The first job: will their hair make the cut?

Graduation is right around the corner for these young ladies. Marquel Sennet and Olivia Sanders are both looking forward to their future careers in broadcast news.  They both have kept themselves busy with pursuing internships, leading student organizations and creating their resume tapes in hopes of landing their first job.   

But, the preparation doesn’t end there. Broadcast Journalism is an appearance-based medium. If you don’t look good, then people will not watch you.  Marquel wears relaxed hair. Olivia wears her hair natural.  Do they think their hair will prevent them from getting a job as a reporter?

Read below to find out what they have to say.                                          

                                         Marquel Sennet

Senior, Journalism—Broadcast News

University of North Texas

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When did you get your first relaxer? When I was in the sixth grade…I think I was twelve years old.

Did you ever want to go natural?

No, when you have a relaxer— you have more versality with your hairstyles and to me it’s easier to maintain.

You want to be a reporter—do feel that you can wear natural hair as a journalist?

No…It’s sad—because hair shouldn’t determine a person’s capabilities. I don’t feel like its right and I don’t feel like its fair.  Most conservative [news] markets you have to have a traditional, conservative look.

You’re about to graduate—do you feel any pressure to keep a certain look to maintain professionalism?

Yes—normally I like to wear weaves in my hair. I like to wear wavy hair, but I understand for the business that to get in the door you must wear your hair a certain way.  I know that I have to wrap my hair and wear it straight.  

Do you think you will ever reach a point in your career when you can wear your hair the way you want?

Yes—once get my foot in the door, I will wear the hairstyles I like. 

Is ethnic hair unacceptable?

MELISSA THEODORE 33, Accountant, Ernst & Young, Manhattan

“I have an older sister who is a corporate lawyer and my father used to tell me that she would only interview with straightened hair. Once she got the job then she would then switch to braids. Many people believe that ethnic hair is unacceptable. But my hair has never been a problem as far as my career goes. It’s neat and very professional.” (Newsday / Bruce Gilbert)

The hidden secret revealed —black women have discussed this issue with at least one of their closest girlfriends. What advice do black women seek? They want to know if wearing their natural hair will prevent them from obtaining a job or if it will ruin their chances for a promotion in the corporate world. The picture and text that you see above were found in an article written by Tania Padgett on Newsday.com.

Padgett addresses in her article whether African-American women working in high-profile careers have encountered on-the-job discrimination based on their hairstyle. This article comes after Glamour Magazine’s controversial battle over advice given in their ‘dos and don’ts’ section of their magazine: telling young readers to “just say no to the fro” when it comes to how black women appear to the professional world.

(See post: Glamour says “no” to the “fro”)

Stay tuned for more hair-raising news!!!