It seems a Glamour editor went to speak to the female attorneys at a law firm about fashion dos and don’ts. Among the fashion don’ts were such “political hairstyles” as afros and those “dreadful” dreadlocks. This advice might have played well or been omitted from the discussion at an all-white firm. However the ten or so black lady lawyers in the room were not amused.
What I like about this story is that the firm didn’t assume this so-called editor was a raging racist, just an ignorant boob. Unfortunately, ignorance and bigotry go hand in hand so often that we sometimes forget there is a difference between the two. And I appreciated Glamour’s response to the incident:
I read your post about a Glamour editor’s comments on hairstyles for work, and I’d like to share with you our thoughts. First, we regret the comments were made. The employee — a junior staffer, not a beauty editor — spoke to a small group of lawyers at a private luncheon without her supervisor’s knowledge or approval, and her comment — that afros are not work appropriate — does not represent Glamour’s point of view.
Secondly, immediately upon learning of it, we sought to rectify the situation. The editor has been dealt with in a very serious manner, and the entire staff has been reminded of the magazine’s policies and procedures for making public appearances.
Sounds like a little of cyoa (cover your own ass) to me, but my hope is they gave that editor a beat down in the ladies room when no one was looking. Why? Well, her comments were stupid from a racial point of view, but when was the last time an afro was a political statement? Time warp, anyone? And she’s supposed to be a fashionista? Pshaw!
For some reason this episode makes me think of fictional characters who, like the editor run out and represent us in ways that we never imagine when we “hire” them. We don’t intend the messsage we send out when we put this character into play, but there he or she is making us look bad. Or good. Or whatever. The point is that the author is oblivious sometimes to the impression the character or storylines or what have you, leaves on readers.
For example, I was discussing my books with a friend and she asked me if I planned it that (almost) all the couples in my book share a slow dance together. I never noticed they danced in the first place, much less planned it. I’m glad she liked that little touch, but after you’ve written a few books, the biggest challenge can be not repeating yourself.
0 Responses to “Hair we go again . . .”