Microaggressions Against Natural Hair
New York and California are the only two states that ban race-based hair discrimination in the workplace. These POC professionals opened up about microaggressions they've experienced.
Black women suffer more anxiety around hair issues and spend more on hair care than their white peers
New York and California are the first two U.S. states to ban race-based hair discrimination. This is an experience that many have had in the workplace. Black women are almost twice as likely to experience social pressure at work to straighten their hair compared to white women according to the Perception Institute. The potential for ‘hair biases’ to limit both perceptions of self and opportunities in the workplace has a distinct effect on black women. Amid a growing natural hair movement among black women, can the science offer any solutions that can help reduce bias and promote positive perceptions of natural hair both for women themselves and among others who see them?
Black women are 80% more likely to alter their hair to meet social norms at work, and 50% more likely to be sent home or know a black woman who was sent home because of her natural hair. Some key findings confirm that black women suffer more anxiety around hair issues and spend more on hair care than their white peers. They are almost twice as likely to experience social pressure at work to straighten their hair compared to white women. Studies like The Perception Institute also concludes that “White women demonstrate the strongest bias — both explicit and implicit — against textured hair.” They rated it as “less beautiful,” “less sexy/attractive” and “less professional than smooth hair.” However, white women who are in contact with black women “naturalistas” demonstrated lower levels of bias. Given that white women make up a large majority of the 38% of female managers who decide what looks are appropriate for work, legal conflicts sometimes ensue.
The bottom line is that time, society shifts and cultural integration in the workplace along with more mainstream media, TV and movie appreciation of natural hair will ultimately move the needle forward towards wider acceptance to a point where these biases may be eroded or untaught.
Brut.
197 comments
Dannielle W.
02/22/2020 05:12This ad made me love myself witch IV never done or should I say felt
Bella C.
08/06/2019 05:47Why does she she pluck her eyebrows and her mustache etc she just wants attention for her stupid blog this is old
Jabyl A.
07/31/2019 16:32bc
Martin G.
07/31/2019 06:39WTF have I just watched.....???
Penny F.
07/30/2019 22:51Noooo!
Breda D.
07/30/2019 16:28The only people who put women down are other women, men don't really care
Ben S.
07/30/2019 14:11I like this revolutionary thinking
Julie S.
07/30/2019 11:36Confused....sooo you don't shave your legs but groom your eyebrows....just saying.....who is paying for this online advertising. 🤔🙄
Omair A.
07/30/2019 09:51Top Fan is here.. Don't waste your time in commenting 🤣
Farooq A.
07/30/2019 06:25This is what Feminism has now come to,
Aibie F.
07/30/2019 03:55if you feel like it then go n.
Clinton J.
07/30/2019 02:01I get where shes coming from she wants it to not be standard and expected of women to shave their legs. Which it is But truth is that will make many male viewers not watch. So i understand both her point and why they didnt do it.
Lala J.
07/30/2019 00:34Well
Abigail O.
07/30/2019 00:11Men don't like to remember. They've died.
Alan G.
07/29/2019 23:01Is that why she does her eyebrows and has her hair cut??? Because of the beauty standards? Stupid! Is this what feminism is about nowadays? Marie Curie, Emily Davison etc are turning in their graves!
Jacomien S.
07/29/2019 19:41Very good, I do the same; being who I am.
Bernarka H.
07/29/2019 19:20Who cares?
Ankush K.
07/29/2019 17:45No one cares if you have body hair or not . To walk around with a body full of hairs and wear XL or anything. What we do care is to not see this stupid video about society's idea for beauty standards. We all have preferences and maybe some people are in hairy bodies but most aren't . So it's your choice to shave your legs or not but it's our choice to find you attractive or not. You can't force anyone into liking you.
Nupur S.
07/29/2019 17:01I don't get excited for Brushing my teeth too. Duh!!!
Wassim B.
07/29/2019 16:43see tu peux t'épiler les jambes du coups , pour la soutenir