Shubham Mishra Week 2

A hairpiece: a perspective on the intersection of race

The author ponders on the question of intersectionality and the multi-faced problems which  many sects of the society face and in this case, the black women. This intersectionality is very deep-rooted in our contemporary societies. Understanding intersectionality and creating awareness around it will better present the ground differences among the people. In this article, the author talks of one, Roger v American Airlines where a black woman was dismissed from the airline services because of a specific hairstyle, braids. However, the Supreme Court also held the case in favor of Airlines. This case shows how there is an idea of ‘American’ standard of beauty and women not complying with it are discriminated against and humiliated. Black Women face discrimination not just in jobs but other sects of the society as they are black and women. They become the prey of both sexism and racism which doubles the hardships faced by discrimination in their daily lives. If we look in our contemporary Indian society, intersectionality is very much prevalent and deep-rooted. Although the problem of race is not there as the US the caste is also a similar discriminatory factor. For example how many women do we see in class 1 and 2 of the government services, almost none despite having heavy reservations? Women here as well are said to follow certain unnatural beauty standards and merely treated as objects and lower citizens as compared to men.