This week it’s braided or straight. Tie it in the back or make it into a smooth bun. These decisions are still made in the kitchen and bathroom before work, not for style, but for safety. Despite years of diversity messaging, hair remains one of the quietest ways to signal who’s fit and who needs a makeover in the workplace.
His language has softened, but the pressure remains. Comments about a more sophisticated look. Suggestions for toning it down. A conditional compliment. None of this is a coincidence.
Seeing someone like Issa Rae wear her hair naturally on the world stage is important because it challenges the idea that professionalism is solely defined by appearance. However, what is portrayed on screen is not always acceptable in the real world.
This is not a matter of personal preference. It’s about control. Until organizations face up to how their dress codes and unspoken norms unfairly impact certain people, hair will continue to be treated as an issue, rather than what it is. Just hair.
Source: Pride Magazine – www.pridemagazine.com
