Today was the first day that I wore my blonde wig to varsity. The reactions I got were mixed and many were shocked with my transformation. Only knowing and recognizing me as brunette, my peers viewed this change as a deviation from my personal norm. Moreover, in modern Western society the use of a full wig is uncommon and is mainly used either for fancy dress, religious or hair loss purposes.
Focault’s idea of “normalizing judgment” assists in explaining the shocked and somewhat disapproving reactions I received. “Observation allows one to exercise normalizing judgment, punishing all deviations from the norm” (Simons, 1995:31) Deviating from my personal norm of being a brunette and the societal norm of not wearing a full wig in everyday life, others scrutinized and “punished” my appearance, as it was different to the norms they have become accustomed to.
- Simons, J (1995). Foucault & The Political. London: Routledge. 31
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