Jada Pinkett Smith - Jada Pinkett Smith defends her parenting skills

Jada Pinkett Smith defends her parenting skills

Jada Pinkett Smith has defended her liberal approach to parenting.

The 'Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted' actress - who is mum to actor Jaden, 14, and singer Willow, 12, - penned an open letter on her Facebook page on Wednesday (21.11.12) hitting back at critics who blasted her for allowing her daughter to shave her head earlier this year.

She wrote: ''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.''

Jada also insisted she supported her daughter - who has had a number of hit singles including 'Whip My Hair' and '21st Century Girl' - and her eagerness to explore different styles and make her own choices.

She said: ''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. More to come. Another day.''

The 41-year-old actress - who celebrates her 15th wedding anniversary with Will Smith, 44, next month - has previously spoken about how she views her relationship with her children as a partnership.

She said: ''I think that old school style of 'I'm your parent and I'm greater than you' doesn't work. What I establish with my children is a partnership. I'm not necessarily dictating what is happening in their lives.''