The Emotional Effects of Colorism and Hair Texture on Black Women

This dissertation report examines the emotional effects of colorism and hair texture on black women, focusing on their impact on impostor syndrome in the workplace. The study, based on qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys, reveals that many black women experience impostor syndrome due to societal pressures and biases related to skin tone and hair texture. The research highlights the prevalence of this issue, with 85% of black women reportedly affected, leading to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and depression. The findings emphasize the pressures faced by black women to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards, often leading to changes in their physical appearance to secure job opportunities. The report concludes by advocating for equal opportunities and the recognition of natural beauty in all workplaces to mitigate the negative impacts of colorism and hair texture bias. The report also provides insights into the methodology used, including the tools for measuring anxiety and depression, and includes a comprehensive literature review and references.

Running Head: THE EMOTIONAL EFFECTS OF COLORISM AND HAIR TEXTURE
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The Emotional Effects of Colorism and Hair Texture
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Introduction
The dissertation paper is based on the discussion of the emotional effects of the colorism
and the hair texture and how it influences impostor syndrome in black women in work place
(Mathews & Johnson, 2015). Based on my hypothesis, the skin tone and hair texture have a great
impact on impostor syndrome and satisfaction in black professional women. Statistically, the
research reveals that 85% of black women suffer from impostor syndrome in their workplace in
many parts of the world (Allen & Joseph, 2018). Many of the black women have an experience
of about 3 years but they still suffer the impostor syndrome in their workplace. The impostor
syndrome reveals the country that has no faith and believes in women.
Literature review
The new research has shown that women are affected by Colorism and Hair Texture
which has resulted in impostor syndrome. It has revealed that female employees experiencing
impostor syndrome are suffering from emotional exhaustion. This leads to the conflict between
family life and work. Many women believe that life is not ending and therefore they have high
expectations (Robinson, 2011). Some of the women have no confidence in the way they are
naturally. Some have even left their jobs because they think that they are not fit for their jobs
because of their physical look. Others have just committed suicide due to the emotional feeling
that their hair colorism and hair texture make them unfit to be with other members of the work
place. Black women are highly affected by these social challenges, especially within their
workplace (Turner, 2013). Statistically, 66% of black women have changed their physical look
and their skin color. Some have done so to secure some job opportunities. Taking an example of
the news presenters in most of the television stations in the world, the black women have been

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suffering from impostor syndrome regarding this. Some even changed their natural hair texture
and styles to different styles only to secure their jobs. Skin tone and hair texture bias are some of
the challenging issues that have lead to impacts of impostor syndrome in women (Jackson-
Lowman, 2013). Some job careers have some bias regarding the outlook of the female employee
chosen to work in such positions. Taking an example of the female news presenters, the brown
and light skin ladies have been preferred in most of the television stations as compared to the
dark ladies (Milner, 2016). This has been the main course of the impostor syndrome in most of
the ladies within job place with such sort of physical look demands.
Methodology
The dissertation involves measuring of anxiety and depression of the people suffering
from impostor syndrome. There are two tools considered to be used in measuring anxiety and
depression of these people. The tools I am considering for this dissertation are qualitative
interview and quantitative survey tools. There were some groups of women interviewed and
surveyed concerning the topic of discussion. The women interviewed were blacks in the United
Kingdom. Nicole Crentsil who is 27 years and a public speaker was the main interviewee in this
dissertation.
Findings
Through the interview and survey based on the topic of discussion, there were various
findings noted. It was noted that most of the black women not only in the UK but also in all parts
of the work suffer from impostor syndrome because they think that they are not fit for their jobs
just because they are black and short hair style. Other women are pushed by the demands
depending on the job they do. One of the women interviewed said that she works in the live

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support team and she is naturally black and short hair. As a live support team member in a
certain company, she was forced to change her physical outlook. She had to put lining smooth
white hair and have makeup. She had to do plastic surgery and change her skin color to brown.
She thinks now with a fake physical look, she can fit in many positions in her workplace as
compared to when she has his natural-looking. She said that she is not feeling comfortable with
fake outlook but the situations are forcing her. It was therefore concluded that some women are
suffering from this because life situations are forcing them.
Conclusions
Many women in the world are suffering from impostor syndrome because the situations
and life expectations are so demanding. Some of the women have faked their physical look and
they are guilty of being recognized as frauds. Colorism and hair texture has been more
challenging because women have faked this to fit in their workplace. To avoid this, there should
be testing of the natural look of the women. Besides, there should equal opportunities considered
in all workplaces regardless of the physical outlook of black women to reduce the negative
impacts of this.

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References
Allen, E. L., & Joseph, N. M. (2018). The sistah network: Enhancing the educational and social
experiences of Black women in the academy. NASPA Journal About Women in Higher
Education, 11(2), 151-170.
Jackson-Lowman, H. (2013). An analysis of the impact of Eurocentric concepts of beauty on the
lives of African American women. African American women: Living at the crossroads of
race, gender, class, and culture, 155-172.
Mathews, T. J., & Johnson, G. S. (2015). Skin complexion in the twenty-first century: The
impact of colorism on African American women. Race, Gender & Class, 22(1-2), 248-
274.
Milner, H. R. (2016). Colorism as a salient space for understanding in teacher
preparation. Theory Into Practice, 55(1), 69-79.
Robinson, C. L. (2011). Hair as race: Why “good hair” may be bad for Black females. Howard
Journal of Communications, 22(4), 358-376.
Turner, B. (2013). Colorism in Dael Orlandersmith's Yellowman: The effect of intraracial racism
on Black identity and the concept of Black community. Southern Quarterly, 50(3), 32.