Job Discussion Forums

landa · Joined: 21 Apr 2009 Posts: 14 Location: New York

After arriving for work in Guangzhou, I was told by the director of the school that I might scare the kids if I don't cut my hair. They asked me to let them know if I will cut my hair when I arrive tomorrow. I have long, neat and maintained locs and have a long history of modeling work. I am frustrated and looking for another job. Does anyone have any suggestions or job contacts that can help. I picked up my F visa in Hong Kong with no problems of racism until I arrived in Guangzhou. The director also thought that she would comment that she knows that the economy is suffering in America and that a job at her school is the only choice I have as a black man.

killian · Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 2:50 pm Post subject:

i disagree with their assertation that they are the only school in china that will hire a black man.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

I'm not sure that they are targeting you because of the colour of your skin, I think it's the length of your hair.

I have known a few white guys with long hair also having been hounded to cut their hair.

Not sure what you can do about it, but I do truly wish you all the best.

Personally, I'd tell them that it's 2009, not 1909.

alter ego · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 209

What kind of teaching experience do you have? Your modeling work, and how attractive you are, will only help you so much, i.e., beauty makes a good first impression but what TEFL skills do you bring to the table? Do you have a B.A. or higher, TEFL cert. or teaching credential?

Look for a new job and make sure your next employer understands that "what they see is what they get". Most unis don't ask FTs to cut their long hair, but many language schools will expect you to adhere to certain dress codes. Keep your locks and find a gig where they appreciate your looks.

vikeologist · Joined: 07 Sep 2009 Posts: 600

Landa - Although racism of this kind (I'm tempted to categorise it as racism stemming from ignorance and stupidity, but then it's sort of hard to think of any other kind) is hurtful to you, I would suggest that you try to resolve the issue.

Explain to the director that you'd like to stay, but you're not going to cut your hair. Perhaps they could wait and see exactly how much fear and terror you cause.

Of course, working for idiots is never a good idea, and you deserve an employer that's going to have respect for you and your skills up front.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

norwalkesl · Joined: 22 Oct 2009 Posts: 366 Location: Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-China

In the States dress codes, including hair, facial hair, tattoos and piercings, are common and legal and moral.

TexasHighway · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 779

Before you arrived, did they even know you are a black man? Maybe they are only using your long hair as an excuse in order to discourage you from working there. If you cut your hair and decided to stay, they might try something else to make your life miserable. It doesn't sound like a place I would want to work.

Dan The Chainsawman · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 302 Location: Yinchuan

I can't see how they didn't know he is black. They would need a scan of his passport photo page to process a visa and all.

chinatwin88 · Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 379 Location: Peking

The challenge is to obtain the position and then to illustrate how valuable you can be to establish a "worth" as to the work units objective. If you deliver, then looks are often and I say often and not always overlooked. One reason that I left the international school circuit is I have acquired a somewhat ragged salted look often have an abundance of room in social situations and transpo due to "Hair". I once was fired from a part time job due to the children (high school) reportedly being "filled with fear" and convinced I was a ghost.
Depends if you want a work unit or a boss, either here or back on the block, to determine how you look. If not, then bite your lip, tell the guy this is the package and if they don�t think it is marketable, then perhaps they could give you a tip as to another place that perhaps would use your looks to their advantage. I find that doing what you want is far more rewarding to succumbing to a standard.
I worked for a state system back on the block and looked far more extreme in those days, even riding a "custom" to work which seem to build a certain popularity of my classes. I have also found that the students in China get really excited when they find their teacher has long hair and wears clothes that they have little access to.
For my money, I would tell you to draw a line in the sand, put your nose to the grind stone and find a interne job til you can find something that will pay more, then give your current "future" employer the option of excepting like you are or not. Define your self by your pas time and not your work persona.

TexasHighway · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 779

Dan the Chainsawman wrote:

Hansen · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 737 Location: central China

I lost a beard I grew after I moved here. My FAO suggested I do it in order to properly represent "teachers." Got it back now. They can shove their job if they don't like the beard. In the beginning, I was eager to please. Now that I realize, more than before, what's going on here, I view things in a different way. I may shave the beard, when I feel like it.

Some women, older, busybody types, tell me to shave. I tell them when they grow their hair long, to their waist, I'll shave. The guys who tell me, I just signal to them they are out of line. They don't care.

Number 1 is self respect. Which will lower your self esteem the most, loosing the locks or the job? Dreds take a long time to grow. They won't think twice about firing you, after you cut your hair, because the parents complained about you being black. Then what? I'd acquit you of "Man, 1" the Chinese won't.

I'd try a friendly conversation with your boss about the significance of your hairstyle, something along the lines of "What my dredlocks mean to me." Look for some sort of compromise. Can they be pulled back, covered, altered in a way that is pleasing to both parties?

I grew my beard back in several weeks. How long to replace your hair once it is cut?

They are never going to like you because you are black. Get it? The hair is just something to mess with you about. They can't ask you to change your skin color. The hair is the next best thing for them.

Sorry to learn that things are so tough in America, Blacks now have to work for a group of people more racist than Whites. Ain't that a beeeeech!

Chris_Crossley · Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:37 am Post subject: You should change your accent!

SpedEd · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 143 Location: Shanghai

I could count on one hand how many blacks I saw in China and I spent time in six Chinese cities including more than a year in Shanghai with a approx. pop. of 20 million. Boy, are you in the wrong place...

Chris_Crossley · Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:25 am Post subject: One black American woman

Cairnsman · Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 203

The school would have almost certainly asked you for a photo before they offered you the job.

If you look the same today as in that photo, then I think you have a strong case to refuse to adjust your appearance.

If, however, you look substantially different from your appearance in the photo, then I feel that the school has a strong case to ask you to modify your appearance so that it reflects your original presentation.