Alopecia World
Where acceptance is all there is!
Gabby Douglas takes two Olympic gold medals—and hair criticism!
According to an article on Essence.com, some believe that Gabby should be more concerned with more than just her Olympic dream.
"On Tuesday, 16-year-old Gabrielle 'Gabby' Douglas led our women’s gymnastics team to a gold medal, the USA’s first since 1996. The bouncing, bubbly superstar will also be competing for the gold again today, one of just two Americans chosen after she outperformed media darling Jordyn Wieber, whom everyone expected to land a top spot.
"But instead of collectively celebrating her accomplishments on the Olympic stage, Gabby has been dogged with cruel criticism. Too many folk aren’t discussing her awe-inspiring leaps, bounds and accomplishments. Instead, it’s her hair that has become the topic du jour of some less-than-pleasant viewers."
I wonder what impression this leaves with you. That people are really hair-obsessed, or that this is pure frivolousness?
UPDATE: Since this column was originally posted, Gabby Douglas won the gold medal in the women's all-around gymnastics competition.
Comment
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Comment by Vesselsong on August 7, 2012 at 7:29pm
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For black people trashing Gabby's hair, I think it’s a self-esteem issue and not liking who they are. For too long, we’ve bought into the idea of being someone we are not. The media has done a fantastic job of branding long-straight hair. If black people stop purchasing hair, stop putting chemicals in their hair and go natural, many white businesses and Chinese hair stores would be no more. There is a major incentive to market the concept that long- straight hair is beautiful. The hoopla surrounding Gabby Douglas’ hair is a reminder to me of the power of marketing. I'm inclined to believe that Gabby knows something about choosing her battles. I'm glad she went for gold! Go, Gabby!
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Comment by Mary on August 7, 2012 at 1:31pm
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I was waiting for some reporter to link the two news stories about hair on women Olympians:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/post/gabrielle-d...
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Gabby responds (LOVE that she says you can be bald!):
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/gabby-dou...
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Comment by Deejay on August 5, 2012 at 5:59pm
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The fact that this whole situation happened to this little girl who actually HAS hair but apparently wasn't groomed to the standard of her critics both saddens and appalls me. Sorry There's nothing about this that comes off as racist at all.In 2012 people are responsible for their own decisions and the values they instill in their children. Looks like we still have a long way to go. The burden rests on us a generation to change that concept in our own people and it starts with one person at a time. I hope the situation with Gabby becomes a huge turning point.
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Comment by Cheryl, Co-founder on August 5, 2012 at 11:23am
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Wow! He came in 2nd! That is awesome!
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Comment by Dominique Cleopatra on August 5, 2012 at 7:12am
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Can I just say how awesome the Olympics is! Today I saw a double amputee from South Africa come in second in a race! And he was hot too! So inspiring.
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Comment by Linda on August 5, 2012 at 1:28am
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All I can say is "Congrats Gabby", we are not our hair, we are uniquely us!
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I think it is a shame that everything has to be put into distinct camps.
The weave, wig wearers may struggle with the natural hair or bald types and the natural hair / bald types may believe they are “farther” along than the weave, wig wearers. It is as if, you are not doing what I am doing then you are on the other team.
As much as we call ourselves the free world, we have a problem accepting other people freedoms if it does not match ours or we feel a strong need to defend our choices. Unfortunately that usually comes by putting down the other. We see it all over the place, politics, religion, sexual preferences and so on.
I would think that being a gymnast who has fallen over and over again, that she has worked her resiliency muscles and is able to bounce back from negative feedback, take what she needs to learn and discard the rest. Something that I think that anyone who is “different” needs to master.
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So, a question occurs to me: does this whole cultural thing about pressure among the African-American community for women to "do" something with their hair make it even harder for black women who lose their hair? I've always thought black women look better than us pale gals with a bald head, but maybe there are greater pressures on them that I'm not aware of. Thoughts?
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Comment by kymkym on August 4, 2012 at 4:51pm
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I was mortified to read the comments about this beautiful child's hair despite her accomplishments.
It saddens me that the negative comments came primarily from her own race of people. We should be embracing her and supporting her,not tearing her down over her hair. Furthermore, she is an athlete and her hair will sweat.
I take joy in knowing Gabby fulfilled her dreams and will laugh all the way to the bank, while the negative commentors will do what they do best, be negative.
GABBY, I am so proud of you. Keep up the hard work, because it has truly paid off.
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