Does She…or Doesn’t She?

Will the real Merida please stand up?

In keeping with the new program, this is the second post of the week. A friend of mine mentioned to me that I didn’t use enough punctuation in the last post but as I’m typing this the way I talk (and I’ve been told that’s pretty fast) I really didn’t notice. I will try to remedy it either way.

So yes, on with it. Today’s title is part of the catchphrase of the acclaimed Clariol hair-colouring product ad campaign which reads in full “Does she…or doesn’t she? Only her hairdresser knows.” Gone are the days when changing your hair colour was seen as radical but nonetheless and somewhat closely related to this I shall be looking at the way people dress or look in general and how this affects others’ perceptions of them.

I’ve always been something of an erratic dresser (if such a thing exists) as my mood dictates what I wear, and/or if I use makeup, as long as I feel comfortable in it. As a result I wear long-sleeved floor-length gowns, baggy shorts and t-shirts and everything in between. I’m always amused by the questions I’m asked when I wear baggy shorts in particular. Some of them are:

a) “Do you play basketball?” (I’m not even 5″7, I think.)

b) The more general “Do you do sports?” (Replying “Yes, martial arts.” produces the most precious facial expressions :’).)

c) “Do you dance?”

d) And the most exasperating of all “Are you a lesbian?” (This usually comes up when said shorts are paired with sneakers. My hightops alone have brought forth this reaction. Our obsession with sexuality seems to have removed the word “tomboy” from people’s vocabulary. That however is a topic for another day.)

No one has ever asked me if I model though, in whatever outfit, *sigh*. Just a few days ago I virtually got recruited on the spot, at a bus stop no less, to be a gym instructor and I can bet that the probability of that happening had I been wearing say a sundress is in the vicinity of oh I don’t know, zilch? However interesting this makes my day it serves to show how much our appearance affects how we are perceived. “Dress the way you would be addressed.” isn’t just something they tell you when you turn up to class a little scruffy anymore.

Appearance, the visual, has become such a huge part of our lives in recent times that it’s actually a little frightening. One only has to look at the rise of Instagram and the influence it has to see what I mean. Even Victoria Secrets’ model Cameron Russell, who acknowledges in her TED talk that her success stems from getting lucky in the gene poll, had to state that however important physical appearance is, it is only so deep.

Something that really drove this home was a conversation thread I read on Twitter (Do not give me that look.). One guy tweeted seeing a very beautiful girl get in a three wheeled vehicle (referred to as a Keke) used for public transportation, which is very cheap. Almost immediately another guy replied giving some excuse or the other for her to be using such a means. I was very confused. Can’t the girl take a Keke because she can only afford that? Or maybe because she’s saving? Apparently beautiful girls in Kekes do not fit his worldview. A very shallow and troubling worldview.

I would talk about how the fashion and entertainment industry perpetuate this thinking but that really is a whole other article and I am frankly supposed to be in bed. Also Anna Wintour in her wisdom has said that when something starts to get you angry it is time to stop, so we shall conclude thus: Appearance is important but don’t let what others can see change or define who you are. Instead use it as an extension of yourself.

On that note, please let me know your thoughts on this and put down any suggestions on topics you would like to hear my views on, thank you. Until next time, Peace and Lemon pies.