Sociological Analysis of Bell Hooks' 'Straightening Our Hair' Essay

This essay provides an analysis of Bell Hooks' article, "Straightening Our Hair." The essay examines the misconceptions surrounding African American and white women's hair practices. It explores Hooks' arguments regarding the reasons behind African American women straightening their hair, including imitation of white women and the symbolism of transitioning into womanhood. The analysis also considers the evolving perspectives presented in the article, touching upon the cultural significance of hair pressing and the expression of independence. Furthermore, the essay addresses criticisms and different viewpoints on the topic, offering a comprehensive understanding of the social and cultural complexities surrounding hair and identity within the African American community. The essay utilizes various sources to support its arguments and provide a well-rounded analysis of the subject matter.

Running head: ANALYSIS OF STRAIGHTENING OUR HAIR
Analysis of Straightening Our Hair
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ANALYSIS OF STRAIGHTENING OUR HAIR
Straightening Our Hair is an article which was written by the author Bell Hooks. In
the article itself, the author has provided the reader’s the information about the subject matter
of the misconception which the common people have about the black women of the county
should want themselves to be black themselves or the fact that the white women of the
country themselves should always straighten their hair themselves. These are some of the
misconceptions which have been discussed by the author in the article which she had written
for the readers. This is what the readers will analyse in the essay itself.
The purpose of this essay is to make an analysis of the subject matter of the
article Straightening Our Hair written by the author Bell Hooks.
In the beginning of the article itself, the author of the article Bell Hooks talks about
the various misconceptions which the people of the country have in relation to the things
done by the African American as well as the white women of the country themselves.
The readers find that the author in the article had raised questions to the various
arguments as she tries to find the reasons for the African American women to keep their hair
strengthened. While the readers get the idea that she first considers the idea a transformation
for the women to be moving from the innocence of their childhood to their adulthood itself
(Hooks:1988).
As the readers go through the articles themselves, they find the author had completely
changed her outlook when it came to the understanding of the facts behind the
misconceptions of the people of the country themselves (Carr:70).
She points out to the readers that the reason why the African American women decide
to straighten their hair is because of the fact that they try to imitate the white women of the
America itself (Hooks:1988).

2ANALYSIS OF STRAIGHTENING OUR HAIR
The author further goes on to state the fact that the straightening of the hair by the
African American women is an example of the upcoming womanhood which all of them have
to embrace at some point in their lives themselves.
Moreover, the readers also get to understand the fact that through the straightening of
their hair, the women themselves signifies closing of the door of innocence. All of these
factors have been mentioned by the author in the article herself (Lindsey:25).
“Hair pressing was a ritual of black women’s culture”
It is through these articles that the author, as is clearly seen by the readers themselves,
that the author at this stage clearly had changed her opinions about the reasons which she had
given for the African American women for straightening their hairs themselves.
The readers get the idea from the article itself that the author sates that the black
women expresses their independence of their nature through the straightening of their hairs
themselves. Some critics at this point also questions the credibility of the sources which she
mentions in the story itself.
The readers of the article also are given the option of expressing their doubts in the
article which she had written as in the article, she had clearly stated that the black men are
attracted to the women who have straight air themselves (Carr:65).
The reason this is not true is because of the fact that there are different men who likes
different kinds of women depending on their choices. Hence, it can be seen that the author is
not right in her statement (Brooke:300).
Thus, from the above discussions, it can be stated that the author Bell Hooks in the
article “Straightening Our Hair” talks about the subject matter of the African American
women and how they straighten their hair in various aspects. Thus, the readers get to know

3ANALYSIS OF STRAIGHTENING OUR HAIR
about the various aspects about the lives of the African American women in the country of
America itself.

4ANALYSIS OF STRAIGHTENING OUR HAIR
Reference List
Brooks, Wanda M., and Jonda C. McNair. "“Combing” through representations of black
girls’ hair in African American children’s literature." Children's Literature in
Education 46.3 (2015): 296-307.
Brown, Nadia. "“It's more than hair… that's why you should care”: the politics of appearance
for Black women state legislators." Politics, Groups, and Identities 2.3 (2014): 295-
312.
Carr, Joi. "The paraphernalia of suffering: Chris Rock's Good Hair, still playing in the dark."
Black Camera: An International Film Journal (The New Series) 5.1 (2013): 56-71.
Hooks, Bell. "Straightening our hair." Avant-Garde Z Magazine (1988).
Lindsey, Treva B. "“One time for my girls”: African-American girlhood, empowerment, and
popular visual culture." Journal of African American Studies 17.1 (2013): 22-34.
Walters, Tracey L. "Black British Women’s Literature and the Politics of Hair." Diasporic
Women’s Writing of the Black Atlantic:(En) Gendering Literature and Performance
(2014): 52-63.

5ANALYSIS OF STRAIGHTENING OUR HAIR