Support NeoGAF

[CrazyDude]

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Tuesday that the military will allow female service members to have a wider range of hairstyles after the services came under fire for using derogatory language and banning many styles that are popular with African-American women.

The controversy started in March, when the Army released new rules regarding tattoos, hairstyles, grooming and uniforms for soldiers. One of the new regulations banned women from having twists, dreadlocks and multiple braids/cornrows that are bigger than a quarter of an inch.

Black service members quickly spoke out about the rules, arguing that they were racially insensitive and objected to language that called such styles "matted" and "unkempt." Sgt. Jasmine Jacobs of the Georgia National Guard started a petition about the matter on the White House website, writing, "These new changes are racially biased and the lack of regard for ethnic hair is apparent."

Hagel's review of the hairstyle rules came after the female members of the Congressional Black Caucus wrote to the defense secretary, saying the guidelines seemed to be "discriminatory" and targeted "soldiers who are women of color with little regard to what is needed to maintain their natural hair."

"At my direction, over the last three months, each Military Service reviewed its definitions of authorized and prohibited hairstyles, and eliminated offensive language, including the terms 'matted and unkempt' from both the Army and the Air Force grooming regulations," Hagel said in his letter to CBC Chairwoman Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) Tuesday. "Additionally, each Service reviewed its hairstyle policies to ensure standards are fair and respectful while also meeting our military requirements."

CBC member Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) praised Hagel's announcement, saying that while, as the daughter of a veteran, she understands the need for uniformity in the military, it is important for the services to recognize that "natural hairstyles do not reflect or create a lack of professionalism or respect for the Armed Forces' high standards."

"The Army's use of words like 'unkempt' and ‘matted’ to describe the hairstyles of African-American women is an offensive stereotype," she said. "I am pleased that these terms will be removed from the regulation and urge the department to move swiftly and thoroughly in implementing and communicating the updates across all divisions."

According to the Army Times, the hairstyle rules were getting in the way of a promotion for at least one black service member. Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jessica Sims, 32, told the paper that she wears her long hair in tightly twisted locks pulled into a bun when she's in uniform. Last year, when assigned as a teacher at the Navy's boot camp, she was "told to cut her hair or wear a wig, and when she refused, her commanders processed her for separation for 'serious misconduct.'"

A PowerPoint presentation from mid-March, before the regulations officially came out, shows the unauthorized hairstyles:

The changes made by the military to its grooming guidelines, as outlined in Hagel's letter Tuesday:
Army

Determined the terms "matted and unkempt" are offensive and will eliminate them

Authorized temporary two-strand twists

Increased size of authorized braids, cornrows and twists; removed spacing requirement

Authorized a ponytail during physical training

Air Force

Determined the terms "matted and unkempt" are offensive and will eliminate them

Changed the name "dreadlocks" to "locs"

Authorized two-strand twists, French Twists and Dutch braids

Navy

Determined no offensive language in the current policy governing hairstyles

Removed some dated terms and descriptions on the Navy's "Frequently Asked Questions" website, including "'Twist' hairstyles are not authorized because they fall within the guidelines of being faddish."

Authorized a two-strand twist and multiple braids may hang freely if above the collar and must encompass the whole head

Marine Corps

Determined no derogatory or discriminatory language in current uniform regulations

Convening a special uniform board this summer to consider the expansion of authorized hairstyles

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/13/military-hairstyle_n_5675031.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

 

[slit]

Nope, they should have to get crew cuts!

 

[Slayven]

Good they totally ignored black women's hair.

 

[TacticalFox88]

As an AF veteran, I'm on the fence about this.

While I DO appreciate the DoDs intentions, some hairstyles, for better or worse, either A)Don't look good on the uniform for the most part or B) are impractical in deployed locations around the world for various jobs they have us do.

 

[Two Words]

Yeah why would you describe people's natural hair like that. My hair is always going to feel like a carpet, no matter how "kempt" it is.

 

[ComputerMKII]

Is Snake's hairstyle even OK for the US army?

 

[The Smoking Bun]

Is Snake's hairstyle even OK for the US army?

The "Snake" hairstyle as I like to call it combined with headband should be mandatory for all special forces. They should also repeat the last proper noun in their orders.

Osama?
Al Quaeda?
Metal Gear?

 

[Hot Coldman]

Is Snake's hairstyle even OK for the US army?

Isn't he CIA? Ex-CIA obviously, before he started Philanthropy

 

[CornBurrito]

As an AF veteran, I'm on the fence about this.

While I DO appreciate the DoDs intentions, some hairstyles, for better or worse, either A)Don't look good on the uniform for the most part or B) are impractical in deployed locations around the world for various jobs they have us do.

Hmm I wonder why people don't think black hairstyles look good on the uniform. Aesthetic preferences aren't objective so I do wonder what gives people that subjective opinion.

 

[wenis]

someone watched that Jessica Williams expose!

 

[MacNille]

Is Snake's hairstyle even OK for the US army?

Snake is special forces and is a offspring (Clone) of Big Boss. I think they will let him have his mullet.

 

[Kurdel]

I remember seeing this on the Daily show, this is great news!

I can't imagine having to deal with your employer directly limiting your hair options, especially for black women who have enough pressure already.

 

[Sub_Level]

Isn't he CIA? Ex-CIA obviously, before he started Philanthropy

Civilian -> US Army -> FOXHOUND -> Philanthropy

 

[SolVanderlyn]

I'm not a military guy, so forgive me if this post oozes ignorance, but isn't asking everyone to have the same cut the opposite of racism or racial bias? Couldn't they have just changed their reasoning/description of why certain haircuts aren't allowed instead?

 

[Crimsonclaw111]

Is Snake's hairstyle even OK for the US army?

No but a mullet that badass should be allowed.

 

[eudaemonic]

someone watched that Jessica Williams expose!

That was the first thing I thought of! The Daily Show works!!

 

[freenudemacusers]

I'm not a military guy, so forgive me if this post oozes ignorance, but isn't asking everyone to have the same cut the opposite of racism or racial bias? Couldn't they have just changed their reasoning/description of why certain haircuts aren't allowed instead?

well, if you're a chick you have like two options; pull it back tight in a bun or crop it short, not really great options for a lot of black chicks.

 

[n64coder]

I wonder who was the original committee that came up with these rules?

I would hope that they were not just all old white men. There should be some women & men of color on the board to make sure the guidelines and wording is acceptable.

 

[freenudemacusers]

I wonder who was the original committee that came up with these rules?

I would hope that they were not just all old white men. There should be some women & men of color on the board to make sure the guidelines and wording is acceptable.

well if there is one thing the military is known for, it's not leadership being composed of old, conservative white men.

 

[Shaanyboi]

someone watched that Jessica Williams expose!

Exactly what came to my mind as well

Glad to see there was a revision on what was a very ignorant regulation

 

[DedValve]

I'm not a military guy, so forgive me if this post oozes ignorance, but isn't asking everyone to have the same cut the opposite of racism or racial bias? Couldn't they have just changed their reasoning/description of why certain haircuts aren't allowed instead?

It's really hard for black women to pull off those types of hairstyles and in the end their natural hair doesn't really interfere with their day to day.

They've been doing it for this long so why change it now?

EDIT: I don't know who Jessica Williams so I'll just google image search a few hundred pics of her...for research purposes of course!

 

[N7Slayer24]

I remember seeing this on the Daily show, this is great news!

I can't imagine having to deal with your employer directly limiting your hair options, especially for black women who have enough pressure already.

...Don't most people (including men) have regulations on what hairstyles they can wear in the military?

Not sure if it's just black women they're singling out.

 

[Coffee Dog]

Is Snake's hairstyle even OK for the US army?

His hair before he grew the MGS2 mullet would be fine, I believe.

 

[Stinkles]

...Don't most people (including men) have regulations on what hairstyles they can wear in the military?

Not sure if it's just black women they're singling out.

Women (with rare exceptions) are the only military personnel allowed LONG hair and so there are tons of rules about how to keep it looking "military" whereas male hairstyles have incredibly simple rules. And because they're simpler and more spare, they include less racially insensitive directions.

 

[JCX]

...Don't most people (including men) have regulations on what hairstyles they can wear in the military?

Not sure if it's just black women they're singling out.

It's not that they specifically said "we do not want black women to be able to wear their hair in certain ways." They just crafted a set of acceptable hairstyles that ignored what works best for black women's hair.

I don't think it was malicious, just that the people crafting the policy were not familiar with black female hairstyles and what it takes to get them within their guidelines.

tl;dr - polices crafted to be racially neutral can have disproportionate impact on certain groups, even if it wasn't the initial intention.

 

[KittenMaster]

His hair before he grew the MGS2 mullet would be fine, I believe.

Yeah. Solid Snake had short hair when he was working for the US.

This begs the question of Naked Snake. Dude was sporting the mullet in the military in an era where men were still wearing perfectly crafted comb overs.

 

[Leunam]

Is Snake's hairstyle even OK for the US army?

Philanthropy was it's own thing wasn't it? Not affiliated with the military at all?

 

[Shaanyboi]

...Don't most people (including men) have regulations on what hairstyles they can wear in the military?

Not sure if it's just black women they're singling out.

They do, however it's easier for people who aren't black to be able to abide by such regulations as their natural hair grows and works a certain way. Black people, specifically black women in this regard, don't have such a luxury without paying some exorbitant prices.

 

[Infinite]

I'm not a military guy, so forgive me if this post oozes ignorance, but isn't asking everyone to have the same cut the opposite of racism or racial bias? Couldn't they have just changed their reasoning/description of why certain haircuts aren't allowed instead?

Not everyone has the same type of hair. In any case this is about women in the military who are allowed to wear their hair long. The former ruling literally meant that a black woman had to cut her hair or perm it barring corn rows I think.

 

[Mr.Swag]

someone watched that Jessica Williams expose!

That shit was awesome. Love J willy

 

[kame-sennin]

I'm not a military guy, so forgive me if this post oozes ignorance, but isn't asking everyone to have the same cut the opposite of racism or racial bias? Couldn't they have just changed their reasoning/description of why certain haircuts aren't allowed instead?

You're right. They should mandate that all women, regardless of race, wear afros to keep their hair out of their face during combat and maintain a uniform hair shape.

 

[ratcliffja]

You're right. They should mandate that all women, regardless of race, wear afros to keep their hair out of their face during combat and maintain a uniform hair shape.

Preach!

 

[MutFox]

I just thought if your were in combat in the military,
that your hair had to be really short.

Didn't know they had exceptions.

 

[Infinite]

I just thought if your were in combat in the military,
that your hair had to be really short.

Didn't know they had exceptions.

People didn't know women could wear their hair long?

 

[jerry1594]

How about everybody just shaves their head?

 

[The Faceless Master]

I'm not a military guy, so forgive me if this post oozes ignorance, but isn't asking everyone to have the same cut the opposite of racism or racial bias? Couldn't they have just changed their reasoning/description of why certain haircuts aren't allowed instead?

"your complexion must be lighter than a standard grocery store issued brown paper bag" is a uniform rule too.

 

[MutFox]

People didn't know women could wear their hair long?

In the military in combat?
I thought for duties that you weren't in the field you'd have more choices.
Though once in combat, that short hair was there for safety reasons.

 

[The Faceless Master]

As an AF veteran, I'm on the fence about this.

While I DO appreciate the DoDs intentions, some hairstyles, for better or worse, either A)Don't look good on the uniform for the most part or B) are impractical in deployed locations around the world for various jobs they have us do.

some hairstyles would be impractical in deployed location... like carrying around perm kits right?

 

[PetriP-TNT]

I hated cutting my hair at the military, close shave just makes me look so stupid. I wish I could have rocked a proper Plissken mullet

 

[n64coder]

The former ruling literally meant that a black woman had to cut her hair or perm it barring corn rows I think.

Other than black women, are there any other ethnic groups that need special consideration for the hair?

What about if you are a Sikh? I believe they're not allowed to cut their hair.

 

[Enzom21]

I'm not a military guy, so forgive me if this post oozes ignorance, but isn't asking everyone to have the same cut the opposite of racism or racial bias? Couldn't they have just changed their reasoning/description of why certain haircuts aren't allowed instead?

Does a black woman have the same type of hair as a white woman? It is the very definition of racial bias because they are expecting black women chemical process their hair so it matches their white counterpart.

 

[Steelrain]

Other than black women, are there any other ethnic groups that need special consideration for the hair?

What about if you are a Sikh? I believe they're not allowed to cut their hair.

They don't have to anymore. Don't have to cut those beards either.

 

[deadlast]

"Sgt. Jasmine Jacobs of the Georgia National Guard started a petition "

Does the Guard strictly enforce these policies?

I know people can get hair related waivers for religious reasons. They can also get facial hair waivers for skin irritation from shaving.

 

[Noshino]

I'm not a military guy, so forgive me if this post oozes ignorance, but isn't asking everyone to have the same cut the opposite of racism or racial bias? Couldn't they have just changed their reasoning/description of why certain haircuts aren't allowed instead?

reasoning? in the military? ha! good one

well, if you're a chick you have like two options; pull it back tight in a bun or crop it short, not really great options for a lot of black chicks.

In general people with very curly hair have problems. Difference is that most of them just cut it short if they want to keep it natural.

Its the girls that want to stay natural and have it long that are bitching.

Its so annoying that so much time is being spent on this issue when there are much bigger problems.

 

[CornBurrito]

reasoning? in the military? ha! good one



In general people with very curly hair have problems. Difference is that most of them just cut it short if they want to keep it natural.

Its the girls that want to stay natural and have it long that are bitching.

Its so annoying that so much time is being spent on this issue when there are much bigger problems.

It is annoying that you are talking about such an unimportant issue and wasting time that you could be putting to more important things like cancer research.

 

[potam]

Leave it to the National Guard to chip away at the pillars of military tradition.


edit: if you ever had a shaving profile, go fuck yaself

 

[Mesousa]

reasoning? in the military? ha! good one



In general people with very curly hair have problems. Difference is that most of them just cut it short if they want to keep it natural.

Its the girls that want to stay natural and have it long that are bitching.

Its so annoying that so much time is being spent on this issue when there are much bigger problems.

I agree....Like people of color serving in a military for a government which uses its police force to harass,murder, and discriminate against people who look like them in cities all across America. If only we got to these young brothers and sisters before they made such a bad mistake.

 

[Hari Seldon]

I agree....Like people of color serving in a military for a government which uses its police force to harass,murder, and discriminate against people who look like them in cities all across America. If only we got to these young brothers and sisters before they made such a bad mistake.

The military is a great way for someone of no means to get an education (when there is not a war going on obviously). I know what you are saying but if you are dirt poor it is a decent option for an 18 year old with no direction and no means to pay for school.

 

[Mesousa]

The military is a great way for someone of no means to get an education (when there is not a war going on obviously). I know what you are saying but if you are dirt poor it is a decent option for an 18 year old with no direction and no means to pay for school.

Fair enough.

 

[Akainu]

Is Snake's hairstyle even OK for the US army?

Isn't Snake a mercenary at this point.