The Communication Management master’s program invites the university community to a thesis defense for Kahleeka “Nikkie” Perry on Monday, November 13, 2017 at 10:45 am in Media Center 203.
Thesis Title: A Critical Cultural Study of Lived Experiences and Societal Implications of the 21st Century Natural Hair Movement
Thesis committee: Erin L. Berry-McCrea (chair), Dr. Melanie Formentin and Dr. Donn Worgs
Thesis Abstract: The natural hair movement of the 21st century emerged as a declaration by African-American women to embrace and celebrate their natural hair textures outside of the widely accepted Eurocentric standards of beauty. The movement grew from a small grassroots effort and spread into Black culture using new technology and mass media platforms. Through a critical cultural study, this project analyzed the divide that exists between the dominant American culture and the natural hair movement. Three research questions were used to investigate this phenomenon: (1) how do African-American women negotiate their understanding of natural hair? (2) how do African-American women feel about their experiences of natural hair? and (3) how are African-American women influenced by mass media messages about natural hair? Using a qualitative mixed-methods approach, 13 African-American women between the ages of 19 to 60 were randomly selected to take part in a textual analysis activity and a personal interview for completion of the study. Eight major themes were revealed from the study: colorism, good vs. bad hair, journey, identity, microaggression, self-esteem, bonding, and social media usage. Study findings showed that, in spite of the natural hair movement of the 21st century, historical, cultural, and psychological dynamics stemming from societal norms within American culture continue to influence how African-American women perceive natural hair. Suggested topics for future research include investigating generational differences about the perception of natural hair and comparing perceptions of natural hair from a geographic/regional perspective within Black culture
