Deano’s answer to: “Why do women give positive encouragement to other women when they cut their hair short?”

None of these answers hits upon the simplest dynamic in the simplest way: 

• women compliment other women to be nice as a relational act.
• men compliment women to show their approval as a value judgment.

So, if you're a woman, and you cut your hair short, you can perceive the following: 

• women who compliment your new 'do want to be your friend.
• Men who compliment your new 'do actually like the hairstyle.

It really is that simple. As vast overly generalized stereotypes go, that is.

Why do women give positive encouragement to other women when they cut their hair short?