Disfigurement


My hair was quite short before leaving Canada. I figured with a warm climate and having to wear a motorcycle helmet, a sassy short style likely fit the bill for Sri Lanka. However, it has been a couple of months since my last cut, so I decided to brave a new hairdresser. With only two beauty salons in town and one being closed last evening, I went to the other salon. For the most part, Sri Lankan women all have long hair past their waist, so, I inquired of the stylist,



"Do you know how to cut short hair?"
"Yes, Madame."
"I'd like to book a cut after work tomorrow, say 4:30?"
"Yes Madame."



I looked good yesterday, just needing a bit of a trim. Actually, I looked good today. I looked like a woman until 4:30 today. Now, I look like a man. No, I look like a woman trying to look like a man. I could cry.



I took reasonable precautions to ensure satisfaction with the outcome of the cut. Anticipating a language barrier I took along a sketch of the projected style I wanted him to achieve. I explained carefully: no length off the back, just a trim about the ears and bangs.


Edward Scissorhands went straight to work. He bludgeoned my hair, annihilated my femininity and destroyed my pride. If I wasn't so mad at him, I might have found him comical. He constantly chopped the scissors in the air while gyrating his hips. Pursing his mouth smugly, he gave himself airs. Then, pausing from scissoring at the air, he grandly centered me by a very firm press to my forehead, and, whipping his own head back, he dramatically reached for his water spray bottle. With a flourish - spritz, spritz, spritz and then pat, pat, pat, he patted my hair flat managing a full gender reversal. I am transgendered and not sure how the hospital is going to take having to call me "Sir" from now on.

I told him I looked like a boy. I told him he didn't listen to me. He blamed my hair for the massacre, "You don't have hair at your neck." I paid my Rs. 400 and left, donning my motorcycle helmet inside the salon. I felt ashamed.


I feel violated and naked. I may switch to the Muslim faith. Those head scarves suddenly appeal.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Saari

Image
Sri Lankan women wear saaris. They wear other things too. Sinhalese women either wear saaris or skirts and blouses. Tamil women wear saaris and unmarried Tamil women wear salwaar kemeez. A few women wear slacks. All professional women wear saaris. As I give formal presentations in my work, I decided to purchase myself a saari At the Saari store, I selected the fabric I loved. It was tan coloured silk blend with blue, green and apricot accents. I also purchased two stretchy tank tops that are worn with a Saari. Saari fabric is sold in such a length allowing for one end to be cut off and used as fabric for a saari blouse. The salesman measured me up for the blouse. A couple days later, when the blouse was ready, the salesman phoned and Bill picked it up for me. I tried it on. First, I put it on backwards. Then realizing my error, I tried it on front ways. The darts in the blouse sharpened my breasts into cone shaped points. I had noticed women about town with sharply poi
Read more

My work

Image
Handing over curriculum and books to Sri Jayawardenapura University Mental Health Training Organizational Development for Shanthiham I have had requests to write more about my work. I find it difficult due to the highly sensitive nature of the work and the usual limits of confidentiality. However, I will try to give some generalities. Many jobs or tasks arose based on my initial assessment of the organization and the needs of the community/district/province. My work was and is not assigned, but rather based on this assessment and determining where my skill set can be used to fill in some of the gaps. Job One : Train the nine member trauma team in group therapy, build their clinical skills, and develop their capacity to work with victims of torture, trauma and ex-combatants. Job Two : Train a six member community team in group therapy, build their clinical skills to work with families of the "disappeared", war widows, the displaced, and the mentally ill.
Read more

Knuckles Range

Image
Deep in the interior of Sri Lanka is a mountain range named Knuckles Range. This moniker, given by early British surveyors to the area, is so named as it closely resembles the clenched fist of a giant man. Knuckles Range is a UNESCO Heritage Site due to the flora and fauna found there; some species are endemic and not seen anywhere else in the world. April 12 and 13 th are the Tamil and Sinhala New Years and as the dates landed on a Thursday/Friday, a nice long weekend was created that allowed us to travel (a long and dirty bus ride) to the Kandy District in order to hike the Knuckles Range with a guide. Another VSO volunteer, Marjorie was with Bill and me. Day 1: Two hours driving into the Knuckles region in 4x4 Safari Jeep: 5 hours of hiking to base camp. Day 2: 8 hours of hiking to the caves; camp out. Porters carrying food, tents, sleeping bags. Day 3: 8 hours of hiking to home stay in the Knuckles Day 4: 4 hours of hiking to the rarely seen falls: only 3 other foreigne
Read more