Short story: I have curly hair. But I straighten it for work to appear “professional.” Or I wear a bun to look “serious.”

These ideas were shaped by social norms + experiences where I’ve been the only woman in the room or dealt w sexual harassment/bias.

But when my 15yo niece visited last week, I marveled at her stunning curls. “It just dries this way,” she said.

And it dawned on me - Wait, mine does too! Or would if I paid less attention to cultural expectations. So I think I’ll do that now.