Women With Afro Curls - SRF Dok

Hair generally is a deeply personal matter for all of, from the health and understanding of hair through to styling and care. This takes on an added layer when you are a women and particularly a woman with Afro textured, curly or coily hair.

Not only is hair of great aesthetic importance for a woman identifying person, it also takes on the gendered and political role in feminizing and socially elavating nature the more ones hair looks like the normalised beauty exception. This expectation primarily focuses on and champions straight, European textured hair and looks negatively on curly, coily and specifically Afro textured hair and hairstyles.

The history of policing, fetishising and ridiculing of Afro textured hair and hairstyles is a long and emotional one. With those with this hair type attempting in many ways to conform to the broader social beauty standards as a result of pressures from inside and outside of their own communities.

The SRF Dok, Women With Afro Curls, gives a glimpse into the lived experience of women, living across Switzerland and their experiences of being Black and/or Multi-ethnic and having Afro textured, curly or coily hair. It also gives insight into the relationship some of the women have with their hair, from chemically treating, to covering it up or putting in protective styling through to embracing and learning to love their natural texture.

As parents raising multi-hyphante Afro-Swiss children, it was an enlightening watch because some of the experiences the women could possibly mirror the experiences of our children.

Watch the full documentary here.