RESPOND TO YOUR CLASSMATES POST: POST: The identity development…

captpeckerwood007RESPOND TO YOUR CLASSMATES POST: POST: The identity development…RESPOND TO YOUR CLASSMATES POST:POST:The identity development model I identify with is the African American model. A pre-encounter I had that I did not think in the beginning would qualify but the more I thought, it made sense. As I was growing up, there were a lot of commercials that had African Americans talking about managing their unruly and unmanageable hair. I also noted that my mom had some of what was in the commercials. I remember being jealous of all the other African American girls who had soft hair and hated that my hair always reacted to the humidity when it was hot outside after my mom would spend hours on my hair. I one day suggested to my mom that I wanted my hair to be straight like in the commercials. She asked me if I were sure about it, and I confirmed. My aunt did it for me and I loved my long, straight hair.  The roles reversed and I experienced the immersion/emersion stage years later when I was in high school and my hair started falling out. I started getting chemical burns on my scalp. That’s also when I was more aware that straight hair is associated with beauty standards that saw white hair as “kempt” hair and African American hair and certain styles was considered “unruly.” I was also more aware that it was derogatory towards African Americans. I started doing my research and education myself of brands and trends that white americans felt were “in”. I boycotted a lot of different places and brands as well as had my own style that went against what was trending. I also stopped putting relaxers in my hair and embraced my natural curl. I got stares and picked on but I was comfortable with myself. After high school and in my first years of college, I had more access to new information and education I was not aware existed. I realized what I was experiencing goes so much deeper and standards are only placed for reasons beyond. Others are going through the same thing and there is change being put forth. I met others who also embraced their ethnicity and did not feel shame for it. As of now I am very much so in the internalization stage and accept others for who they are. It is nice to embrace everyone for who they are instead of being upset at things that I cannot control. Embracing individuality can cause change because it allows voices to be heard. Social SciencePsychology