new thread
There were two hair related items in the news today:
1. A white woman was slammed for wearing dread locks,
the other woman complained it wasn't part of her culture.
2. A woman was photographed having her long pony tail draped
over the back of her airline seat. (Blocking the tv screen in the back of the seat)
Correction on #1; White male with the dreadlocks.
I understand the arguments about cultural appropriation, but next they'll be saying we can't wear jeans because we aren't cowboys, or that white people shouldn't sing the blues. It's obviously way to late for either of those.
Also, hair is a semi-fixed attribute, easy to cut but taking years to grow.
I'm not sure why, but my instinct is she should leave well alone. I would never want dreadlocks, but if someone else does, that should be their decision.
I don't get this dreadlock cultural appropriation issue at all. I always thought that imitation was the highest form of flattery. This PC thing has gotten out of control. Certainly it is important to be respectful of others, but to take offense over something like this is ridiculous, IMHO.
It seems to be particularly over the top on college campuses, especially with this whole trigger word nonsense. Of course, it is a different matter if someone is intentionally doing something to try to disturb someone else, so we have to look at the intent.
It makes me think of that old idiom, Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me, or, I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. I wonder how much of this PC stuff has to do with power, with feeling powerless, with trying to control others so ones feelings do not get hurt, instead of taking responsibility for ones own emotional state.
One thing i would mention on this Melissa Harris-Perry on MSNBC did a number of shows on the subject of african-american hair and the enormous pressure on them to do things like spend many hours using harsh chemicals to straighten their hair, etc.
There is also the pressure not to wear their hair natural, not to wear dreadlocks, etc.
A lot of it probably extends from massive red lining in the US of A, massive discrimination, living in poor, crime ridden cities, living in food deserts, etc.