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Black Women's Hairstyles Politically Unacceptable
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Description
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| An interesting discussion on BET about black hair styles being politically incorrect. |
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| kara |
Quote:
Originally Posted by denalove
I think most will agree that it shouldn't be the determining factor, however, often times it is..and the way the system is set up, there is really not much we can do about it.  I'm not saying you have to necessarily conform or go with the normsm just to tone it down some in order not to draw attention...the wrong kind...Natural hairstyles can be perfectly professional done the right way.
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Trust me...this is true! I have seen it too many times in Corporate America. A Chic comes in there (black) all flashy, loud hair, styles that are just not suitable to work in my place of business or any for that matter,unprofessional, and right out raunchy looking. And they are qualified, they may even have degrees. But I have heard and seen the executives discuss the "appearance" laughingly.
And they don't get the job... they wonder why. I don't understand how come they don't comprehend. |
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| denalove |
Quote:
Originally Posted by kita
Dena I agree, if it does not hurt you or is not against your morals, why would not you conform. It takes a strong mind to conform. It is compromise. I say something so little is not even worth the tears. It is nothing wrong to compromise. Sometimes it is o.k. to conform depending on the situation.
How can you tell your children the reason I did not get the job is that I did not want to cut my hair or change my hairstyle. If success means cutting my hair or relaxing my hair, so be it. I try to talk to many of our AA men about their hair and dress they are oblivious. We need to understand what really matters.
We AA put much emphasis on hair and clothes this has lead to negative results.
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Exactly, a conservative style or approach could take you so much further in society. And I am all about achieving more for my family. If that means that I have to wear my hair a certain way to gain these successes, then I can live with that. |
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| kita |
Quote:
Originally Posted by denalove
I think most will agree that it shouldn't be the determining factor, however, often times it is..and the way the system is set up, there is really not much we can do about it. I'm not saying you have to necessarily conform or go with the normsm just to tone it down some in order not to draw attention...the wrong kind...Natural hairstyles can be perfectly professional done the right way.
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Dena I agree, if it does not hurt you or is not against your morals, why would not you conform. It takes a strong mind to conform. It is compromise. I say something so little is not even worth the tears. It is nothing wrong to compromise. Sometimes it is o.k. to conform depending on the situation.
How can you tell your children the reason I did not get the job is that I did not want to cut my hair or change my hairstyle. If success means cutting my hair or relaxing my hair, so be it. I try to talk to many of our AA men about their hair and dress they are oblivious. We need to understand what really matters.
We AA put much emphasis on hair and clothes this has lead to negative results. |
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| denalove |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bodybutter
Interesting discussion. The lady with the twists and aqua head band had a beautiful hairstyle, spoke honestly and progressively. The lady with the two braids had what I felt to be a children's or freetime hairstyle although natural. The moderator with the weave...oh well, the sister with the relaxed hair looked nice. I totally agree with the aqua head band lady..We are the ones who make it acceptable or not, should enough women go natural and still do the job there is always the ACLU and Equal Opportunity laws to fight discrimination based upon something as superficial as ones hair. Natural hair, relaxed hair, weaves...whatever we choose should never be a determining factor of [U]WHO[/U] we are and our ability to do a job unless one is a firefighter or involved in close contact with fast moving above head machinery...then an afro is downright dangerous! I'm one of the few people in my family{I used to think they were behind the times with their twists, fros and braids } who was relaxed so for my inner circle..natural is the norm.
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I think most will agree that it shouldn't be the determining factor, however, often times it is..and the way the system is set up, there is really not much we can do about it. I'm not saying you have to necessarily conform or go with the normsm just to tone it down some in order not to draw attention...the wrong kind...Natural hairstyles can be perfectly professional done the right way. |
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| Bodybutter |
| Interesting discussion. The lady with the twists and aqua head band had a beautiful hairstyle, spoke honestly and progressively. The lady with the two braids had what I felt to be a children's or freetime hairstyle although natural. The moderator with the weave...oh well, the sister with the relaxed hair looked nice. I totally agree with the aqua head band lady..We are the ones who make it acceptable or not, should enough women go natural and still do the job there is always the ACLU and Equal Opportunity laws to fight discrimination based upon something as superficial as ones hair. Natural hair, relaxed hair, weaves...whatever we choose should never be a determining factor of WHO we are and our ability to do a job unless one is a firefighter or involved in close contact with fast moving above head machinery...then an afro is downright dangerous! I'm one of the few people in my family{I used to think they were behind the times with their twists, fros and braids} who was relaxed so for my inner circle..natural is the norm. |
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| kita |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tall, Black Canadian
Just a P.S.
I wasn't feeling the host's blond weave either. It just wasn't very natural looking and the colour wasn't as complimentary as it could have been. As someone who works in media, I'm surprised that she chose that look and her producers were okay with it. TV prefers subltety.
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I felt that because the show targets AA the host’s producers found her hair acceptable. Her hair is how the audience can identify with her (a black woman. If the host was speaking to White America (heck no) she would not have sported that blond-hair. The show speaks on the subject of hair, but they allow the host to wear an inappropriate and political incorrect hairstyle. I can understand the guest showing versatility (blond-hair, dreads and afros), but the host should have been "politically correct". This is the way to confuse the audience address the issue, but not totally educate and find a solution. You know all talk and no clear understanding.
The other side to the propaganda that was depict are young black women will find it acceptable to wear their hair in this nature blond continuously keeping them out of the professional market. When AA is addressed about certain hairdos, they will continue to have negative outlooks and rebel. Really, the media do not want to educate AA people they want to exploit them to continue making money in this case (ratings).
I hope this makes sense in a nutshell when it comes to educating AA let us feed them bits and pieces. Keep them uneducated and uninformed. |
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| Tall, Black Canadian |
Quote:
Originally Posted by denalove
You simply can't be taken seriously by your counterparts with dos like that. It's just not going to happen. As Black women sometimes, as unfortunate as it may be, we have to work twice as hard in the professional world to be taken seriously and to be considered competent and capable. We have to go that extra mile most times. And to walk in with the wrong hairstyle/nails, you make it twice as hard to prove yourself capable or even desirable to work in someone's office or professional setting you may be seeking.
And ITA with you and Kita both about the host's hair....the first time I watched it, I was like WTH?? It surprised me as well that they allowed her and that draggish weave job on air.....excuse my metaphor, but those were my first thoughts....even my dh was like dang, her hair looks so unnatural....LOL
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LOL! That is the perfect description for it! I couldn't put my finger on why exactly it looked so wrong, but dang, you hit it right on the head! |
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| denalove |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tall, Black Canadian
Great post Dena, and a very thought provoking topic.
One of the reasons I relaxed my hair after being natural for 4 years was that I was done school and knew that the type of job I wanted would not take me seriously with an afro. That is the way many corporations are. They love you on paper, but may be uncomfortable with an ethnic hairdo because they are oft times seen as being political. It's no longer the 60's, but an afro today is still seen as rebellious, especially if it's big enough to be pulled back and isn't. Let's be honest and say that some hairstyles are completely outlandish and are done with the sole purpose of creating drama, attention, or making a statement. But how can you be taken seriously when you've got some rainbow coloured sculpted and weaved updo? Some of those styles are good for a hair show or even for the club, but not in a professional atmosphere.
And I agree with Kita that there are those who take it to another level by overdoing the nails and makeup as well. IMO that look doesn't inspire confidence in that person's ability to perform. For example my hubby's cousin grew locs, mostly just to see how long they would get. He grew those for close to 12 years before he cut them off. Despite graduating Summa Cum Laude, winning a medal for top marks, being feted by three different hospitals for his internship, and actually working with some of the top surgeons in the US, he cut off the dreads so he would appear to be exactly what he is; knowledgeable and competent. Yes he's a doctor, but this attitude extends across the many levels of employment and professionalism. If the girl who cleaned my table at the food court looks like she's hitting the club as soon as her shift ends, I wipe the table again. I just don't believe with the amount of money she paid for those nails that she's 1. gotten her hands wet, or 2. scrubbing my table hard enough to get the crumbs off of it.
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You simply can't be taken seriously by your counterparts with dos like that. It's just not going to happen. As Black women sometimes, as unfortunate as it may be, we have to work twice as hard in the professional world to be taken seriously and to be considered competent and capable. We have to go that extra mile most times. And to walk in with the wrong hairstyle/nails, you make it twice as hard to prove yourself capable or even desirable to work in someone's office or professional setting you may be seeking.
And ITA with you and Kita both about the host's hair....the first time I watched it, I was like WTH?? It surprised me as well that they allowed her and that draggish weave job on air.....excuse my metaphor, but those were my first thoughts....even my dh was like dang, her hair looks so unnatural....LOL |
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| Tall, Black Canadian |
Just a P.S.
I wasn't feeling the host's blond weave either. It just wasn't very natural looking and the colour wasn't as complimentary as it could have been. As someone who works in media, I'm surprised that she chose that look and her producers were okay with it. TV prefers subltety. |
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| Tall, Black Canadian |
Great post Dena, and a very thought provoking topic.
One of the reasons I relaxed my hair after being natural for 4 years was that I was done school and knew that the type of job I wanted would not take me seriously with an afro. That is the way many corporations are. They love you on paper, but may be uncomfortable with an ethnic hairdo because they are oft times seen as being political. It's no longer the 60's, but an afro today is still seen as rebellious, especially if it's big enough to be pulled back and isn't. Let's be honest and say that some hairstyles are completely outlandish and are done with the sole purpose of creating drama, attention, or making a statement. But how can you be taken seriously when you've got some rainbow coloured sculpted and weaved updo? Some of those styles are good for a hair show or even for the club, but not in a professional atmosphere.
And I agree with Kita that there are those who take it to another level by overdoing the nails and makeup as well. IMO that look doesn't inspire confidence in that person's ability to perform. For example my hubby's cousin grew locs, mostly just to see how long they would get. He grew those for close to 12 years before he cut them off. Despite graduating Summa Cum Laude, winning a medal for top marks, being feted by three different hospitals for his internship, and actually working with some of the top surgeons in the US, he cut off the dreads so he would appear to be exactly what he is; knowledgeable and competent. Yes he's a doctor, but this attitude extends across the many levels of employment and professionalism. If the girl who cleaned my table at the food court looks like she's hitting the club as soon as her shift ends, I wipe the table again. I just don't believe with the amount of money she paid for those nails that she's 1. gotten her hands wet, or 2. scrubbing my table hard enough to get the crumbs off of it. |
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English 
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id: #163
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