Glad I Didn't Go Purple!! At Least For Now.

Feb 10, 2015

Shelley W.

Last October I was looking forward to coloring my hair purple in support of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I received full support from my graduate advisor (as I had a graduate teaching job at the time) and from department faculty members. I even seeked advice from ladies and gents here on BL and from my hubby. I was all set to go and bought all the necessary supplies needed to make it happen.

For those unfamiliar with my background I'm a domestic violence advocate. Not only do I go out and speak to the public about the truths/misconceptions on DV but I also go into court with victims and assist them thru the confusing maze of the court system...sometimes speaking on their behalf. On a couple of occasions I had to be the one standing beside a cop knocking on a parents door to tell them that their daughter didn't make it out alive. I'm also a survivor myself.

About three days before my big transformation I received a call from my States Attorneys office. Apparently an Assistant States Attorney that I work with informed his superiors of a project I was working on (its actually my graduate thesis). I only shared it with a few individuals at the court house so I was a little taken back that the powers that be in the states capital wanted to look at it. To make a long story short the States Attorney wishes to draft it as a bill to present to the states legislative branch to try and make it into a state law.

Since that meeting I've been exposed to high-ranking, conservative individuals who would frown upon me wearing purple hair. I'm a big supporter of individuality at the workplace and my argument has always been that a person's exterior should have no bearing whatsoever in regards to a person being hired for a particular job but unfortunately I've learned first hand just from hearing comments heard in passing that a person's exterior shell can keep great opportunities out of their reach.

The underlining theme with this post is to basically share with those thinking about doing something a little unorthodox to their exterior that the majority of society would deem "unprofessional" to really think long and hard before doing so. What are your future career goals? Are you willing to cover certain things to avoid questioning? Are you ready for possible ridicule? Can you hold off till you get into a position of power to set a precedence? As for myself...I'm still going to color my hair purple if my graduate thesis morphs into an actual law in Florida. And then afterwards I'll sashay in the Florida State capital hallways flaunting my purple mane for all the conservatives to see...along with my tats.

Feb 10, 2015

Lauren G.

Wow Shelley congratulations! Great work you are doing, that sounds very exciting.
I love that you will not sacrifice what you want to do with yourself physically to make others comfortable and I fully support you on that. Purple hair will not make you any less qualified to do a job everyone already knows you can do! I myself have tattoos on my upper arms and wrists but I have never taken a job where I have to cover them. If a job at a hospital or as a receptionist, etc.wanted me to cover them, I would. A job is important and while I do not agree that body art or personal expression inhibits someone doing their job in any way, rules are rules *eyeroll* I would always prefer to work privately and for people who will accept me as I am though. And I'm always ready to be ridiculed haha it's a part of life and tough skin is needed to make it I guess!

Feb 10, 2015

Cindy R.

Shelley you are such a BOSS!! good luck!! I hope it all goes well!!

Feb 10, 2015

Shelley W.

At first it was a little disheartening that I had to shelve my purple hair for the greater cause but in the end it will be worth the delay. I met one individual who was interviewing law students for summer clerkship positions and he told me how he nixed one person for having multiple piercings ( the student didn't have the actual jewelry in her ears but the holes themselves for visible). And her CV was flippin' impressive!! Didn't matter to this guy. A lot of the politicians I've met are so rigid in thought that its frightening. So for right now since I'm at the bottom trying to work my way to the top I'll play the "conservative" role but once I reach my goal I'm going full out purple. Hair puffed out like Chaka Khan and purple!! lol.

Feb 10, 2015

Shelley W.

I hope so too Cindy.

Feb 10, 2015

Tiffany B.

Hahaha "hair puffed out like chaka khan and purple" love it. Congrats on them trying to pass it as a law :)

Feb 10, 2015

Sabrina K.

Shelley you are such an inspiration! Wauw! And your going to look hot with purple hair when the time come ;)

Feb 10, 2015

Winnie B.

Awh I would have loved to see a purple highlight snuck in there!!

I honestly love body modification. But as a future elementary school teacher, I have to calm it down or cover it up. It's very sad, because I'm an arts concentration and body mod is very artistic and I support it! How can I integrate art therapy into my class when there are apparent standards of what "appropriate art" is and what it isn't?? Censorship! Censorship!

\rant haha

Feb 10, 2015

Kelly V.

Congrats, Shelley! and well put. even though these things are more excepted now then they were years ago, people do still frown upon them. about 5 years ago I went from magenta hair to dark brown and man, did I notice a difference in the way I was treated. I guess I never noticed it before, but with magenta hair, people had a tendency to talk down to me and not take me seriously. my arms, shoulders and back are also covered in tattoos and I notice a big difference when I'm covered up. it's sad how people still judge based on this but to each their own I guess.

Feb 10, 2015

Shelley W.

@Winnie...I'm eyeing purple extensions that are attached to a clips...just haven't found the texture of hair I want and the perfect shade of purple. I can at least wear those when I go into court with clients...the judges I know will understand why I have the purple infused hair.

@Tiffany...the process is going to be long and tedious. It takes several years from start to finish...especially when dealing with individuals who are historically vote down things centered around DV.

@Sabrina & Kelly...thank you. Kelly...I wish those who chose to use their bodies as a beautiful canvas were protected under the same laws geared towards race, disability and what not. I've met some cool and highly educated folks with all kinds of body mods...from the very subdued to the extreme. I love seeing it all. But on the flip-side for arguments sake I do understand the other sides viewpoint ( those that cite it could be distracting in the classroom for example). Such a shame that society insist on judging the exterior instead of looking at a person's heart and mind.

Feb 10, 2015

Erica K.

Thank you for your dedication! My mother was almost killed by my father and I was beaten until she got us out of there. I admire her for her strength. Thank you, thank you, thank you Shelley!

Feb 10, 2015

Kerri-Ann W.

Congratulations, amazing woman!

Feb 10, 2015

Shelley W.

@Erica...you are so welcome. I'm so glad your mom gained the courage to leave. My mom reached her breaking point when my father choked me to the point of unconsciousness. It felt so dang good to break free and drop that title of victim to replace with survivor.

Feb 10, 2015

Micheal H.

I always admired you for your knowledge with skin and beauty, can definitely add this as another reason. I too am a survivor. Thank you!

Feb 10, 2015

Shelley W.

Thank you Kerri-Ann. Its going to take some time and I hope it passes each step required to make it into law. In the meantime purple polish on my toes, purple jewelry, purple eyeliner...just small little things to keep me in the spirit.

Feb 11, 2015

Naomi S.

Congrats Shelley!!.

everything happens the way its suppose to.
keep up the awesome work!!

Feb 11, 2015

Sarah N.

This just brought tears to my eyes. I was abused my boyfriend at the time, we were together 2 years before I left his ass! I never had many people who knew about the situation let alone to help me through it so hearing about someone who not only was strong enough to survive but to know of all the amazing things you do is just absolutely amazing! Thank you for being such a strong wonderful woman! & hopefully you can rock your purple hair soon cuz keys be honest you're a mother f 'n boss and should be able to do what you want haha.

Feb 11, 2015

Shelley W.

Sarah...thank you. And thank you for sharing what you went thru. Made me cry as well. Kinda at a loss for words right now...

I look forward to when I can sport that purple mane like a boss!!xxxxx