Beauty Inside Out: Examining Beauty Product Use Among Diverse Women and Femme-Identifying Individuals in Northern Manhattan and South Bronx Through an Environmental Justice Framework

Lariah Edwards, Dr. Lariah Edwards is an Associate Research Scientist at Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA and was a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Lubna Ahmed, Lubna Ahmed was Director of Environmental Health at West Harlem Environmental Action for Environmental Justice, New York, New York, USA.
Leslie Martinez, Leslie Martinez was Survey Administration Coordinator at West Harlem Environmental Action for Environmental Justice, New York, New York, USA.
Sophia Huda, Sophia Huda is a Toxics Specialist at West Harlem Environmental Action for Environmental Justice, New York, New York, USA.
Bhavna Shamasunder, Bhavna Shamasunder is an Associate Professor and Chair of Department of Urban and Environmental Policy, Occidental College, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Jasmine A. McDonald, Jasmine A. McDonald is a Assistant Professor at Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
Robert Dubrow, Robert Dubrow is a Professor of Epidemiology at Department of Environmental Health, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Beaumont Morton, Beaumont Morton is the Director of Environmental Health and Education at West Harlem Environmental Action for Environmental Justice, New York, New York, USA.
Ami R. Zota, Ami R. Zota is an Associate Professor at Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA and was an Associate Professor at Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

12-1-2023

Journal

Environmental justice (Print)

Volume

16

Issue

6

DOI

10.1089/env.2022.0053

Keywords

beauty justice; beauty products; chemical straighteners; environmental justice; skin lighteners

Abstract

The disproportionate use of chemical straighteners and skin lighteners by women of color is a growing public health concern given the link between product use and adverse health effects. Prior studies examined product use as an individual choice but neglected social-structural factors, which influence beauty perceptions and personal decisions around product use. We used a community-based participatory research approach to characterize product use by demographics and investigated how racialized beauty norms impact use among 297 women and femme-identifying individuals in Northern Manhattan and the South Bronx. Product use varied by race/ethnicity, nativity, and messaging from family and peers. Black respondents were more likely to ever use chemical straighteners than non-Black respondents (OR = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.2-3.2), as were respondents who heard that family members express a preference for straight hair compared with respondents whose family members expressed mixed preferences about hairstyles (OR = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.1-3.7). Compared with non-Asian respondents and respondents born in the United States, Asian respondents and respondents born in other countries, respectively, had threefold higher odds of ever using skin lighteners (Asian: OR = 3.2; 95% CI = 1.4-7.0; born in other countries: OR = 3.4; 95% CI = 1.9-6.1). Respondents' perceptions that others believe straight hair or lighter skin confer benefits such as beauty, professionalism, or youth were associated with greater use of chemical straighteners and skin lighteners. These findings highlight the pervasiveness of racialized beauty norms and point to the need to reduce the demand for and sale of these products through community education, market-based strategies, and public policy.

Department

Environmental and Occupational Health

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