Saturday, May 9, 2015
Cornrows In Cooperate: Black Hair In The Work Force
Curls, kinks, twists, black hair is beautiful. However we all know how difficult it can be to manage. There are many hairstyles that black women use to make our hair more manageable, such as dreads, corn rolls, weaves and perms. More recently however women of color have been leaving behind the relaxer and weaves and embracing their beautiful natural curls. I have seen a lot of girls around school recently learning to love their magnificent curls, and you all look beautiful by the way. Despite this not everyone is seeing the beauty in natural hair.
Black women are worried that their natural curls could affect their job employment, and rightfully so as there have been a myriad of cases these women being denied promotions and even fired for their hair. Their natural growing out of their roots hair! In august 2012 news surfaced of a dean at a Hampton University school (a historically black college) placing a ban on dreadlocks and cornrows in 2001. Rhonda Lee a black news anchor was fired in 2012 after she defended her natural hair. In 2013 Melphine Evans, a former BP executive was reportedly fired for her braided hair and "ethnic culture". Offices that have denied employment to people who wear their hair naturally compare these hairstyles to those of mohawks and dyed hair claiming that they are extreme. I remember my aunt coming to my mom and asking her what she should do about her natural hair because her boss asked her to change it. I was so shocked when I heard this because I couldn't understand how natural hair could be considered unprofessional or a distraction. My aunt was angry as well but she did not want to loose her job so she decided to actually chemically change her hair with a perm. This discrimination does not only exist in the corporate workforce however. Black military women who make up about 1/3 of the women in the armed forces are concerned about new army regulations that surfaced last year. These regulations include a ban on multiple braiding, twists, and afros. These regulations primarily target black women and the only approved hairstyles are those that involve women being in a salon for hours including perms and blow outs. Some of us have already entered the work force and I think it is important for us to be aware of the discriminations that exist in the work force. We have to work twice as hard to even be considered for these positions and then it comes down to the miniscule detail of our hair. My advice to you and all women with natural hair is to wear it proud! Despite what any one thinks because honestly if they'll fire you for your hair, they really don't want you to work there and they'll find something else to fire you for. Find a workplace where you will be accepted and appreciated no matter what your hair looks like.
The following is a link from a dailyshow interview about black hair in the military: http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/p3pawq/operation-black-hair
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I feel as though natural is the way. It looks beautiful when females where there natutal hair out instead of buying expensive weave or spending a lot of money for a perm treatment. I understand that going natural can be a hassal, but in the end its worth it. I have natural hair and I love it because I'm not putting chemicals in my hair to mess it up. I usually get a blown out for special occassions. I know some people who would like to wear their hair out naturally. I find it ridicolous for someone to fire you for having natural hair. I feel as though can get accept abd embrace who you are, then you shouldn't work there.
ReplyDeleteInteresting Blog Nah'Ja. To be honest, I think that this is ridiculous because it has nothing to do with these women’s working ethics. I find it ironic that it is okay for black women in the military to risked their lives, but not okay for them to embrace their natural hair. I hope I don’t sound ignorant, but to be honest, I think that this is a way for the whites to basically put blacks down. Because as soon as black women are finally learning to love and embrace their hair, it becomes a problem in the workforce and they are told to get perms, weaves, and wigs. I think the secret message behind this is that blacks should basically not appreciate their roots and who they are, but rather embrace what the white people consider beauty and worthy admiring.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't help but feel annoyed after reading this blog. It's so superficial for business professionals to put someone off who does their job well just because of their hair. Especially for women. I feel like it's an excuse for others to use. Women are told to embrace their natural outer beauty but then told to alter their natural appearance to appeal to others. It's one or the other society. We are pressured to focus on our outer look instead of focusing in our careers. What we do with our bodies is our choice. Why should anyone tell you otherwise? Women stood up to have more choices, but it seems like the more choices we have, the more others interfere to limit us. It's sad really that our country is so obsessed with what's on the surface and it's a distraction from what the major problems out there are.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this so much because last Sunday this exact thing happen with me at work. I went to wash my hair at a dominican doobie salon and I had work right after I left the salon so I left my hair in pins. My sister told me that is so unprofessional I don't think you should go to work like that. I asked her that and she couldn't really give a legit reason why. I don't think I would have been offensive to the customers I attend to or to the company of Toys R us. I feel as though as African American female there are a lot of restrictions on what we should do with are hair. Many women who I truly applaud to are female breaking barriers and going completely natural. If someone finds that as flaw in the workplace or disrespectful or distracting . Honesty I find it ridiculous because its just hair and that is what we were born with. Society is so obsess with conformity and never able to move forward and look at the bigger picture.
ReplyDeleteIf I can scream from my lungs, I will say "MY HAIR DOES NOT DEFINED ME!" I applaud all the beautiful black women who wear their natural hair. I love fact that black ladies who are challenging these expectations on image and what is acceptable. However, we have to understand as a society that someone's image should not justify if she should have a job or not. It does not matter if she has a bald head, she should not be "cornered" or judge of her appearance. The world is so fixated with image that people who have no experience at all with a job will get it because they have a certain look that the world finds acceptable. Society views features as more of an importance than intellect. I should be able to get a job based on my resume and not what type of hair is on my head. A woman should be able to wear curly, straight, short, or long hair and not be judged for it. However, this not only goes to the part of society that stereotype but also those who are challenging social expectations. I say this because there are still African American women who love relaxed hair and prefer to rock a straight look than a curly look and these African American women can be judged by their peers that are natural. For example, true story, I am a person who loves to wear and make wigs and I have no issue telling the world. lol. Anyhow, a person I know whats me to wear my real hair out but I personally choose not to because my wigs are suitable for me. This person then decides to discredit my work of making wigs which made me really upset. I felt targeted and unaccepted because I will rather wear other hair than my real hair out. My wigs take a lone time to make and for a wigs to look "natural" it takes a lot of creativity! Therefore, this individual down playing my work, does not understand or every begin to comprehend the hard work it takes to do hair. It is basically telling a hairstylist that she/he can not do hair. Us as a society need to stop judging and learn to value each individual as who they are.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Nah'ja. I believe what you are saying and I think women should wear there hair naturally! I get really annoyed when people are like I spent 1000 dollars on this weave , like I can't understand why they can't wear there hair naturally. I am sure some people think oh she is only saying that because she has her Peruvian long hair not really because sometimes I think I want extensions in my hair and then I think to myself why would I do that I have hair that everyone tells me they want. Even when people come up to me and say I want your hair- now exactly what is wrong with yours. I can understand that society and now the work force does not accept the hair that curled, society these days only accept straight long hair the ones you see in shampoo commercials. Sometimes I think I want that hair that other people have like African Americans and when I say that - it is like a shot in the heart to some people because they will all pay any price for mine. But I honestly think people should love their hair for the way it is no matter what.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post Nah'ja. I find it ridiculous that work places are forcing woman to change their hair styles from their natural texture. This is was a huge problem for me growing up. I used to be natural; my hair was very kinky and what some people will call "nappy," but my mom refused to let me get a relaxer. I was teased a lot for my natural hair, until one day I begged my mom into letting get a relaxer and she agreed for my birthday. I have never been so happy in my life, but now looking back on it I wish I had kept my natural hair. It was the constant teasing of me being natural that made me change my hair texture not because I wanted to. Now, a lot of girls are changing their hair textures back into their natural texture and I find that a beautiful thing, that girls can find comfort in what God has given them instead of changing to their hair to satisfy society. I hate the fact that some of these work places and the military will set up rules to stop those who want to wear their natural hair texture. I believe they should allow them to wear their hair the way they want it. Besides this is the hair texture that God gave them and they should be allowed to show it to the world. It is not like they added dye to their hair or cut it in a certain way, but it naturally grows out their heads and these work places need to get out of their old society views and get with the program.
ReplyDeleteWow!! I have never heard of this!! This is ridiculous!!! Hair has nothing to do with your abilities!! As long as you keep your hair clean then how is that a problem? It's not like these women are coming with lies in their hair. Obviously if you're in a professional setting, you know to look presentable and professional. And natarul hair is beautiful. It's hard to manage like you said so if you see a person wearing their natarul hair, then it means they are managing it well. And braids and twists...i get them all the time. That doesn't mean i'm not smart. This is insane. I don't even no what to say. That just really shows how much hate people have for other races and how much they are eager to pull others down and make sure they don't succed. They do this by finding the most unnecessary thing (like hair and braids) to fire a person. This is too bad!
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