The reasons why I shave my head.

Since I have started shaving my hair short, I know I have been mistaken for a lesbian by tons of people. This doesn't surprise me at all, and it doesn't offend me. I get weird looks in the hallways of the University, malls, etc. all the time. I have to admit, I often encourage this assumption by referring to Brian as my "partner". Their fingers snap in their heads and they say to themselves, "oh yeah, for sure. Partner. Yup." I think it's funny.

I became inspired earlier today by, strangely enough, the viral video on youtube showing a group of eight and nine year old girls competing in a dance competition. This video sparked so much controversy because these little girls are dressed in essentially lingerie, and the moves they do during the dance are extremely provocative and sexualized. It got me thinking about sexuality in general. How can these girls who are so young be taught these dance moves? Why are they covered in make-up and dressed up in frilly two-piece costumes? Who decided that this was normal and acceptable? The thing that bothered me most about the video is that the parents defended the "dance", saying that the outfits the girls wore are no different than bathing suits, and at dance competitions dance moves such as they were doing, are very normal.

Where is the line? Why are our standards of beauty so out of whack? Our lives are constantly under attack by ad campaigns, magazines, tv, movies, and so many other things. I am a female that shaves her head. Not right down to the skin, but pretty close. And I know that it makes an impact. People look at me much differently than they ever have before. I want to challenge people's assumptions about who I am. I want to be able to wear a bike helmet and not have to worry about my hair. I want to be product free. I do not want to spend hours of my life in front of a mirror, focusing on the outer me when I could be doing something else to enrich the inner me. Shaving my head is the most liberating thing I have ever done. When I shave my own head, I am not only removing hair. I am removing the social stigma that as a female, I must have hair, that to have hair is to be pretty and sexually favourable. Please enjoy this poem.



The reasons why I shave my head (the reasons why I must love myself)


My hair is not all of me,
I am not only my appearance.

I will not conform to your imaginary standards of beauty.
I will not endorse your forceful propaganda.
I will not heed your advertisements that are meant to convince me.
I reject your false promises.

My hair is not all of me,
I am not only my appearance.

I will not labour to change myself.
I will not suffer under your tyranny.
I do not want your chemicals substitutions.
I will not endanger my soul.

My hair is not all of me,
I am not only my appearance.

I do not partake in your portrayal of perfection.
I will not conform to what you say is ideal.
I do not accept your misanthropy, your destruction.
I will not be objectified.
I will not hand myself over.

My hair is not all of me,
I am not only my appearance.

This face is my own.
This body is mine.
I will not be polished or contorted.
I am not moldable or workable and I will never become what you have in mind.
I will not ever become you.

My hair is not all of me,
I am not only my appearance.

Number One

It's interesting

how times flies
how brains dry
how inside-out
we shout and shout
and count the hours and then we're out
when seconds tick away.

Interesting: that trees grow
that no one shows
directions;
to anywhere but here
and we cannot go
until we know
a rhyme scheme.

Is there anybody else?