Singapore school girls who shaved head for charity told to wear wigs

The fact that people sport wacky hair styles and fashions in the name of charity probably shouldn't come as a surprise to most. But what happens when those styles are offensive to people in positions of power, such as teachers, bosses and security guards? Do authorities have the right to demand a change in appearance?

The most recent example of this comes from Singapore, where two teen girls have been told by school officials they must wear wigs to cover up their shaved heads -- ones they shaved to support a cancer charity.

Last week, Cherry Wong and Leia Lai, along with a handful of other students, shaved their heads as part of Hair for Hope, an annual event organized by the country's Children's Cancer Foundation. The event raises funds to help children and their families affected by childhood cancer.

However, the principal at St. Margaret's Secondary School argues that school rules do not allow punk, sloppy or unfeminine hairstyles on girls.

"Can you imagine if I were to say yes? I'd have everybody coming to school with a bald head. Sometimes it's a fad, so they would take advantage of the situation," principal Marion Tan tells The Straight Times.

Also see: Woman forced to quit her job after shaving head to support cancer-stricken sister

According to The Strait Times, the girls had asked permission to participate in the event, and had all promised to wear wigs to school.

As it turns out, despite being forced to buy wigs, the girls will not have to wear them because they got a doctor's note stating they got a rash from them.

The girls also argue that a wig defeats the purpose of shaving their heads, specifically to get attention from the public who then donate money.

"The purpose of Hair for Hope is to show children with cancer that it's okay to be bald," says Lai's mother, Emily Chia.

According to The Strait Times, three other schools who participated in the event are allowing their female students to go without a wig at school.

Also see: Brain cancer survivor fights authorities to keep his 'F Cancr' licence plate

It appears this type of heavy-handed behaviour from authorities is not relegated to eastern countries, as there have been plenty of similar incidents making North American headlines in recent years.

Last year, a teenage boy was suspended from his Ohio high school for growing long hair for Locks of Love charity, an organization that provides wigs to cancer patients.

In May, two Philadelphia sisters were kick out of a mall for wearing F-Cancer hats. They designed and produced the hats to raise money for cancer research, after losing their mother to a four-year battle with breast cancer.

And in June, a Washington woman who shaved her head to support her cancer-stricken sister quit her salon job after her boss told her to wear a wig.

What are your thoughts on the ethics of these situations? Should authorities make exceptions for people who sport unusual styles in the name of charity? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.