Hair and Health Among African American Women: Historical and Sociocultural Considerations for Physical Activity and Mental Health
by Dr. Patricia O’Brien-Richardson PhD, MS Ed
Abstract
Many African American women encounter distinct historical and sociocultural challenges that impede their engagement in physical activity and mental health services because their providers are often culturally uninformed about the significance of Black hair. In exploring the historical and social contexts surrounding Black hair in America and how it has disproportionately affected those of African descent, this paper aims to provide a foundational understanding of the significance of hair. Hair is an integral part of the identity of people of African descent, particularly those who identify as African American women and girls, who have been subject to incessant messages about Eurocentric beauty standards that have been embedded into the fabric of American history since the enslavement of African people.
The physical inactivity and obesity levels of African American women are causes for concern. In 2020, the proportion of non-Hispanic Black women who met the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans was lower than the proportions of non-Hispanic white, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic Asian women who did so (National Center for Health Statistics, 2022). Similarly, in 2020, African American women had the highest percentage of obesity (59%) relative to other racial and ethnic groups: Hispanic women (45%), white women (39%), and Asian women (14%) (Trust for America’s Health, 2023). Because African American women are disproportionately affected by physical inactivity and obesity, health promotion professionals seeking to address this disparity should explore the underlying sociocultural factors contributing to it, including hair maintenance challenges of African American women and girls.
Citation
Patricia O’Brien-Richardson, Hair and Health Among African American Women: Historical and Sociocultural Considerations for Physical Activity and Mental Health,
Women’s Health Issues, 2024, ISSN 1049-3867,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2024.07.005. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049386724000665) https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/soae111).
