Colleagues,
If you are still around Wednesday morning, we invite you to participate in a symposium exploring the intersection of professional image construction and culturally-influenced grooming practices - specifically the implications surrounding the choice for some African American women to wear their hair in natural styles (e.g., afros, braids, dreadlocks) or chemically straightened. Our diverse panel will discuss the issue from several theoretical perspectives. Equally important for a productive session is a diverse audience to offer additional considerations and insights. It should be an exciting and lively discussion.
Professional Image Construction and Culturally-influenced Grooming Choices
Program Session #: 1607 | Submission: 13801 | Sponsor(s): (OB)
Scheduled: Wednesday, Aug 13 2008 8:30AM - 10:20AM at Anaheim Marriott in Grand Ballroom - Salon C
Organizer: Olenda E Johnson; U.S. Air Force Academy;
Participant: Tracy L. Dumas; Emory U.;
Participant: Claudia J. Ferrante; U.S. Air Force Academy;
Participant: Ashleigh Shelby Rosette; Duke U.;
Discussant: dt ogilvie; Rutgers U.; Scholars have described numerous impression management strategies employed to construct professional image (e.g., style of dress, grooming, proactive behaviors, etc.). However, few have explored culturally-specific impression management (see Roberts, 2005 for an exception). Members of various cultural and social groups may encounter professional image concerns that are unique to their culture, thereby engendering additional complexities in the impression management process. In this symposium, we explore the cultural complexities associated with a workplace grooming choice that is unique to African American professional women – whether to chemically straighten their textured hair or wear it in its naturally "kinky" state. As evidenced by several recent legal challenges, newsworthy organizational policy changes, on-going dialogue in popular women's and diversity-themed magazines, and the emphasis on inclusion in diverse organizational settings, this grooming choice for African American women has become a relevant organizational issue. The "straight vs. natural" hair question can be viewed from multiple lenses to include that of self and others, as well as organizations and society. As such, panelists will draw upon a host of theoretical perspectives – self and social identities, career management, leadership prototypes, stigmatization, sensemaking, selection-attraction – and levels of analysis to guide the discussion. We aim to develop research questions and define methodologies for future research on this topic.
| Search Terms: | Impression Management , Culture , Inclusion |
Dr. Claudia Ferrante
Associate Professor
Deputy for Academics
Department of Management
U.S. Air Force Academy