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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Oh, the random things people say

Photo credit: LeCoil

So, this past Friday I was attending a conference hosted by my department. The conference was in a hotel and various vendors were set up. They were selling such things as clothes, purses, oils, shea butter, jewelry, etc. I tried to resist purchasing anything but, I could not resist this sale one vendor had on clip-on earrings. Lately, I have really been feeling clip-on earrings. They have that whole 50s era, ladylike vibe. But, I digress...

This is how the conversation went:
Me: "Oh, I see you have a sale on clip-on earrings."
Vendor: "Yes, I do. Your ears aren't pierced?"
Me: "Yes, my ears are pierced but, I like the chunkiness of clip-ons and they don't pull at my earlobe."
Vendor: "Ok. I noticed your jewelry over there. I thought it was different that you had on such glamorous jewelry since you have locs. Don't you like ethnic jewelry? Most people with locs wear ethnic jewelry."
Me: "Actually, I like all types of jewelry. I have a nice size collection. And my hair is in twists not locs." Not that there is anything wrong with locs, I just wanted to point that out.
Vendor: "Oh, ok. So, do you wear it out?"
Me: "Yeah, I change it up."

I just thought it was funny that because I wear a certain hairstyle, I should be limited to certain jewelry. As I told her, my jewelry collection really does range from ethnic, to glamorous, to simple, to classic, etc. I never felt my hair should limit my style. I think this just goes back to the stereotype of natural hair and a certain look that is associated with it.

3 comments:

  1. Wow, that's annoying -__- why should your hairstyle ever limit you to a type of earrings, clothes, etc? Good post :)



    http://precious-curls.blogspot.com/

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  2. So true, so true. Thank you, Precious H!

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  3. We have a long way to go to change ideal beauty standards in our country. I'm so glad though that so many of us are brave enough to do just that. You handeled her narrow minded presumptions with such grace and elegance! Bravo to that!

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