By stating that Arie is “challenging the accountability that comes with processed hair, locked hair, or no hair at all” she indicates Arie’s ability to acknowledge and challenge the restrictions of narrow beauty standards, while also resisting being patronised for sometimes adopting those practices with a basis in them. Riley looks at ‘ I Am Not My Hair‘ in the context of bell hooks’ comment that the “assumption that straight hair is good hair, and Black hair is both problematic and in need of being conquered”. (The fact I feel compelled here to add an overly obvious disclaimer saying “choices do not occur in a vacuum” and are always constrained by norms and social pressures is perhaps significant!) In an academic paper about black feminist creative expression, Tunisia L. However, I’d say it is the song’s engagement with the rather more slippery issue of choice that is perhaps most challenging as with ‘ I Am Not my Hair‘, Arie moves beyond the definitions imposed on us for the choices we make and, perhaps controversially, reminds us that we are far greater than they are. She let it be known that it is possible to be happy and content with who you are.” ( Madame Noire website)Ĭhloe at Feministing has flagged ‘Video’ as a “Bad body image day song” and its positive message of self acceptance is obviously very feminist-friendly. “ In this song India Arie served as an advocate for the average woman during a time where self-image was becoming extremely distorted by unrealistic standards set by the media.
“Keep your fancy drink, and your expensive minksĪlong with this, ‘Video’ has been described as an inspiration for a diverse range of women: One example would be in its rejection of the materialism so inextricably bound up with female stereotypes: It makes its feminism clear in a variety of ways. The song was released as a single in 2001 and is widely described as the first single from her debut album (though AllMusic lists ‘ Brown Skin‘ and Discogs highlights ‘ Simple‘). This refusal to be pinned down and defined according to conformity or non-conformity to traditional ‘feminine’ beauty regimes is, in my view, an important part of what makes India Arie‘s ‘ Video‘ so liberating. It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul“ Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won’tĭepend on how the wind blows I might even paint my toes “ Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don’t
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