Beauty + Justice Dr. Tamarra James-Todd

It’s a myth that science and research have to be impersonal and devoid of humanity—and in the final part of the Finale Episode, the Beauty + Justice team dispels the myth!

What’s on the horizon for the beauty justice movement? As we bring this limited series podcast to a close, we thought it would only be fitting to hear from the folks behind the scenes who helped make it happen. In Part 1 of the finale episode, Dr. Tamarra James-Todd is joined by Marissa Chan, the Beauty + Justice podcast producer, and Lissah Johnson, podcast narrator, to talk about their dissertation research and their perspectives on the future of the beauty justice movement.

As we’re nearing the end of the podcast series maybe you’re wondering how can you contribute to the beauty justice movement. How can we go about effectively building partnerships to advance beauty justice? And what voices and perspectives should we strive to elevate and make space for? In this episode, Dr. Tamarra James-Todd is joined by Dr. Ami Zota to discuss her research on racism and beauty product use, holding space for historically neglected folks in beauty justice work, and how to build partnerships with folks across disciplines.

Are there racial equity concerns when the care and style techniques taught in cosmetologist courses are typically for clients with straight hair, leaving behind a predominantly Black audience with textured hair? In this episode, Susan Peterkin joins Dr. Tamarra James-Todd to discuss the role of cosmetologists in beauty justice.

How does our relationship with beauty and hair influence how we feel about ourselves? And how is our relationship with beauty impacted by others? In the latest podcast episode, Dr. Teiahsha Bankhead joins Dr. Tamarra James-Todd to explore some of these themes and what it means for moving beauty justice forward.

How can community engagement work with research and advocacy to achieve beauty justice? In this episode, Dr. Tamarra James-Todd is joined by Dr. Dede Teteh to discuss how her work is rooted in all three of these practices and what she has found in her research on the relationship between Black identity, breast cancer risk, and beauty product usage.