I posted this in the S.H.A.G. tribe, so forgive my repetition, but there's this lovely, bald, black goddess here in Portland. I see her on the street every so often and she just takes my breath away. I want to be like her when I grow up!!

i agree. she looked amazing and i am glad that she didnt try to cover her hair loss up. she owned it and thats the way it should be.

but i am conflicted with the attention that bald women with chemo get, the compliments come at them seemingly because they are "braving being seen without hair".

i know it is futile to even argue that there should not be any risk of shame to not have hair, for what ever reason we dont have it. i like that melissa is getting positive attention. but are people kinder about her being bald because they know it wasnt a choice, and more of a result of the chemo? is her bravery that she didnt cover up something that should be shameful?

what if she was just feelin like having a shaved head? what would the reaction have been? i am just wondering what you all think the media would have said if it was a personal fashion choice and not related to a devistating illness?

i am sensitive about this because i am not bald by choice. i own it and have made it work for me. i have become it. and it is me. and thats that. but i also get a lot of "AWWW you are so brave" comments, and when peolple find out that i am actually quite happy with the way it looks, well, that confuses them.