The Voice Podcast with Zayda Sorrell-Medina

Episode 4 | Embracing puffy hair: Turning stigma into pride

May 24, 2023 zayda sorrell-medina Season 1 Episode 4
The Voice Podcast with Zayda Sorrell-Medina
Episode 4 | Embracing puffy hair: Turning stigma into pride
Show Notes

After I got kicked out of my aunt’s house for spending too much time in high school, I became a homeless youth. In this episode, I recount how my new mom forced me to conform to gender and hair norms, which I detested. I nevertheless conformed as a matter of survival. Now I reflect upon these socialization experiences and can better understand how my hair and gender expectations tie into larger societal norms, for which I happily reject. I conclude with a message that invites us to self-reflect and critically think about how we can extricate ourself from forced societal norms.