Haireotypes
Wednesday, September 16 2009
by Frank Stasio and Lindsay Thomas
The cast of "Hair" | Burning Coal Theater Co.
Whether yours is straight, kinky, thinning, or long gone, the long and short of it is, just about all of us have hang-ups about our hair. That's because hair and personal identity go together like shampoo and conditioner. There are also plenty of cultural stereotypes about hair rooted in everything from color to texture. On today's show, host Frank Stasio presents a layered conversation about society's complex relationship with hair and the biases we harbor about others' strands. Joining the program are Joan Jacobs Brumberg, professor emeritus at Cornell University and author of "The Body Project"; Ashleigh Shelby Rosette, a professor at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business; Neal Lester, professor of English at Arizona State University; photographer Victor Jeffreys II; and Michelle Breyer, co-founder of NaturallyCurly.com. Plus, members of the cast of Burning Coal Theater Company's current production of "Hair" provide live musical interludes.
State of Things Producer Lindsay Foster Thomas kicked off the conversation this morning with a commentary on her effort to embrace her natural look. Listen here.
