THE POLITICS OF HAIR

A six-year-old girl undergoes hair 'relaxing' treatment, source: sometimesbeautifulalwaysimperfect.com

Lauryn Hill source:that grapejuice.net

I recently watched Chris Rock's 'Good Hair' (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjqyt4vUCkM) and felt it was a tame response to the burgeoning issue of painful hair treatments. Amiable and pleasant throughout the film, Rock gently probed without forming judgment on women who undertake dangerous chemical treatments and tortuous weaves to create a 'desirable' European look. I remember back in the seventies, I had several Afro-Caribbean friends who would never display their Afro hair. One of them commented that 'the world isn't ready for my hair'… When I did occasionally see an Afro, I wanted to have one. Without hesitation, I went to a hairdresser and had a perm…  after having a chemical treatment, which left my scalp with sores and hair loss, I started questioning the very nature of why we are compelled to change the beauty we're born with.

Millions of women both in the UK and the United States go through extraordinary lengths to either straighten their hair (relax) or spend thousands to have a weave. Judging by the number of women that Rock interviewed, they seemed to loathe what they were born with. I applaud Tracie Thoms, the one woman he interviewed who refused to straighten her hair. If only Rock had interviewed more woman who embrace their Afro hair and inspire others… 

Tracie Thoms: 'I'm gonna be strong and resist all the forces that are gonna try to get me to straighten my hair', image source: starpulse.com

Some of my Afro-Caribbean friends argue that having their hair relaxed or weaved is no different to white girls having a perm or tan... it's a way of being creative. But I disagree. Looking at Rock's film, model Melyssa Ford spoke of her childhood anguish as the daughter of a half Swedish/half Russian mother, and how she would spend her youth lamenting the fact that she hadn't inherited her mum's straight blonde hair. I blame her mother; if Melyssa's mother had praised her and told her that her curly hair was beautiful, then she wouldn't be wasting her precious time feeling inferior, undergoing intense weaving processes. Equally alarming, Rock interviews a child, aged six, who was having her hair relaxed. Once more, I blame her mother for encouraging her daughter to self-hate and loathe what she's born with as opposed to embracing her beauty. Shame on you. 

embracing natural beautyfeminspire.com

 

Women need to question the very nature of the system that makes them feel bad and it extends beyond having an Afro. It's for all women, all races, all who are anxious about their appearance... For every woman who clutches her stomach and proclaims she is fat, she needs to challenge why the media perpetuates pre-pubescent images of grown women. Likewise, every woman who wishes to control her Afro needs to question why the media propogates images of women with straight highlighted hair. It's a way of socially controlling you. Passive, starving women with relaxed hair are no threat to the big fat industry that keeps them enslaved to a false ideology of beauty.

lohudblogs.com

We need to become politically aware and stop scrutinising other women's hair and bodies and to stop contributing to the media that panders on our insecurities. Look at Rock's film and see how these cold, corporate men amass billions in profit every year.  As if a weave or a relaxer is the answer to your crushing lack of self-esteem. But in your mind, it's going to make you more 'acceptable', more 'desirable', but it won't take the sting out of the poor girls who are exploited for your deluded sense of comfort/ acceptance by the malicious Western world. Have ever questioned why you need to change your hair to be accepted? Whose terms, values are you basing your worth on?

A little girl in India has her hair shaved off; the hair will then be sold for profit and sold to women in the West, image source: abc.net.au

Look at the poor Asian girls who have their hair cut while they go to the movies, or their locks snapped by a heartless shit as they sleep. And it's not just in Asia that girls' hair is being ripped off their scalps for a corporate fast buck, impoverished Eastern European girls are experiencing the same cruelty. But they don't count... or do they? Reflect…

Remember, natural beauty is priceless.

source: tumblr.com

The one and only Angela Davis

Esperanza Spalding, source: curtjazz.files.wordpress.com

Marsha Hunt, source: callmeredtelephone.blogspot.com

Solange Knowles, source: thecoilreview.com

Yaya Dacosta, source: tumblr.com

THE INVISIBLE SELF

WELCOME TO THE HETEROSEXIST, RACIST AND MISOGYNIST WORLD OF ADVERTISING

When you're young and exploring your identity, you'd assume that, in a diverse and multicultural world, you'd be able to identify with some of the media's images inundated on you. Well… if you're a heterosexual, sexist male, the media will offer you a staple diet of crass adverts to satisfy your depraved needs.

THE HETERO WORLD

If you are gay, you will be hard pressed to find any adverts that represent you in a positive way. The idealised hetero family will tell you this is the norm…

Add caadvertisingarchives.co.ukption

source: visit4ads.com

source: thefashionrecords.com

Now, here's a banned advert, showing two loving human beings...

Heinz advert banned for featuring two gay dads kissing. source: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/190242-heinz-pulls-mayo-advert-over-gay-kiss#ixzz2CZP16qPo

 Another banned advert: 

A banned ice-cream advert showing two priests about to kiss. source:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/8087413/Gay-priests-ice-cream-adverts-banned.html

But occasionally, you will find resistance:

source: pinknews.co.uk

THE INVISIBLE RACES

Asians, Blacks, Mediterranean and Hispanic are rarely represented unless they're advertising curry or teas, pizzas or tortillas…

advertisingarchives.co.uk

scotsitalian.com

There might occasionally be an interracial couple… as long as they are hetero. But interracial couples must spark outrage amongst the bigots of this world.

A South African ad depicting an interracial couple sparks controversy. source: http://www.blackenterprise.com/news/interracial-ad-sparks-controversy-in-south-africa/

 

And where are the Chinese? They become visible when advertising global banking or happy childlike female representations, while masking the West's exploitation of their lost childhood spent in sweatshops churning out the latest commodity to satisfy your needs.

visit4ads.com

 

This is what you won't see.

chinadigitaltimes.net

dailymail.co.uk

Or how about an alcohol advert advertising an 'exotic drink' because it takes a woman of colour to bring out the 'exotic' in you… 

Malibu Lady Sunshine drink. source: drink-brands.com

 

THE SUBMISSIVE FEMALE

How many times have we seen it and wanted to scream at that screen or billboard that we are not available to every Neanderthal man's urges??

feministfatale.com

 We do not exist solely for your approval…

rockalily.com

 nor are we here to serve you...

thevine.com.au

We are not all 25 year old blondes waiting for your advances…

cbc.ca

We are diverse, multicultural, heterosexual, bisexual, trans and gay human beings - embrace it and challenge the world of exploitative, sexist, racist, heterosexist ads by writing to your advertising council (Now here's a slogan you'll want to remember), because contrary to the ad man's world, we are the majority. If you see something you don't like, tear it down. Get together with your friends and make large stickers with slogans and plaster them on every ad on the tube, high street that demeans, objectifies or, reduces you to an object. Make a Saturday shopping spree into a memorable experience...