Heavy Is The Head That Wears The Crown: Exploring The Impact Of Hair Discrimination And Educational Grooming Policies As It Relates To Black Women In Educational Leadership

Author

• Myriah Hampton, Prairie View A&M University

Date of Award

5-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Discipline

Education Leadership

Abstract

Black women’s professional expertise is often challenged or rejected as they navigate leadership roles in K–12 and higher education. Research indicates that barriers to advancement are shaped by organizational bias, stereotypes, and grooming policies that privilege Eurocentric standards. While scholarship has addressed leadership barriers such as the glass ceiling, less attention has been given to how hair discrimination and authenticity intersect with Black women’s leadership experiences. The purpose of this study was to examine how Black women educational leaders experience hair discrimination, navigate authenticity, and respond to policies such as the Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act.

Three research questions guided the study: RQ1: How do Black women describe their experiences as being their authentic selves in educational leadership roles? RQ2: How do Black women in educational leadership roles describe their experiences wearing their natural hair and protective styles to work? RQ3: How do Black women feel

Black women’s professional expertise is often challenged or rejected as they navigate leadership roles in K–12 and higher education. Research indicates that barriers to advancement are shaped by organizational bias, stereotypes, and grooming policies that privilege Eurocentric standards. While scholarship has addressed leadership barriers such as the glass ceiling, less attention has been given to how hair discrimination and authenticity intersect with Black women’s leadership experiences. The purpose of this study was to examine how Black women educational leaders experience hair discrimination, navigate authenticity, and respond to policies such as the Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act.

Three research questions guided the study: RQ1: How do Black women describe their experiences as being their authentic selves in educational leadership roles? RQ2: How do Black women in educational leadership roles describe their experiences wearing their natural hair and protective styles to work? RQ3: How do Black women feel perceived in their educational leadership roles? An exploratory qualitative phenomenological research design was employed with eight Black women leaders representing both K–12 and higher education. Data was collected through demographic questionnaires and semi-structured interviews conducted via Microsoft Teams, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo software. The theoretical framework combined Black Feminist Theory, Authentic Leadership Theory, and Critical Race Theory.

Findings revealed that grooming policies and Eurocentric beauty standards continue to disadvantage Black women, forcing them to navigate bias and expectations while striving for authenticity. Participants described resilience, advocacy, and leadership strategies that challenged discriminatory norms. The study concluded that addressing hair discrimination is essential for advancing equity and authenticity in educational leadership. Results contribute to scholarship on intersectionality while offering recommendations for policy reform and leadership practices that affirm the identities of Black women in education.

Keywords: Black women in educational leadership, hair discrimination, natural hair, protective hairstyles, grooming policies, CROWN Act, authentic leadership, Black Feminist Theory, Critical Race Theory, social justice in education, intersectionality, higher education, K–12 education, workplace discrimination, organizational bias, authenticity in leadership

Committee Chair/Advisor

Stella Smith

Committee Member

Douglas Hermond

Committee Member

Patricia O’Brien-Richardson

Publisher

Prairie View A&M University

Rights

Date of Digitization

10/02/2026

Contributing Institution

J B Coleman Library

City of Publication

Prairie View

MIME Type

Application/PDF

Recommended Citation

Hampton, M. (2025). Heavy Is The Head That Wears The Crown: Exploring The Impact Of Hair Discrimination And Educational Grooming Policies As It Relates To Black Women In Educational Leadership. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.pvamu.edu/pvamu-dissertations/148