I hope you all can help me. I'm working on an article about wearing locked styles in the workplace. I'd like to get the perspective of people in a variety of professions.
Were you concerned about how your hair would be perceived? What kind of feedback do you receive from co-workers, management? Do you believe your hair has an impact when job-searching?
Please let me know if you or anyone you know would be willing to share their experiences with me.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
My experiences have been good at work. I live in a very diverse location, South Florida. I work in an office I am not management, I have an admin/clerical type of position. I have received nothing but compliements. (to my face anyway) I do believe that people are being genuine in general when they compliment. I have even been recommended for a promotion and I have 3 inch 3 week old sisterlocks and before that I was wearing a TWA. As far as being concerned about what might happen once I started wearing my natural hair, I prayed about it and felt that God would help me get through any problems, I thought to myself; this is the hair that you gave me Lord and I have to eat and have a roof over my head so please make it so that my natural hair is never an issue at work, and if I leave this job please lead me to a work environment that is open minded enough to understand that this is my natural hair. And my natural tightly coiled afro, or locks can be just as clean, neat and professional as straight hair and in some cases more professional than some of the greasy dandruff filled relaxed heads I've seen. I did not come to work expecting negativety, I have the same attitude when I leave the house, I walk with confidence...again, I have the this is me take it or leave it attitude when it comes to my natural hair. I did have one female co-worker ask me what the 'white' people think...I was like huh??? White people are not the ones I need to concern myself with it's usually the Black Nap Patrol you have to be ready for and I told her 'besides, if I cared about what people thought I would not have cut off my Straight relaxed hair in the first place.
Renea,
You may be interested in my latest post on this subject.
http://sister-in-locks.blogspot.com/
I am currently looking for a position. I am originally from Washington DC, have lived in Ft. Lauderdale for the past 6 years and recently moved to Port St. Lucie Fl. I have been looking for work to no avail and am beginning to worry if the powers to be in my area are intimidated by my hair, and appearance. I have never had this problem in the past and others in my life have been surprised. At this point in my life though, I am looking for more responsibility in the positions that I am seeking and I am really thinking of starting to wear wigs, or foregoing my locks all together until I get to where I am trying to go. I too would love to hear other opinions on this subject.
Post a Comment