Lead Team President Carole Holdcroft with speaker Dr Charlene Makita & Soroptimist Adie Hewitt
Cannock Soroptimists held their annual International Evening recently- the event when they celebrate the international aspect of Soroptimist International, lighting candles for the members and clubs in all 5 of the Federations: South East Asia Pacific, the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Great Britain and Ireland to honour the work that is done to support women and girls across the world.
Members and guests met at the Barns to enjoy a meal in each other’s’ company
They were joined by Dr Charlene Makita who gave a presentation called ‘The Flesh that Weeps’ that explored the impact of hair discrimination and workplace grooming policies.
Studies show that black women are 3.5 times more likely to be perceived as unprofessional because of their hairstyle and 80% more likely to change their natural hair to meet social norms or expectations at work – indeed Dr Makita says that she has in the past worn a wig to attend an interview. Source 2019 CROWN Research Study for Women
Dr Charlene Makita
Dr Makita is an advocate for ending race-based hair discrimination and involved in World Afro Day which has been celebrated on 15th September each year since 2017 which is endorsed by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Conscious of the harmful chemicals that are contained in the products such as hair relaxers used to treat hair – some have been found to be carcinogenic and others contain endocrine disruptors – Dr Makita has also developed a range of plant-based hair products that was formulated without toxic chemicals to cater for men and women with textured hair.
She ended her fascinating presentation by saying that the next generation of black girls should not have to apologise for their Afro textured hair.