This topic has been on my mind for a while, yet I've been mulling over how to present it. We had a topic in the past on Men & Braids, but it dealt more with how we view their appearance(attractiveness), not professionalism.
With that said, to everyone: with diversity being the new corporate "buzz word", it is not uncommon to see African American men in the work place with braids and cornrows. Also, watching
professional sports (such as basketball) many of the players have braids now.
Do you think that this look
is professional? For those that say no, keep in mind that it is acceptable to see African American women in the workplace with braids (especially micros and cornrows). Is it biased to say that African American men should not be afforded the same right and be deemed unprofessional, or do you think it is unprofessional for both?
For those that say it is acceptable/ professional, is there ever a time when the look
is unprofessional (i.e. men that have half of their hair braided, and the other half still "under construction
") and if so, if you were writing a dress code, how would you address those issues from a Human Resources standpoint?