Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University African-American Studies Theses Department of African-American Studies Spring 5-9-2015 The Development of Microaggressions in the Online Natural Hair Community: A Thematic Analysis Yasmin Harrell Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/aas_theses Recommended Citation Harrell, Yasmin, "The Development of Microaggressions in the Online Natural Hair Community: A Thematic Analysis." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2015. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/aas_theses/27 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of African-American Studies at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in African-American Studies Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE DEVELOPMENT OF MICROAGGRESSIONS IN THE ONLINE NATURAL HAIR COMMUNITY: A THEMATIC ANALYSIS by YASMIN HARRELL Under the Direction of Sarita Davis, PhD ABSTRACT This qualitative study explores microaggressions in the online natural hair community. Using a thematic analysis, it specifically analyzes conversations about natural hair texture discrimination and /or biases, also known as curlism, in natural hair online spaces such as blogs and YouTube videos. This study concludes that hair texture biases and the ways in which Black women with natural hair experience difference in hair texture is multifaceted; therefore, natural hair companies, women in the natural hair community, and the natural hair community are not individually responsible. Each plays a different role in the perpetuation of hierarchy and difference within this community. The themes developed in this research are as follows: The Kink Vs. The Curl, Curlism as Colorism, Insurgence of Hair Texture Biases, and Empowerment of the Natural Hair Community. INDEX WORDS: Natural hair, Hair texture, Bias, Black Women, Youtube, Blogs THE DEVELOPMENT OF MICROAGGRESSIONS IN THE ONLINE NATURAL HAIR COMMUNITY: A THEMATIC ANALYSIS by YASMIN HARRELL A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University 2015 Copyright by Yasmin Kalese-Shareece Harrell 2015 THE DEVELOPMENT OF MICROAGGRESSIONS IN THE ONLINE NATURAL HAIR COMMUNITY: A THEMATIC ANALYSIS by YASMIN HARRELL Committee Chair: Sarita Davis Committee: Tiffany King Mukungu Akinyela Electronic Version Approved: Office of Graduate Studies College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University May 2015 iv DEDICATION First and foremost, I would like to dedicate this research project to my Heavenly Father. For without him, I would not have been able to complete this process. I also want to dedicate this to all Black women who have transitioned to wearing their hair in its natural state. I hope that throughout your journey you have found support and learned to love your hair exactly how God meant for it to grow. You my sisters are beautifully and wonderfully made. Last but certainly not least, I want to also dedicate this to my mother and my sister. You both have encouraged and supported me throughout this entire process. I am forever thankful. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge my thesis committee chair, Dr. Sarita Davis. Since the beginning you have been extremely helpful with my thesis project. Thank you so much for the constructive criticism and keeping me on track. I would also like to thank the rest of my committee members for their help with this research project. Because of you all, I am a better scholar. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................. v LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... ix LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ x PROLOGUE..................................................................................................................... xi 1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background........................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Statement of Problem........................................................................................... 8 1.3 Purpose of Study .................................................................................................. 9 1.4 Significance of Study............................................................................................ 9 1.5 Nature of Study................................................................................................... 11 1.6 Research Questions:........................................................................................... 11 1.7 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................... 12 1.8 Natural Hair Terminology................................................................................. 14 1.9 Assumptions........................................................................................................ 14 1.10 Scope, Limitations, and Delimitations............................................................ 15 1.11 Summary........................................................................................................... 15 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................ 16 2.1 Pre-Enslavement/ Post Enslavement ................................................................ 16 2.2 The Development of Good and Bad Hair ......................................................... 18 vii 2.3 The Black Power Movement ............................................................................. 19 2.4 Legislation........................................................................................................... 23 2.5 Colorism and Curlism in the Black Community............................................. 25 2.6 Mass Media/ Self Perceptions............................................................................ 29 2.7 The Emergence of the Natural Hair Community/Movement ........................ 32 2.8 Limitations in the Literature............................................................................. 33 2.9 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................... 35 2.10 Summary........................................................................................................... 36 3 RESEARCH METHODS AND DESIGN APPROPRIATENESS....................... 37 3.1 Population and Sampling .................................................................................. 38 3.2 Data Collection ................................................................................................... 39 3.2.1 Online Sites: ................................................................................................. 39 3.2.2 Vlogs: ............................................................................................................ 40 3.2.3 Blogs: ............................................................................................................. 40 3.3 Discussion of Thematic Analysis....................................................................... 40 3.4 Reliability and Validity...................................................................................... 42 3.5 Limitations .......................................................................................................... 42 3.6 Summary............................................................................................................. 43 4 FINDINGS................................................................................................................. 43 4.1 Demographics ..................................................................................................... 44 viii 4.2 Thematic Analysis and Description.................................................................. 45 4.3 Analysis ............................................................................................................... 48 4.4 The Kink Vs. The Curl ...................................................................................... 50 4.5 Curlism as Colorism........................................................................................... 51 4.6 Insurgence of Hair Texture Biases ................................................................... 53 4.7 Empowerment of the Natural Hair Community ............................................. 55 4.8 Summary............................................................................................................. 56 5 CONCLUSIONS, IMPLICATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................ 57 5.1 Discussions and Conclusions ............................................................................. 57 5.2 Implications......................................................................................................... 62 5.3 Recommendations .............................................................................................. 64 5.3.1 Explore Natural Hair Companies................................................................ 65 5.3.2 Explore the Elimination of Hair Texture