Corporate Perception of Natural Hair

For years in America, the corporate norm for black women is to wear their hair in straight styles, rather than natural ones. Loose natural hair, locs and other natural styles have been frowned upon in the workplace and specifically corporate America. Is the corporate world changing its stance on natural hair or is it remaining the same?

In 2007, former Glamour magazine editor made numerous comments about natural hair in the workplace to a group of lawyers at an event. Her presentation was entitled “Do’s and Don’ts of Corporate Fashion”. Some of the comments included that afros and dreadlocks were not acceptable in the workplace. One of the slides in the presentation contained a picture of a black woman with an afro and the line “say no to the fro”, she also noted that dreadlocks are considered “dreadful”. She went onto say those types of hairstyles are considered political and therefore have no place in the corporate workforce.

Throughout history, natural hair in all forms have been discouraged from not only corporate America but generally as well. As noted in a journal article written by Cheryl Thompson, most businesses that operate under western ideals, believe that straight hair is more professional and natural hair is not. Then there is the question that begs to be answered. Why is natural hair so unprofessional to some? Why do people feel as if they are underqualified when wearing natural hair in braids, locs or loosely, but qualified when their hair is straightened for clean cut for men? What makes black hair so political that people feel threatened by its very nature?

In 1981, Renee Rogers, former employee of American Airlines, sued her previous employer because she was fired because of her cornrows.

In 2007, a black woman who at the time worked at a prison was fired because of her braids, which she was told were inappropriate.

Afros during the 60s and 70s were a sign of black pride and political rebellion against societal norms that ruled the United States during that time period. However, afros today have more than one meaning, one of which may very yet be the fact that natural hair is a rebellious style. Why? Beauty standards in the past and still today are built in a Eurocentric mindset. Those beauty standards, those corporate grooming qualifications are not built with a black or African-American’s hair in mind. While it is true that black hair is one of the most unique in form hair types, it is also true that there should not be hiring discrimination in the workplace based on the looks of one’s hair. They should be hired or not hired based upon their qualifications. They should be allowed to work within corporate America as long as their hair is not in the way of their work. Hair should be neat, granted. However, what makes natural hair styles unkempt? Is it the fact that they are not conducive to what makes corporate America feel comfortable.

Is corporate America’s views on natural hair styles changing?

As of late, the fight for natural hair styles in corporate America marches on. Straight styles are still more widely accepted than natural styles.

What can we do?

As more and more black people continue to wear their natural hair styles, go natural, and abandon the idealism of straight hair, one can only hope that employers will change policies based on the increase of natural hair visibility.

Maybe one day, and one day soon will employees be judged on the content of their work and less on the texture of their hair.

References:

(ABC News)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3710971&page=1

(Forbes)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/shenegotiates/2013/03/11/is-your-natural-hairstyle-preventing-you-from-getting-a-job-2/

King, V., Niabaly, D. (2013). The Politics of Black Womens’ Hair. Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato: 13. http://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/jur/vol13/iss1/

Johnson, T.A., Bankhead, T. (2014). Hair It Is: Examining the Experiences of Black Women and Natural Hair. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 2, 86-100. http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=41744

Henderson, A., M.A,. (2015). Redefining the Identity of Black Women: "Natural" Hair and the Natural Hair Movement. The George Washington University

Rowe, K. (2015). I Love This Cotton Hair! Black Women, Natural Hair and (Re) Constructions of Beauty, Michigan State University