The TLC Millennial task force is full of creative, beautiful souls trying to put their disorder on the map. One of which is Sera Torregiano, and this is a great piece she wrote about de-stigmatization of female baldness. We all have badass beautiful bald women in our midst, especially in our bfrbcommunity. Milcho, a fabulously beautiful and vibrant artist who expresses herself through video and photography. Or another beautiful bombshell is Jillian Clark, a fantastic photographer and dare I say a dang good provocative model as well. Our community is becoming more and more noticeable, and I am very happy about that. I find myself thinking that if I agreed with Sera’s article any more than I already do I would have thought I wrote it myself.
I have donned a wig on and off for years. I find it oppressive and annoying at times and others I feel like it gives me the freedom to float amongst the fully tressed and still pass as normal. There are days where I can’t decide whether I love it or hate it. I love that I blend in, but I hate that its hot, humid, itchy…and just not me.
Wouldn’t it be nice if it was socially acceptable for a woman to be bald or wear cropped hair? and wouldn’t it be nice if we weren’t all socially programmed to think the thought of having no hair/very little hair as a woman to be frightening, gross or unacceptable? Or how those of the opposite sex might find us less attractive because we don’t rock the standard “norm” of long beautiful hair?
Even when I see a beautiful bald woman, I can’t help but stare. And sometimes I get caught. But I’m not staring because I don’t like it or I think its heinous, I’m staring because I am jealous and I think its beautiful that she feels comfortable enough to rock bald or cropped hair. But there is something wrong with that statement to begin with. It implies that she would have a reason not to feel comfortable with that hair cut. But why would she feel uncomfortable? Because social norms dictate she is not following the norm. And oftentimes we penalize those who don’t follow the norm. It’s en-grained deeply, even for someone such as myself who thinks bald IS beautiful.
I have had periods of my life where I have been comfortable rocking short hair. I hope to get there again, someday. But until then, I hope more beautiful people like Sera speak out and own their disorder, own their hair (or lack thereof) and promote comfort in ones skin, in whatever package it may come in.
Kay
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