by
Rinny
Photographer Ednia Beal, who also is the brains behind the series “Can I Touch It” in which white women were photographed with traditional black hairstyles for corporate portraits has debuted a new series of photos entitled “Am I What You’re Looking For”
Beal elaborates on the inspiration behind the project on her website:
The photographic series, “Am I What You’re Looking For?” captures young minority women between the worlds of identity and conformity. Many of the women are college students who have not started their careers, yet have heard of the obstacles with being accepted that women of color face in traditional corporate America. These “transitional” photographs were taken in the home where the women grew up. They were asked to wear their “ideal” business professional attire, hairstyle and pose in front of a typical office backdrop. The women are asked to practice their performance like a mock interview. “I want you to pretend you’re waiting for your interview, how would you feel?” In that moment of contemplation, the camera snaps and their thoughts are revealed. Some of the women are uncertain, while others gaze directly into the camera with confidence. Although each woman presents a different attitude towards the question, the emotional range depicted reflects the feelings one may have in the office space. Can I be my true self without being judged? Ironically, these young, educated, minority women are in their authentic environments where they should feel comfortable. Yet, like many individuals confronted with the illusion of acceptance, they must ask, “Am I What You’re Looking For?”
In an interview with the Huffington Post, Beal, who is now an art professor at Winston-Salem State University explains her project echoed the concerns of many black students who are attempting to enter the work force:
“My students were coming to me, and they were like, listen, Professor Beal, I went on a job interview and they told me that my hair was unkempt. Or they told me I needed to change how I looked,” she recalled. “Your heels are too high, your skirt is too short, your earrings are too long. This is the advice they’re given, and this is the advice I was given.”
The corporate backdrop used in the photo series is the Yale IT office, Beal’s first corporate workspace.
What are your thoughts on the photo series?
21 Responses
In my industry the only color I’d wear to a job interview is pinstriped blue, but all of the models are dressed appropriately for an employee in a business setting. The article does not specify the types of business, but there are workplaces (music, art, advertising) whose cultures would even embrace the cut-out dress! I think all of the models in this photo series look fantastic. The first hurdle is getting your foot in the door, the outfit is just a “frame” to highlight the artistry (that’s you).
Thank you for posting this article!
According to what i have been taught, only one outfit would be considered appropriate …the black dress with the blue blazer. For interviews the idea is not to be fashionable or have sex appeal but to wear tailed color neutral clothing.
I remember I took a free seminar class at the YWCA in Manhattan years ago and we had a guest speaker from Human/Civil Rights Department she explained legal questions that employers can ask potential employees and gave example of illegal or inappropriate questions. Also we were taken to Sak Fifth Avenue and given opportunity to try on beautifully tailored skirt or pant suits of our choice within the parameters of Corporate appropriateness-small earrings-less is best for corporate-neutral makeup-Unless you are going for Artistic type positions where there is more freedom to express oneself through attire-although initially the first interview may still require a more toned down cloned robot look-I know I don’t fit corporate jobs although I do like to dress formally occasionally just because I can appreciate a good suit with great tailoring-I would dress like that for office meeting or perhaps if the Big Boss CEO, VP’s would appear.
I would disagree with you, London. I love channeling Olivia Pope and her style when I go into the office in my corporate business attire – I think it’s entirely dependent on the person you are and the environment in which you work.
I agree with you Monica. Most people commenting seemed to miss the point of the shoot. However, I challenge the underlying idea that black women conform to any greater standard than anyone else. Hardly anyone feels formal business wear reflects who they are. Everyone, including white males are conforming to a uniform (similar to a pilot or a doctor). I work in a formal business environment and no women regardless of race enjoys the look. Some men do but only in the way a nurse might like wearing a nursing uniform etc
Reading the comments, I feel like many of you either didn’t read what the photographer requested of the ladies, or you didn’t understand.
The photographer asked the ladies to wear THEIR ideal business professional attire and hairstyle. She did not ask them to wear the American ideal business professional attire, nor did she ask them to wear what they actually would wear to an interview.
The whole purpose of this photo series is to present what each of these women would ideally look like at an interview if THEY set the standard, and if they were allowed to be themselves in the professional environment rather than a cookie cutter mimic of the ideals of white corporate America.
If I was a participant in this photo series, and I was asked to dress in MY ideal business attire and to wear my hair in MY ideal business coiffure, I would show up in a completely different look than if I was asked to actually dress in business attire for an interview.
It’s not that these young women are unaware of how they SHOULD dress; they’re just very aware of their own ideals of how they would want to if they had the option to without being passed up for the job due to nonconformity.
Really? That lady has her stomach out. I don’t think having to cover your stomach is asking you to change who you are.
This photo series was a really beautiful idea and I hope that it helps us talk more about this really important issue. I support individuality but a professional work environment comes with rules and an ingrained culture. Before you start of in your respective career learn about the environment, rules and corporate culture. Remember you’re walking in as a blank canvas so people will mostly judge you on your appearance, body language and tone. Companies essentially look for people who will ‘fit in’. First Impressions are really, really important in an interview situation. The best thing these young ladies can ever do for themselves is to project confident body language, tone and couple these with the most appropriate dress code. Focusing on selling your skills and what you bring to the table shouldn’t be overshadowed by your hairstyle or your outfit. If your in the right work environment, with time, your workmates will see you as an individual which will gradually allow for more self expression.
Men can’t wear beards at certain jobs so one should consider the type of workplace before signing on……
There’s a basic/general dress code (corporate, conservative) that many, many jobs follow. If these women considered the type of workplace they wouldn’t work anywhere. I feel like many corporate jobs follow the same basic dress code.
im not going to talk badly about them bc i was raised by a mother who is a legal secretary and editor and worked in law firms so she taught me the dress rules. its basically “churchy” without the floral prints and gold bling if that makes sense. i would recommend these young ladies take a trip downtown and just observe how corporate america dresses and go shopping and imitate until they get the hang of it all. the world does judge outward appearance so you gotta be ready to dress the part.
I think only 2 outfits there could be worn to an interview regardless of the race of the women wearing them. Some skirts and dresses were too short and heels too high, especially for a corporate setting and not a high fashion
magazine. Some of those, I’ve worn to social events/lounges NEVER interviews. Even my hair is put up or in braids. Wearing a huge 70s fro, no matter how gorgeous, will be frowned on. Same with odd hair colours and cuts regardless of race
It’s all about gauging the company culture. Always err on the side of caution.
While I am okay with the hair choices for the most part, the attire is not business or professional. A part of me wants to say it is common sense to NOT wear a crop top or tight fitting clothing to a work setting. The rule of thumb should be: if you can wear this to the club, then just maybe it isn’t work appropriate? But back to the hair component: typically when I wear braids, I bun it or wear it in a ponytail for work. Conforming? Perhaps.
I’m not sure I understand what these photos convey. I also think that it is rather assumptive that black women are the only ones who would like to dress like this in the workplace and that we as black women are the only ones altering attire, hair, and makeup to conform to workplace culture and increase employability.
Yes there are many professional natural hairstyles. The only thing your hair should be expected of is not all over your face where we can’t see whether your eyes are blinking? Jobs should be focused on presentation and clothing, not hair. My counselor told me I can leave my hair down for my interview because it’s not that long.
So if it were longer you wouldn’t be albe to wear it out? I’m not sure I understand what it is your counselor is saying vis a vis your hair. Because in theory the women with the voluminous afros do not have their hair in their faces and you can see their eyes. However, I suspect that there are a lot of places that would have something negative to say about their hair.
Three things grabbed my attention in each photo.
1. Body language and facial expression. A couple of these young women look so unsure and self-conscious, it breaks my heart a little. Example: in the first photo, the woman’s holding her arms and hands up around and in front of her bare midriff. It’s that familiar body language that sometimes happens on a subconscious level, where folks second guess their abilities, clothing choices, etc. The emotional range I get from these isn’t so much “can I be my true self without being judged”—which to me implies not conforming at all. Instead, I simply get “am I good enough.”
2. Clothing choices. There’s something very interesting about what each woman picked as her ideal business pro attire, especially paired with body language and facial expression. I tried not to judge outfits myself while looking at these, but it’s hard not to. I also began imagining why each woman chose those clothes and shoes, particularly the women whose faces and body language exude more confidence. That’s when I really began paying closer attention to…
3. Home decor. These homes are where each woman grew up. How has that shaped them? I’m sure in some of these photos, home decor’s been altered a bit for better photo composition. Still: do you remember the first time you ever went to your childhood best friend’s house? If you’re like me, you soaked all the decor in like a sponge and gained some insight about your friend, their family, and maybe even their daily life. I dunno, these are the things that fascinate me.
A related thought: young people need honest mentoring about entering the professional workplace. This goes beyond tips on how to dress and style one’s hair, because appearance is only part of the equation. As a supervisor, I’ve had young employees assume their jobs are a lot like college, or that bosses are like helicopter parents. I had one who thought he could do the bare minimum work, push the rest off on his teammates, and still get a gold star with no bad consequences. Yeah, that’s not how it works.
But back to appearance, and the emotions related to that: yes, you can absolutely be yourself. But there are ways to convey yourself that don’t involve club attire. One needn’t wear a dark suit and straightened hair to an interview for conformity’s sake, and a woman of any skin color or ethnicity who comes to an interview at my office in a bare midriff isn’t doing herself any favors. There’s plenty of middle ground that works just fine for interviews, and I see some of it covered by women in these photos.
I love those fros in the work place. Hair is natural, it grows out of our heads, it shouldn’t have to be altered besides being clean. But. I think there needs to be a sort of business clothing standard. Liiiike club wear fancy is not the same as office fancy. Snake skin platform heels are not the same dressy as a work heel. Its not all these women’s fault, there should be some type of workers etiquette being taught. Or maybe veteran black women from corporations mentoring these young ladies.
Most of these looks are well put together, but one or two need help. I hope the photos were not taken just to exploit. Hopefully these ladies were given real life pointers and encouragement afterward.
I know I have stories for days. I know that our people can be very judgmental. I would hear constantly women speaking in regards to my hair shamefully amongst one another in their downtime. I feel like we already have the world against us. Unfortunately wearing your hair a certain way can get you harass, discipline by an employer or not even hired. I say be yourself. If it’s not meant for you to have the position then so be it and if you are being harass at your job take legal actions.
I think they look fine, although some are showing more skin than would probably be considered acceptable in a professional business setting; and the heels in the fifth picture don’t look professional. I think it’s just common sense. If you work in an office, dress like you work in an office, not like you’re going to the club. And that goes for anyone in such a setting, not just black women.
For most of the young ladies in this series, I would be more concerned with their “business professional attire” than their hair.