prison haircut is a form of stripping a person of their previous social markers to resocialize them into a new identity, such as that of a soldier or a prisoner. This transformation signifies a loss of individuality and is a tool for breaking young men from their social class, forcing them to conform to the new identity that the institution - be it military or prison - deems appropriate.

When soldiers enter the military, they are subjected to a degradation ceremony where the individual loses characteristics of their former social identity, which includes getting a short haircut, donning a uniform, and adhering to a strict code of conduct, erasing markers that once defined their personal identity and social status.