Since I entered my last year of high school I have had so many plans. Many of which are becoming are not coming close to reality. I have accomplished many like paying for my new phone. Getting new friends. Even turning my sour attitude more positive. But one thing I have been wanting to do is cut my hair. I have always like short hair it is easier to manage and so feminine at points. I had brought up the idea to my family, friends , and even talked to myself for a very long time.
It was the summer before entering senior year I had asked my family what they would think if I were to chop my hair that almost reached my butt. It was summer and very hot so my mom was all for it. My last hair cut she was very in love with so she didn't mind me doing it . My sister wasn't a big fan about the idea of me cutting my hair . She said it was my last year of high school and I should keep it long.
Senior year is a big year for many including myself. But my friends have this idea that senior year is suppose to be a specific way. Have you ever seen those cliche teen prom movies? Yeah well that what they think. So when I brought up the idea of cutting my hair it wasn't even considered. According to them I needed my hair for prom or else's how would I style it. It was as if they thought I would shave my head.
Every weekend I would tell myself that I was going to go cut my hair. But deep inside my head I had all the oppositions telling me otherwise. If I were to cut it in the beginning of summer how I wanted my hair would be long enough to please them. But that never happened due the strong support for my long hair to stay. I had many internal fight with myself especially when I had to do my hair and it took ages. It wasn't until winter break when I had to much time to think I finally decided on cutting my hair. I was unhappy with my cut at first. It was something I had to adjust to again.
Reactions were great and bad.
In sophomore year of high school I had cut my hair very cheeky and feminine which many were a fan of. They were the same people who gave me the awesome responses. "Short hair suits you" Was much of what I heard.
On the other side was not that great. The first negative thing I heard was "so what are you going to do for prom now? ". Easy I said style it. " But the long hair? " . I was confused and said what about it am I ugly just because I don't have it. This made them stutter and change the conversation. ( I just want to prepare you for what is next. It is a bit awful.) Dike. "You look like a dike." This was an insult not only to me but to the LGBT+ community. I didn't know my new hair could change my sexuality. Are you homophobic? Do you an issue if I was? Was all I could response. No. This response made no sense since they clearly had an issue before.
I consider my self a voice, an activist, the future. And when I see people damaging progress for the better it hurts me and I try to stop it. I wish I would have said more in the moment. But I didn't. But now here I am saying sterotyping needs to stop. Sterotyping leads to bullying, racism, gender inequality, and much more. Not all women with short hair are lesbian. Not all women are weak. Not all Mexican are rapist.
