RAB Source Entry #2- Hannael Foucault

Source Entry 2

Part 1: MLA Citation

Janice Gassam Asare. “Four Ways Hair Bias Shows Up In The Workplace.” Forbes Magazine, 15 August. 2023. Forbes.com

https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2022/08/15/four-ways-hair-bias-shows-up-in-the-workplace/?sh=26078be969a3

Part 2: Summary

        The feature article titled ‘Four Ways Hair Bias Shows Up In The Workplace,’ by Janice Gassam Asare highlights the sad reality of black women’s hair being deemed inappropriate in a workplace. Many businesses tend to put in place grooming policies that only seem to apply to people of color, creating an environment that makes black women feel out of place and targeted. Asare stated “Black employees who change from a more “professional” (read: white/Eurocentric) hairstyle to a Black hairstyle find that they can experience inequitable treatment from both leadership and peers. In addition to hiring biases, some employees have been fired for their Black hair.” Asare is trying to convey to readers the unjust treatment black women endure when wearing their hair naturally or in braids/locs. It even goes as far as black women getting fired for their hair instead of being judged on their work. Clearly, these lines are showing that black women get treated significantly better when their hair is straight like white women’s hair. Asare adding that white womens hair is deemed more professional is so important because that is how society sees it. Having straight hair is the gold standard of modesty and professionalism. Therefore, a black woman  can never be seen as professional unless they alter their hair to fit the white beauty standard. Asare mentioned that by making black women’s hair seem unprofessional, we make them feel othered as well as dehumanized. Fortunately though, states passed the Crown Act bill which now protects people of color from being discriminated against because of their hair.

Part 3: Reflection

        This article is important to me because as a young black woman I need to know about the possible discrimination I may receive when I start to work. Being black in America or anywhere forces you to educate and prepare yourself for situations where other races may try to attack you. This article helps me to not be surprised if something like that happens to me. The idea of ethnic hair being unprofessional is also common in the African American community itself. There have been occasions where my own mother would say my long braids send the wrong impression and that no one would take me seriously if I put beads in my hair. Many black women straighten their hair for important events just so that no negative comments will be said about their hair. In my personal experience, I get more compliments and treated nicer when my hair is straight. Asare spoke about when a hairstyle is deemed ‘too black’ it can cause discrimination against them in the workplace. To me, a hairstyle should never be deemed as ‘too black’, all African Americans hairstyles are either worn to protect the natural hair in some way or are done for cultural meaning. What does ‘too black’ even mean? There is no such thing as hairstyles that are too Asian or Hispanic or Caucasian. There is such a double standard when it comes to discussions such as these and that’s why states decided to put in place the Crown Act, which protects black hairs cultural identity. This bill is beneficial for me because I know that my hair is safe in a place of business and if there is a circumstance where my hair gets attacked, I know that I’m protected by law.

Part 4: Rhetorical Analysis

      This piece is a feature piece with the purpose to inform and an empathetic and informative writing style. The writer is appealing to pathos to get readers to empathize with what black women specifically have to deal with just because of their hair. The target audience is the general public, but more specifically employers/workplaces. It would be beneficial for employers to read this article because it can help them to be conscious of not subconsciously discriminating against black women’s hair. This piece was written to shed light on the hair bias targeted towards African Americans and how unfair the system is. The tone is straightforward. Janice Gassam Asare is a best selling author, was named LinkedIn Top Voice in Racial Equity, is an award winning DEI consultancy and has a Ph.D in organizational psychology. In print since 1917, Forbes provides readers with consistent, fact checked information.

Part 5: Notable Quotables

“Many workplaces have specific policies about professionalism and appearance expectations that can cause disparate impact, or unintentional discrimination, for Black employees.” (Asare)

“Throughout the decades, there have been a plethora of cases where job candidates were denied employment because of Black hairstyles, including the recent cases of Jeffrey Thornton and Chastity Jones.” (Asare)

“Black employees may be asked questions about a new hairstyle they are rocking or interrogated about whether their hair is real. It is not often considered how these sorts of questions can make a person feel othered and dehumanized—these inquiries are rarely asked to non-Black colleagues.” (Asare)

“A hairstyle deemed “too Black” can not only thwart a person’s likelihood to be hired, but the discrimination continues once an employee is hired into a workplace. “ (Asare)
“It is important that employers are educated about legislation like the CROWN Act, which provides state-wide protections against race-based hair discrimination.” (Asare)