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Black Female Lawmakers Object To Army's 'Discriminatory' Ban On ...

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 11:30 AM PDT

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Not everyone is feeling the Army's new hair ban, which some say targets the various hair styles worn by African-American women. Now member of the Congressional Black Caucus have taken issue with the ban as well.

16 women in the Congressional Black Caucus sent Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel a letter expressing their objection to the Army's Regulation 670-1, which highlights new rules in regards to tattoos, hairstyles, uniforms and grooming.

The new rules in regards to hair bans twists, dreadlocks, multiple braids and cornrows that are bigger than a quarter of an inch. Army spokesman Paul Prince told the Army Times that twists and dreadlocks have been barred since 2005, but these regulations go into more detail about specific hairstyles.

Here's the letter from the women of the CBC:

Though we understand the intent of the updated regulation is to ensure uniformity in our military, it is seen as discriminatory rules targeting soldiers who are women of color with little regard to what is needed to maintain their natural hair.

African American women have often been required to meet unreasonable norms as it relates to acceptable standards of grooming in the workplace. [...]

Army officials have responded to criticism of the regulation by saying it applies to all soldiers regardless of race, and that they are meant to protect their safety. However the use of words like "unkempt" and "matted" when referring to traditional hairstyles worn by women of color are offensive and biased. The assumption that individuals wearing these hairstyles cannot maintain them in a way that meets the professionalism of Army standards indicates a lack of cultural sensitivity conducive to creating a tolerant environment for minorities.

The letter was signed by Reps. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Corrine Brown (D-Fla.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Donna Edwards (D-Md.), Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) and Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), as well as Delegates Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and Donna Christensen (D-V.I.).

The Army has not released a statement, but previously said the rules were drawn up after surveying hundreds of senior enlisted female soldiers as part of a focus group led by a female sergeant major.

In regards to the new rules, Sgt. Jasmine Jacobs of the Georgia National Guard started a petition on the White House website calling on the Army to "allow professional ethnic hairstyles." It currently has about 15,000 signatures.

Jacobs also told the Army Times that twists are a popular style, especially in the field because they're easy to take care of.

"I've been in the military six years, I've had my hair natural four years, and it's never been out of regulation. It's never interfered with my head gear," added Jacobs, who wears her hair in two twists.

Although some people are of the notion that when you join the Army, you become "theirs and you do as they say", others feel as though if you're willing to die for a country and go to battle, the least of their worries should be if your twists are not under regulation.

Congressional Black Caucus Women Want Culturally Important ...

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:44 AM PDT

Home › Liberal "Logic" › Congressional Black Caucus Women Want Culturally Important Hairstyles Available For Female Soldiers

By Cultural Limits on April 11, 2014 •

We all have our priorities

Are ya'll ready for this? The ladies – and I use that term loosely – of the Congressional Black Caucus have a problem with the new army regulations for hair, so they wrote a letter to Chuck Hagel.

Here we go:

We write to you regarding the United States Army's updated regulation, AR 670-1, that specifies hairstyles often worn by many African American women, and other minority women, as unauthorized. Though we understand the intent of the updated regulation is to ensure uniformity in our military, it is seen as discriminatory rules targeting soldiers who are women of color with little regard to what is needed to maintain their natural hair.

African American women have often been required to meed unreasonable norms as it relates to acceptable standards of grooming in the workplace. Understand that these standards should shift based on each community's unique and practical needs. New cultural norms and trends naturally change, ensuring that no person feels targeted or attacked based on his or her appearance. We believe the Army's updated rules and the way they are written fail to recognize this reality.

Army officials have responded to criticism of the regulation by saying it applies to all soldiers regardless of race, and that they are meant to protect their safety. However the use of words like 'unkempt' and 'matted' when referring to traditional hairstyles worn by women of color are offensive and biased. The assumption that individuals wearing these hairstyles cannot maintain them in a way that meets the professionalism of Army standards indicates a lack of cultural sensitivity conducive to creating a tolerant environment for minorities.

Having lived on the dividing line of a racially polarized city for decades, the one thing that African American women know is hair. Having a decently thick head of good hair for a white girl, I would not want to have to deal with what black women do, and have great sympathy for the ones who choose to either keep their locks short or go with braids that do not have to be removed. It's not cheap and they go with a fashionable style that can be maintained easily.

Really. I get it. This is a cultural issue for black women.

However, in the army, there is but one culture – the army culture – and it sounds like dreadlocks and some weaves are not going to be a part of it. They don't fit with the uniform. Or something. Also, some styles invite trouble in the way of hair getting caught in machinery. When working with heavy equipment, some concessions have to be made. Should women be in the military or not? If so, this is a sacrifice that is just going to have to be made.

Once in the army, it's their way or the highway. What part of this is difficult to understand? Even we white girls would have to give up some of the more creative braiding, bows, headbands, barrettes and more to comply with the regulations. (Although, most would either wear hair short or in a French braid, probably, to keep it out of the way.) Everywhere, we have to do this anyway. Seriously, I've been in choruses and choirs where the guidelines for hair are written into the general policy, and a whole lot of the CL multi-cultural hair toy collection does not comply. (ONLY black scrungies and barrettes, no bows or sparkles, etc.) Same with earrings. It's plain and simply part of being a woman. Not every look is acceptable everywhere. Get used to it.

Honestly, with all the problems we have in this country and THIS is what the Congressional Black Caucus women think is an issue worth pursuing? And they want the rest of us to take them seriously?

Good luck with that.

Slideshow with images of what is and is not approved in the new army regulations here.

Categories: Liberal "Logic", Military, You Can't Make This Stuff Up

Tags: african american women, army regulations, barrettes, bows, braids, Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus women, cultural norm, culture, do, do-rag, dreadlocks, earrings, French braid, hair toys, hairstyle, headbands, regulations, the United States Army, Women in the military

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