Another quarter of Black women ages 25 to 34 surveyed said they were sent home from work because of their hair.
A recent survey conducted by LinkedIn and Dove revealed that a majority of Black women feel they have to alter their hairstyle in order to be acknowledged and respected in professional settings or when seeking job opportunities.
The study surveyed approximately 1,000 Black women aged between 25 and 64. The sample size included both part-time and full-time employees.
The survey revealed that 66% of Black women have changed their hair for job interviews to reduce the possibility of facing discrimination due to their hairstyle.
When looking at the data, said Andrew McCaskill, a senior director of global communications and career expert for LinkedIn, workplaces need “to work better” for women in general, but especially Black women.
In today’s society, many Black women are embracing their natural hair and not chemically altering it anymore. This decision is especially important when considering the potential risks associated with chemical relaxers, including an increased chance of developing uterine cancer.
Black women with textured hair face much higher levels of discrimination and microaggressions at work than their counterparts with straight (or relaxed) hair. Studies also reveal that 25% of Black women aged from 25 to 34 are even sent home due to their hairstyle.
In one LinkedIn post, a Black woman shared a screenshot of a message she received online criticizing her natural hair — saying she needs to “tone it down and make it flat” while also labeling the woman’s hair as “scary.” The woman shared her own selfie wearing her natural hair and said instead, she decided to “TURN IT UP & PUFF IT OUT!”
Her hair looks fine to me. Thoughts?
Experiencing hair discrimination at an early point in a Black professional’s career can cause an automatic “disconnect of belonging” and a loss of confidence in their skills, McCaskill suggested. One example he cited is a young Black worker not getting the anticipated reaction for their work because the manager “is focused on something like their hair.”
“What we know is that, as you get more mature in your career, you’re typically also more confident in your skills that you have and what you bring to the table,” McCaskill said.
“For younger folks, these types of aggressions and microaggressions can cause real angst for them in terms of even to the point of doubting their skills and saying, ‘I can’t do this anymore.'”
Last March, lawmakers on both the state and national levels came together to pass the Crown Act. This landmark legislation outlawed discrimination based on hairstyle and texture. California was the pioneer in preventing hair discrimination, with other states soon following their example.
Last July, Massachusetts passed its own anti-hair discrimination law.
Companies can foster belonging among Black employees by “giving people space for their authenticity at work and being intentional about it,” McCaskill said. And most importantly, they need to “believe Black women when they have the bravery and courage to say that they are experiencing microaggressions and or hair discrimination at work.”
LinkedIn, McCaskill said, provides diversity, equity, and inclusion courses on topics such as uncovering unconscious bias in recruiting and interviewing. But he also said Black professionals should protect their own identity and expression.
(But the nose ring would be an issue in some workplaces)
“If your authentic self and your authentic hair are not welcome in that space, that’s probably not a space where you will be able to thrive anyway, he said.”
It would be interesting to see the same study for White and Latina women.
On one hand, hair discrimination shouldn’t be tolerated – On the other, standards of professionalism should be honored and some places, such as law offices, have strict rules for appearance for women and men.
I once applied for a job at a large corporation and was told I’d have to shave my goatee as part of company protocol and that men’s hair couldn’t grow longer than the top of their back neck collar.