curly teenager with glassesIt took years for me to realize how much my teacher had affected my hair confidence. It also took me years to realize that America has a major phobia of black/textured hair. This problem was much bigger than some fifth-grade teacher in some random school. Natural hair is often seen as unprofessional and unkempt which is obviously ludicrous because people can’t change the way they grow their hair.

What does this say of America’s supposed evolved views on textured hair?

Turn on your television and you’re almost guaranteed to find ensembles of actors with straight hair. Most powerful women with curly hair still choose to hide it. In fact, out of the 20 female senators currently serving–none of them wear their hair curly! When kids don’t see people who look like them in the media and in powerful positions it affects their confidence and makes them feel less able to be in these situations.

Living in a society where straight hair is normal affects children’s confidence and how curly women are seen in general. The fact still remains that straight hair privilege exists and the only way to combat it is for us to have a real open discussion about it.

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