Chapter 6: NATURAL HAIR IN THE WORKPLACE
Changing our hair can mean dealing with the blank stares, mindless questions, and microaggressions in the workplace from non-black peers when you walk in with natural hair, and no one else looks like you. This reality is especially heightened when you work in corporate America. Prayerfully, a time will come when black women are not discriminated against or laced with judgment because of the way we choose to wear our hair. True progress will happen when the realization that black hair, in every single setting, symbolizes resistance, freedom, love, fight, and power comes to fruition. My advice would be to do what makes you feel comfortable. Some people might actually not want to wear their hair out at work, and some do. If you do decide to let your hair out, the way your hair grows out of your scalp should never be a reason to be discriminated against. I mean, can you imagine if someone with naturally bone straight hair was told they couldn't show up to work with their bone straight hair. "While employers have the right to apply dress codes, an employer who prohibits Afros in the workplace risks the allegation that they are discriminating against black employees, and would need to objectively justify that policy by reference to the job in question.
"Justification for 'grooming' policies are often made by reference to health and safety issues or corporate image.
I love everything about my natural hair. Sure it's a lot of work to maintain but once you find a hair care regimen that works, the versatility is everything. I'm not exactly sure if it's been unintentional or the result of constant practice, but over the years I've always worn my hair blown out or tied back in a bun to work. So, I decided to experiment with wearing my hair in different styles and embracing my natural hair in the workplace. Along with this came people asking to touch my hair, to which I kindly responded "uh, no. The reception was generally positive. Natural hair can be professional. Better yet, natural hair is professional. You can see men and women with Afros in ad campaigns everywhere, movies, TV shows and in the music industry. The natural hair movement has touched nearly every aspect of society. Even so, it feels as if black women are still made to seem, like anything but normal when in the workplace. These kinds of dynamics can take place anywhere, between friends, with strangers in public spaces, or on public transportation. Today, black women continue to face discrimination in the workplace. Whether it's racial bias and stereotyping, micro aggression co-worker, superiors, or disproportionate instance
of sexual harassment black women often experience a very different version of the workplace. Compared to their non-black people of color — counterparts. Bans or restrictions on natural hair or hairstyles associated with black people are often rooted in non black standards of appearance and perpetuate racist stereotypes that black hairstyles are unprofessional. Such policies exacerbate anti-Black bias in employment, at school, while playing sports, and in other areas of daily living. Under Title VII of The Civil Rights Act Of 1964, employers are allowed to enforce dress-code and appearance policies that include the regulation of hair. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which enforces these laws, states employers can impose rules calling for neutral hairstyles which have to be applied to everyone equally, regardless of race. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. Of course some hairstyles are more particular to the people of certain races, and what constitutes "neutral" regarding hair looks is entirely subjective. Especially when you look to history which has been particularly unforgiving of black women's hair.
Bravo sis! Enough is enough. We become so accustomed to the constraints, and mandates of Eurocentric beauty standards that nine times out of ten we won't even question them. We straighten our hair. We put in braids. We loosen our buns. We pat down our curls. We cut off our locs. And for what, a paycheck? In light of this, and countless other cases of black women and men being denied their dignity and educational or professional opportunities as a direct result of their unapologetic black aesthetic, I've compiled a list of questions that I hope can open up an honest dialogue between people about why we feel the way we feel about certain hair in the workplace. We need to get to the truth to change the tide. How would you feel if something you were born with was deemed unacceptable?
In keeping with the logical approach- because so many people have been conditioned to tune you out the minute you start talking about inequality- the simple fact is that our hair grows how it grows. There are methods available to change it, but we should not have to. What if fair skin was deemed inappropriate for work? Or blue eyes? Our natural hair is just as common place for us as those traits are for others. How crazy would it be to hear someone say 'I'm sorry Beth, but your skin is just to fair. It's really not what we're looking for here so if you want the job you're going to have to tan it up. Make yourself more presentable.' The way our hair is spoken about is just as ridiculous. In the past, I found myself removing my braids or straightening my hair for interviews. "Why should I have to alter my hair for fear of rejection? My hair grows from my scalp this way," I often said. It was time to put my foot down with this foolishness and never be caught asking my boss if a potential hairstyle was "professional" enough or against company policy. Don't get me wrong. I fully understand when you don't make the rules, you have no real authority in changing them. When someone else writes your check, you come to a crossroad and either bite the bullet and alter your hair, or you will find another job. Somewhere down the line, it seemed as if we came to the realization that harsh chemicals, and extreme tension hairstyles led to breakage, balding, or even worse. We learned the art of "protective hair styling" and that we could rock the hair that we were born with pride and confidence. Now anyone who's been on or preparing to embark on a "natural hair journey" knows that it is no easy venture. Deprogramming ourselves from the thought that straight hair is better, easier to maintain, and more beautiful is a mindset that is hard to unravel. It may take months or sometimes even years to undo the damage to one's hair which in some case means totally starting from scratch, which inevitably means "the big chop. But after a few months of hit-and-miss hairstyles and awkward lengths, something wonderful begins to happen and you look in the mirror and see your wonderful coils, strands, and utter "I look good!"
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