BYU-Hawaii student redefines beauty and identity through her hair
Cutting her hair was not just a matter of style, it was a moment of emotional release, identity reclamation and empowered self expression, said Maheta Vena Wily, a sophomore majoring in Pacific Island Studies from Utah. She recalled cutting her hair the second time. “I braided my hair into two sections and chopped it with dull scissors. It felt like a release not only with the tightness of the braids but the weight of everyone else’s opinions,” she said.
The Cultural Weight of Hair
In Samoan and many Polynesian communities, hair is sacred, said Wily. According to a 2014 award-winning essay by a Native Hawaiian writer Kasie Apo Takayama, long hair is tied to divine power or mana. “Laws once prohibited hula dancers from cutting their hair. In many Pacific cultures long hair symbolizes strength, femininity and ancestral heritage,” Takayama added.
Wily said she grew up feeling misidentified. “People would mistake me for being Latina, Black or Hawaiian and they thought I didn't take care of myself because I let my hair out naturally,” she said.
Willy said she often thinks about her identity as a Polynesian woman. “Growing up other than hair being a feature of many Pacific Islanders, I knew I was important but since buzzing my hair, I think it identified my Polynesian side more now than before,” she added.
Letting go of expectations
She said the first time she buzzed her hair was out of practicality. “It was hot. I had a clear vision and I did it. But the second time was more emotional. I needed to feel like myself,” she continued.
The timing was not without consequence, said Wily. She said, “I buzzed my hair two days before culture night and felt in some dances that my hair did not align with the ladylike image associated with femininity.”
In a more positive light, Wily said dancing for Aotearoa did not feel like hair or the lack of it defined her as a performer. “I felt more empowered than ever,” she added.
She said she had more positive reactions than negative ones to her hair from people around campus. “I am getting way too much unwanted attention. I like to stay under the radar, but you can't stay under the radar when you just made a huge change. Thankfully it was mostly positive comments,” she continued.
“I think there were some people who thought that I was trying to make a statement or prove a point or be someone I'm not,” said Wily. “I feel like society in general ties beauty to hair and the more hair you have on your head, the more beautiful you are,” she continued.
Cost of Becoming Herself
Wily said there was a lot of hardship in getting to a new version of herself, especially having people focus so much on her appearance rather than her intentions. “It’s sad to just hear the assumptions. It felt like there had to be something tied to my appearance or my appearance meant everything to me and nothing about why I actually did it,” she added.
Dr. Sylvia R. Karasu from Psychology Today said short hair on women was once considered rebellious and transgressive. “In Bernice Bobs Her Hair, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1920 short story, the protagonist cuts her hair in an effort to fit in, falling into other’s expectations,” she said.
According to the IMITATIO website, French theorist Rene Girard’s mimetic theory also comes into play. “People imitate others' desires, leading to social rivalry and pressure to conform,” the site says.
Wily’s decision to buzz her hair defied the concept. “I can make my own standard and if others don’t like it, it’s okay,” she said.