Do a quick search for “unprofessional hairstyles” and you’ll see mostly African hairstyles pop up in the results, which some argue is proof of bias. However, algorithms might just be reflecting the more extensive societal environment.
Photo credit: cookie_studio
Have you ever noticed that a Google search for "unprofessional hairstyles for work" shows mostly images of black people with natural hair or African hairstyles, whilst a search for "professional" ones returns images of white women? The hairstyles themselves are usually similar, with the exception of the hair type and the skin tone of the person.
It's 2022, and one can't help but wonder: why is this still happening, and who is to blame? Women's hairstyles in the workplace have long been a touchy subject, and it's even more so for women of colour who embrace their natural hair texture. Google Images typically determines who or what is depicted in a photograph by analyzing the surrounding text and captions. In the case of the great hair dispute, many of the images of black women wearing "unprofessional haircuts" appear to have come from blogs, articles, and Pinterest boards. Many are from people of colour who openly express and challenge discriminatory views around their hair.
Credits: Anastasia
Rather than making a ruling, the algorithm reflects conversations regarding "unprofessional hair" prejudices, but nevertheless, we can’t deny that there is still an obvious bias against African hairstyles being suitable for some workplace environments. Dreadlocks are a good example; they've been labeled an "unprofessional hairstyle" for years. Many people have related stories of being turned down for interviews or employment opportunities just because they refuse to change their hairdo.
Credits: wayhomestudio
But dreadlocks are more than just a fashion statement; the first documented reference to locks can be found in Vedic writings, and holy Hindu manuscripts going back to 1500BC, where Lord Shiva's hair is referred to as 'jata,' a Sanskrit term meaning "twisted locks of hair." Locks are connected with strength in various regions of Africa and are exclusively worn by warriors. So why do a lot of workplaces have issues with individuals embracing their culture, and how does it stop one from being top performers?
Companies shouldn't tell people that African hairstyles are unprofessional simply because it isn’t straight! I love how the new generation workforce is breaking down this bias and simply saying “No!’ Just because something is different, doesn't mean it's wrong and women are going the extra mile to bring fresh new looks to the workplace.
So are search engines to be blamed?
This brings us back to our conversation; maybe search engines are not as smart as we think it is especially when dealing with intent. Google is unable to comprehend the primary context of the website from which the information is being extracted, as well as the meaning and intent of the search that yielded those terms. When you search for "unprofessional hairstyles," you're probably looking for examples of unprofessional hair. However, Google is just providing you with content that is "relevant to" what you looked for; efforts are more focused on understanding what is in the content, rather than what it actually means. Is this something Google can solve? Or are they even trying to?
