So I know I took a little hiatis from blogging, but I hope I am back! I am taking a class called reading culture and my first assignment was to write a paper about a cultural attribute. I chose to tackle polygamist dress and hairstyle. I would love to hear what you think!
Have you ever walked into a Cosco and found yourself wondering if you had possibly time traveled to the days of the pioneer. Wondering up and down the isles are women dressed in long dresses highlighted with sneakers for footwear, girls in these long dresses seem to have the desire to put on a pair of jeans underneath. The boys all look a little robotic with their slicked hair, button down shirt, and jeans. Now, while this is all quite a spectacle to behold the real eye catcher is the hair, yes I said it, the hair. Wow, I wonder to myself, how in the world someone can get their hair to look like that. It is almost like a piece of art on top of someones head.
Questions about this hairstyle most certainly have all been asked and there have been many answers. Why, is usually the first question. With the recent raid on the FLDS church compound in Texas, some former members have been able to shed a little light on our questions. Carolyn Jessop is an escapee of the FLDS compound. When asked about the hairstyles and dress she simply answered, it was one of the only forms of self expression for these women. She stated that the restrictions on their dress are so harsh that there is simply one pattern and a handful of plain pastel colors that can be used. She also stated that the women are required to wear their hair up as a loose hairstyle can be used to sexually entice a man. Therefore, we in the public see long, intricately braided hair with what I term “locker bangs gone bad” in the news.
I almost buy into this concept of self expression, except I am still questioning if it is self expression, then where is the individuality of the style. Maybe these are the true step ford wives. Obedient, hard working and they all look the same.
Another escapee spoke of the style being a way to segregate the women from the outside world. She stated it was so outside of their teachings to even wear a short sleeved shirt that as children when they saw someone doing that they would call them wicked. This young lady stated she was allowed to attend college but felt completely segregated by the mainstream population because of the restrictions placed on her dress and hairstyle.
It appears that this style, or lack of, intends to promote morality, modesty, and chastity. I do think, however, that this style is being imposed on these women by men. These men appear to be domineering and power hunger. The women are told to submit and please the man and one way to do this is to conform to the dress code. However, it sounds like these women, because of human nature, want to express themselves and their individuality and these high, coiffed hairstyles are a reflection of that desire.
While these styles are more reflective of the 1980’s than of the 1890’s. The puffy sleeves and shoulder pads with hair that looks a little to similar to “locker bangs”. It is clear that this style has engaged many outsiders to this community. It has provided a context in which to begin a dialog regarding this subgroup within America. I feel sorry for these women to live a life of so few personal choices. If the only choice they feel they are given is how to style their bangs, I guess I can just admire it from afar.
