As a woman, do you consider whether your hair makes a political statement? Is wearing your hair natural something that you avoid so that you will be accepted by your coworkers? Well, the answer to these questions might have something to do with your race.
To straighten or not to straighten? Should I wear a weave, or not? Should I sit in a salon for hours, with chemicals burning my scalp in order to keep my hair “professional-looking?” Will my boss think I am making a political statement? “What will my mom say if I wear my hair natural?”
Recently, Gabby Douglas won an Olympic gold medal for her unbelievable performance in the all-around event for womens’ gymnastics. And what did some people want to talk about the next day? Her hair. Many took to Facebook and Twitter to critique and make jokes about how Gabby needed a perm, or perhaps a more styled ponytail. This comes as no surprise to my African-American female students. Nor were they shocked that an employee from Glamour magazine told a bunch of execs at a New York City law firm that Afros have to go. The Glamour staffer’s point; natural hairstyles are too political for the workplace. They will interfere with your advancement.
Women, and particularly white women, might want to go to YouTube and view “A Girl Like Me.” It deals with hair, as it relates to young teenage Black girls. One girl recounts her mom scolding her for wearing her hair natural. Another talked about how she grew up associating permed hair or “good hair” with being beautiful, with being White.
This type of antiquated thinking has no place in an era in which we are encouraged to value diversity and be comfortable in our own skin and hair. All of us, regardless of our gender, race, ethnicity, or age, need to be aware of the socially constructed importance of hair, and do our part to provide everyone, and women of color in particular, with a world where hair is not good or bad, it just is.