Television and film programs have never been more diverse than it is now. With a wide variety of shows catering to different audiences, entertainment is becoming an incredibly representative, multi-faceted industry. The different genres also guarantee diversity of types of entertainment—horror, comedy, drama, and sci-fi products are consistently of high quality with great acting, soundtracks, and cinematography.

With this growing diversity, it seems strange that beards of all things are the exception that don't receive proper treatment in the media. Indeed, the beard is often neglected on screen and is used in stereotypes rather than being an accepted and normalized character detail. Bearded individuals are generally often untamed or decrepit. This gross misrepresentation of the characters suggests to men that beards are dirty and make a man appear unkept. While beards can have this effect, it only occurs when the beard is itself not well groomed. I recently shaved my facial hair to try and empathize with the commoners who lack the same genetic endowment, and though I regret the decision, I also have a greater appreciation for my jawline and the hair that protects it. A man who maintains a clean, groomed beard is in for a treat, as his beard lends him several great benefits besides looking great.