Social networking sites: a support system for African-American women wearing natural hair

Abstract

Hair texture has been a factor in the unspoken cultural divide amongst African-American (AA) women. US society's White beauty ideology enhanced the desire for chemically straight hair; however, some AAs reject this standard. Natural hair is not fully accepted among AA sub-cultures or in mainstream society [Byrd, A. D., & Tharps, L. L. (2001). Hair story: Untangling the roots of Black hair in America. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press]. Consequently, AA women lack knowledge of their natural hair texture. Social networking sites (SNS) present support for the movement towards acceptance and appreciation of natural hair because they communicate information concerning natural hair care and styling. This research revealed the level of support SNS provided for women with natural hair. A purposeful sample of 17 natural hair women participated in focus groups and shared their experiences with SNS. A few participants revealed that they were 'addicted' to using YouTube for hair advice. Participants talked about having no family or friends who wore natural hair, therefore support had to be offered and obtained elsewhere. Findings inform the AA culture and mainstream society on the importance of acceptance of natural hair.

Hair Matters: Toward Understanding Natural Black Hair Bias in the Workplace

“…The final stage, integration, occurs when the individual establishes a new sense of self (Van Gennep, 1960). The notion of transition is prominent theme in the Black hair literature (Ellington, 2015; Norwood, 2018; Turner, 2015). For example, in her autoethnography, Norwood (2018) describes her “natural hair journey” as she moved through different phases of her life.…”

Exploring Her Roots: Black Caribbean Hair Identity and Going Natural Using Social Media Networks

“…A. Johnson & Bankhead, 2014; Peane, 2017). In recent times, there has been an upsurge in the number of Black women who have been letting their hair return to its natural state (a process that is commonly referred to as “going natural”), and sharing these hair experiences online (Ellington, 2014, 2015; T. A. Johnson & Bankhead, 2014).…”

“…With the explosion of the World Wide Web and ever-present social networking sites (SNS), the natural hair of Black women has featured prominently within Black online communities. It is important to understand this “going natural” phenomenon in the Caribbean, as research to date has centered largely on the African American experience (Ellington, 2014, 2015; T. A. Johnson & Bankhead, 2014).…”

O Teu Cabelo Não Nega: Construção Discursiva De Feminilidades Negras Em Narrativas De Transição Capilar

“…Nessas pesquisas, as redes sociais são apontadas como arena fundamental para "contrapor as visões sobre cabelo produzidas pelas mídias convencionais" (Nunes;Oliveira, 2014apud Matos, 2016, contribuindo para a afirmação de uma identidade étnica coletiva na "construção de uma solidariedade que negue a supremacia colonizadora em relação ao povo dominado" (De Paula, 2018). A americana Tameka N. Ellington (2014), reforça a importância do amplo alcance desses sites para a mobilização de um "movimento em direção a aceitação e apreciação do cabelo natural", contribuindo para o letramento racial de mulheres que não teriam acesso a esse tipo de informação em seus espaços privados.…”

“…A escolha do tema transição capilar (Ellington, 2014;Nunes, Oliveira, 2014 apud Matos, 2016;Matos, 2016;Gomes, 2017;De Paula, 2018), foi orientada pela minha própria experiência e pelo universo de sentidos e ressignificações construídos durante a minha jornada de imersão na negritude num âmbito estético-sócio-político. Filha mais velha de um casal inter-racial composto por um homem preto e uma mulher branca, fui criada em uma dinâmica conservadora de papéis de gênero, em que os meus cabelos e o da minha irmã um ano mais nova sempre foram responsabilidade da minha mãe.…”