Affiliation:
1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
Abstract
As more organizations encourage their employees to bring their authentic selves to work, this chapter explores the role of hairstyle among African American/Black women working in government organizations. This qualitative study draws from seven focus group interviews conducted in 2022 with 38 Black women employed by local or state governments in a southeastern state. Results indicate that like other industries, Black women working in government experience bias against natural hair and respond in various ways. Although hairstyle at work continues to be a “dilemma” for many Black women, they also view themselves as leaders and recognize the opportunity to influence the culture in their workplaces and communities through their hairstyle choices.