Posted on 04/05/2014 10:20:36 PM PDT by wetphoenix
WASHINGTON (AP) — New Army regulations meant to help standardize and professionalize soldiers' appearance are now coming under criticism by some black military women, who say changes in the hair requirement are racially biased.
The Army earlier this week issued new appearance standards, which included bans on most twists, dreadlocks and large cornrows, all styles used predominantly by African-American women with natural hairstyles. More than 11,000 people have signed a White House petition asking President Barack Obama, the commander in chief, to have the military review the regulations to allow for "neat and maintained natural hairstyles."
Some black military women, who make up about a third of the women in the armed forces, feel they have been singled out with these new regulations.
"I think that it primarily targets black women, and I'm not in agreement with it," said Patricia Jackson-Kelley of the National Association of Black Military Women. "I don't see how a woman wearing three braids in her hair, how that affects her ability to perform her duty in the military."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
A vast majority of black women straighten their hair or wear wigs. Just saying.
Well that’s a giant can of worms.
I think it’s a reasonable concern. As long as the mikitary allows women to express their femininity, it should be allowing all woman that capability, as long as its military needs are not being compromised.
Problem solved.
Why don’t we stop and defund the military. So these concerns might be addressed. What if one of these young girls has a date? Or is Black.
Crew cuts for everyone then.
BTTT
Somehow the Army has managed to survive this long without these regs. I think the black servicewomen have a reasonable objection.
On one hand, the Army is allowing Sikh's to wear their hair in a way that is appropriate to their religion, but females who have worn their hair a certain way for years and it has not been a problem are now asked to compromise.
Garrison warriors have nothing better to do than change uniforms and design ways to wear clothing.
Under obama the military is turning into one big fashion show.
we’re done.
the military is not the general public. it is not a democracy.
i strongly suggest learning your own defense tactics and training with like minded people in your area you can trust. we cannot count on the military anymore. it’s just a petri dish for social experiments
A third of the women in the military are black. That is racist. And why do they need a National Association of Black Military Women? Is there a white association? Hell no!
or dismiss all black women in the military worried about their hairdos. probably the best if that’s their most pressing concern.
Garrison warriors = REMFs
Same same every war. The cowards hide in the rear and boost their careers by inventing problems to solve.
As a former infantry officer, I agree wholeheartedly. ONE standard for everyone. Same haircuts, same PT standards (not gender normed!).
The funny thing about all this is that those hairstyles were not allowed anyway. The new reg just spelled it out more clearly than the old one did.
Maybe they should have their own squad kind of like the Tuskegee Airmen. Bring back segregation.
#2 clipper head, problem solved.
Active Duty ping.
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