Jada Pinkett-Smith Responds to Critics

Jada Pinkett-Smith has taken to her Facebook to address an issue dear to her heart—criticism against her raising of her daughter, Willow.

The “Madagascar” actress responds to critiques regarding her giving Willow obvious freedom with her hair and clothing.

“A letter to a friend…" she begins.

"This subject is old but I have never answered it in its entirety. And even with this post it will remain incomplete. The question why I would LET Willow cut her hair. First the LET must be challenged. This is a world where women, girls are constantly reminded that they don’t belong to themselves; that their bodies are not their own, nor their power or self determination.

I made a promise to endow my little girl with the power to always know that her body, spirit and her mind are HER domain. Willow cut her hair because her beauty, her value, her worth is not measured by the length of her hair. It’s also a statement that claims that even little girls have the RIGHT to own themselves and should not be a slave to even their mother’s deepest insecurities, hopes and desires. Even little girls should not be a slave to the preconceived ideas of what a culture believes a little girl should be.”

Well-spoken. Honestly, in the world of crippled girls we are churning out, pink hair should be the least of our worries. If Pinkett-Smith manages to raise a healthy, well-adjusted daughter, she should be applauded, not condemmed, no matter how she manages it, in my opinion.

What do you think? Is Willow too young to be making these choices for herself, or do you agree with Pinkett-Smith’s decision?