Yesterday was special in the history of this blog because we set a new (world) record of hits and visitor numbers. You will understand why this memorable when you realize that the last time we had a record number of visit was December 27th when I published my opinion on the Nigerian guy who tried to take down the plane. Yesterday, that record was surpassed by about a hundred more visits. Can you believe that?
So what was the topic that turned my blog into a mecca of visits and contribution? You guessed it: another potentially terrorizing topic – women’s hair. Apparently, it is deserving of more than one posts, thus my decision to write this one.
Fact #1. Women care so much about their hair
Fact #2. Women don’t like people to tell them what to do with their hair.
Fact #3. Women’s hair is serious business.
But instead of rehashing the issues raised in this wonderful discussion, I will refer you to the post again to read and leave your comments, but not before I refer you to read Clarissa’s take on her hair adventures and ordeals. Apparently, Africans or Americans are not the only ones with which growing one’s hair in the natural state is a statement of revolt or rebellion. Far back in the Soviet Union, school children were punished for wearing their hair long. Clarissa had told me this during the coffee get-together with the Argentinean writer, and I had expressed my interest in the topic believing that it should be explored some more in detail. Why for instance did the Soviet rulers think that women’s hair represented luxury or militated against the state victory over capitalism. Needless to say, I like it when Clarissa writes about her growing up and how the system in the Europe of her youth influenced her thoughts and perception of life as an adult.
Fact #4. This interesting discussion on women’s hair is not likely to end today, or soon, but I like it.
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Clarissa at http://clarissasbox.blogspot.com
Now you are discovering one of the weirdest facts about blogging, my friend. Namely, that often the most benign posts on very mundane topics provoke an outburst of interest. And then the posts one might think would be controversial have no response whatsoever.
As a gift to your blog, here is a funny story (real-life) about hair. My sister started going out with this guy 12 years her senior. Today, he is her adoring fiance and the father of their beautiful child. Then, however, I didn’t know him very well. So I was terrified when my teenage sister called me on the phone, hysterical, in tears, saying the following:
“My boyfriend did something horrible to me! I can’t believe he would do something so horrible to me! I don’t know what to do!”
As the primary caregiver of my teenage sister at that time, I was understandably close to having a heart attack. I imagined the worst and felt distraught.
“What did this son of …. a bad person do to you???” I asked.
“He cut his hair!” she responded.
“And???” I asked unable to contain my horror.
“Well, what more do you want?” said my sister. “He looked so cute with his long hair and now he looks ugly. I can’t believe that he would do this to me.”
So yeah, hair…
Posted at February 23, 2010 on 8:05pm.
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Kola Tubosun at http://www.ktravula.com
LOL. I can imagine…
Posted at February 23, 2010 on 8:29pm.
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Clarissa at http://clarissasbox.blogspot.com
Actually, men have a thing about hair too. My mother always has to beg my father to let her cut his hair. He looks at her like Samson looks at Delilah when she approaches him with her scissors.
Samson’s hair in the Bible is an obvious metaphor for his sexual potency. So it isn’t just women.
Posted at February 23, 2010 on 8:32pm.
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Kola Tubosun at http://www.ktravula.com
You’re right. I should have just said “hair” rather than “women’s hair,” especially since Chris Rock’s movie explores not just the women’s attitudes and preferences, but men’s too. I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have my female friends talk 🙂
I have issues with my hair too, in fact. I can rarely keep it for more than a few weeks before I start to worry about how to keep it well combed and looking good. And this always happened with all my friends after about four weeks of not cutting it down, I start to get strange looks and unsolicited advice to “cut down the jungle” so that I can look good, fresh and young once again. Apparently, there is something good and youthful about a low cut male hair. Apparently also, as your story shows, it is not the same in all parts of the world.
Posted at February 23, 2010 on 8:47pm.
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Clarissa at http://clarissasbox.blogspot.com
You have this cute hat thingy that covers your hair. Sadly, I haven’t found a hat big enough to hide my huge head. 🙂
Posted at February 23, 2010 on 8:55pm.