Model Emily Ratajkowski Was Slammed For Calling Hair 'A Fundamental Part Of Femininity'

Words matter, especially when you're living in the social media age. American model and actress Emily Ratajkowski recently announced on social media that she was going to serve as the face of Kerastase Paris by posting a lovely photo of herself on the social network. It would have been like any other celebrity endorsement, but for the unfortunately worded caption that many commentators found insensitive and thoughtless.

In the now-edited post, Emily wrote, "Hair is a fundamental part of beauty, femininity, and identity. So excited to announce that I am the new face of @kerastase_official!"

 

So excited to announce that I am the new face of @kerastase_official ! Welcome good hair days! Shot by @inezandvinoodh ✨ #Kerastase #KerastaseClub #sponsored

A post shared by Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) on Jan 8, 2018 at 6:00pm PST

And comments pointing out that calling hair a fundamental part of a woman's identity was insensitive to all the women who lost theirs for any number of reasons, started pouring in almost instantly.

As a woman who lost all her hair due to cancer, I find this caption incredibly insulting. #apologise

— Emily Frost (@EmilyFrost90) January 9, 2018

of course Emily Ratajkowski, a girl famous for her beauty/vanity, thinks hair defines women - how is it shocking or newsworthy?

— Alona Forsythe (@alonaforsythe) January 13, 2018

Yup. Was thinking the same thing. We can lose our hair, our breasts, our ovaries, etc. and still be beautiful and feminine. No doubt in my mind.

— (((Maggie))) (@maggieogs) January 13, 2018

One user on Instagram commented, "Hair isn't "fundamental" though. I'm sure it hurt a lot of people who have conditions or illnesses where they lose their hair. It can be devastating to a persons confidence- her statement reinforces that notion."

Another one said, "How about all those women suffering and battling with cancer? How can they cope with not having hair when role models they see on magazines say crap like this? #disgusting"

While there were many detractors, there were an equal number of people who thought this incident was nothing but people jumping to take offence at the merest provocation.

No. Stop. I'm more than willing to stand up when people are going out of line, but she didn't say anything wrong here. She's just promoting a product. She isn't attacking people who don't have hair/lost their hair. ffs.

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