Reply to Do you judge any potential nannies on look?

Forum Index » General Discussion

Reply to "Do you judge any potential nannies on look?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I sometimes wear my hair in cornrows (I am black) but never in a photo on a job site and never in an interview. Unfortunately, black women with straight, stringy hair earn higher salaries, in any profession- there is lots of employment data to show it. So my hair is straightened for first impressions. Otherwise, I risk getting lower salary offers.[/quote]

I haven't found that to be true. I'm sure being black in and of itself is enough to eliminate me from some positions, but of the families I interview with, my hair has never been an issue. I have big natural hair, but it easy to pull it into a bun for an interview, or if I'm working with a grabby infant. I wouldn't want to work for a family that has an issue with my race or my hair, and I also wouldn't accept a lower salary than I feel is appropriate. [/quote]

I agree that for some families no hair style will make the difference because they just are not going to hire me. You are right about that.

I disagree that for the other families style is not an issue. When I have worn my natural hair out and big it has not been a problem. Wrapping it up in a bun is not a problem either. There is something about wearing any hairstyle that is stereotypically African American though that seems to be a problem. I would never denegrate myself to work for someone who cared but I also have no way of knowing that. As far as salary, it also comes into play in terms of opportunity loss and implicit bias. So I may be stuck in a cerain pay range for years while other people earn more even though we are all gaining additional experience and skills. There is nothing wrong with a $15 wage. What if I want to take on new challenges though, expand my skill set? Suddenly there is an invisible ceiling. The opportunity to do more challenging work that would give me the experience to earn a higher salary is limited unless I fit a certain mold.

I also notice I get more questions about my discipline style dependng on whether I look more main stream or not. Hair in a bun, ok basic questions about my discipline style. Cornrows, now you want to know how my mother discpiplined me as a child, whether I know what the term passive violence means, etc.

It is a choice we each have to make whether we want to expend energy wading through disparate treatment. I don't wear cornrows because I have decided to focus on concerns related to my skills, not my looks. I also don't wear my converses, or sweatshirt or reusable tote to a nanny interview even though those are the things I would use almost daily on the job.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics