Forum Activity for @laura-may

Prejudice, Snap Judgements, and Dreadlocks

General Questions

These are all fantastic points. I appreciate your responses. Truly, I hope more people continue to post.

Soaring Eagle, your completely right. No matter what, we will be judged for one thing, if not another. Your post inspiring and I hope other's find your words as comforting as I do.

As a parent of a (currently) 7 month old, I understand a parent's desire. It is a desire to do the best thing for their children. However, what a parent deems correct, is not always a question of right or wrong. Eventually, just as your folk came to accept your dreads, so too, shall mine. Afterall, as an adult, our choices are our's to make. As my child grows, I can use this as a lesson to teach my child.

Concerning the crochet needle, that was only to be used very sparringly. It was a tip off of one of the numerous video tutorials I've found. They advised it as a quick way to round out the dreadlock. However, take ever bit of advice with a grain of salt. I trust you both, over a youtube tutorial anyday. Thanks for the advice.

Prejudice, Snap Judgements, and Dreadlocks

General Questions

Do you ever feel people judge based on the fact you have dreadlocks? Are these snap judgements positive or negative? Do you feel people catagorize you becuase of your hairstyle?In such a progressive world, it is a shame that prejudice does occur. Yet, that is the truth of things. These questions are posed to you as a community. My hope is that they will answer questions that both I and other fellow dread-dreamers have.Since I was seventeen, I have wanted dreadlocks. My father would secretly point out college kids with dreads, calling them hippies. The word "hippie" was not used in a kind way. I didn't need to ask my father if I could dreadlocks, for I knew the answer. Hoping for better luck with mother, I asked her. A very firm negative followed.A close friend, Nikki, had a mother more open to knew styles. She told her daughter to sit on the idea. If she still wanted her hair dyed red, yellow, and blue in a month, she could do it. That approach had both wisdom and leniency. With long term investments like dreadlocks or tattoos, they should be given time to consider.Years have passed and I am now twenty-three years old. I have finished college, am married, have a child, and am three years sober. I, like so many, carry all the resposibilities and joys of being an independent adult. My father is much wiser and open minded about people's political affiliation. I feel as though I have sat on the idea of dreadlocks for long enough. Everything has been gathered to start my dreads: the right comb, the correct shampoo, a crochet needle, bands for seperating, and lots of research. One thing halts me.The fear of being misjudged. There are very philosophical questions concerning this. Too many to be posed just now. My guiding faith lets me know I am loved no matter my hairstyle. Still, a small part of me nags that to dreadlock my hair, is to be judged.By principle, I am going to dread my hair, regardless. Other's prejudice should not shape my personal decisions. So why pose the questions stated at the beginning? By sharing our experiences, I hope to encourage those, like me, that have once feared (or continue to fear) prejudice. Therefore, I pose these questions before you.Do you ever feel people judge based on the fact you have (or want) dreadlocks? Are these snap judgements positive or negative? Do you feel people catagorize you becuase of your hairstyle?
updated by @laura-may: 01/13/15 08:49:26PM