I remember seeing that first video circulating and just watching it makes me cringe so hard.

I think you explained this perfectly. Acting this way towards our hair — blatantly invading personal space and boundaries — creates this greater sense of ‘other’ that is highly unnecessary.

What’s funny is that when someone would try to reach for my hair without permission, I’d always do the same thing back to them. And wouldn’t you know that as soon as they see my arm extending towards their head they instinctively move away. As anyone should when someone’s about to invade their space. And it’s like I witness a complete shift in their mentality. Thanks so much for sharing this (though this shouldn’t even be a conversation anymore)!