Hair Discrimination Affects Black Women At Work

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Should someone's hairstyle dictate their ability to get a job or be respected in professional settings? What is hair discrimination? Hair discrimination is not being able to have an opportunity because of your choice of hairstyles, or maybe even because of your natural hair. In the professional world, women are discriminated against because of their hairstyles, and it is not fair at all to these people who seek employment. Discrimination against hairstyles closely linked to race in the workplace is a case of racial bias leading to huge social and cultural implications affecting self-esteem, identity, and cultural expression. Discrimination against certain hairstyles is a case of racial bias which causes major social and cultural effects like …show more content…

In How Hair Discrimination Affects Black Women at Work, J. Gassam Asare (2023) writes about a recent study that found that Black women's hair is more likely to be seen as unprofessional. She discussed how certain states have implemented laws like the CROWN Act, which does not allow discrimination based on hair texture and protective styles including braids, twists, and locs. The author then writes that to address hair bias and discrimination, company leaders should prioritize raising awareness, seeking input from employees, and ensuring fairness in policies and procedures. According to Gassam Asare (2023) “Hair discrimination continues to be a pervasive issue that impacts Black women’s experiences in the workplace.” A Black woman should not have to work harder on her appearances just to please what others consider to be societal …show more content…

When a person, no matter the race, is looking for a job and lands an interview, they should not have to worry about being judged based on their skin color or their hairstyles. The CROWN Act, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. In the article Understanding Hair Discrimination and the CROWN Act, A. Cann (2023) writes many women who wear styles like afros, braids, waves, and dreadlocks have job interviews but feel like they can’t wear protective styles because they fear it will harm their chances at getting the position. Cann (2023) writes “The CROWN Coalition reported two-thirds of black women feel obligated to straighten their hair before a job interview.” For black women to feel uneasy

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