This article explores the importance of role modelling and representation and the importance “if you can see you can be it”.
It is estimated that 65% of the US population have curly, coily or wavy hair with a growing percentage of women embracing their natural textured hair. Like the colour of our skin, we are diverse in hair texture, however rather than celebrating our differences, society has created a notion that straight hair is professional. competent and serious in comparison to curly hair. This was magnified in the 1990’s with images everywhere of straight haired women in media, the corporate world and beyond. With the evolution of straighteners, straight hair became the norm and still remains dominant in the public eye.
Society mindset and systems need to be changed. Instead, we have the reverse with curly haired women changing to conform to the images that society has created. Numerous studies have been published which report discrimination and prejudice against black women wearing their hair naturally in the workplace which highlights the very steep mountain that has yet to be conquered.
