News Article: Addressing Hair Discrimination in the Workplace
Black women confronting hair harassment in their professional and legal spheres
In an effort to create a more inclusive work environment, calls are being made for leaders to re-evaluate workplace policies that may inadvertently reinforce racist ideas about professionalism. One such issue that has been brought to light is hair discrimination, particularly affecting Black women.
A recent study, the 2023 CROWN Workplace Research, found that Black women's hair is 2.5 times more likely to be perceived as unprofessional, and disturbing statistics show that as many as 1 in 5 Black women aged 25-34 have been sent home from work because of their hair. More than half of Black women feel the need to wear straight hair for job interviews due to perceived unprofessionalism.
To address this issue, the "#BlackHairIsProfessional" campaign was launched earlier this year by Dove, the CROWN Coalition, and LinkedIn. The campaign aims to educate one million hiring managers and workplace professionals by the end of 2023, promoting awareness of the CROWN Act and encouraging petition signatures. The CROWN Act, created in 2019, protects against discrimination based on race-based hairstyles in the workplace and public schools.
While the specific details of the "#BlackHairIsProfessional" campaign may not be extensively covered in search results, the broader context of anti-hair discrimination efforts, including the CROWN Act, indicates ongoing efforts to promote inclusivity and address this issue. National CROWN Day, celebrated on July 3rd, serves as a day to acknowledge Black Hair Independence and advocate for policy changes to protect individuals from hair-based discrimination.
Social media platforms like TikTok have been used to raise awareness and promote support for the CROWN Act, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and respect for diverse hairstyles. The CROWN Act has been passed in several states and is pending in others, demonstrating progress in legal recognition of the issue.
Integrating scorecards and rubrics into hiring and review processes can help ensure individuals are evaluated based on core competencies rather than subjective ideas about professionalism. DEI expert Janice Gassam Asare, PhD wrote in the Harvard Business Review that hair discrimination continues to be a pervasive issue impacting Black women's experiences in the workplace.
The "#BlackHairIsProfessional" campaign centers conversations that focus on the experiences of those most impacted by hair discrimination while providing ongoing education for all employees, particularly those with decision-making and leadership power. The initiative also encourages people to share the CROWN Act petition, contributing to the growing movement towards ending hair discrimination in the workplace.
Notably, Bozoma Saint John, a marketing executive, has supported the campaign, stating that it addresses microaggressions related to hairstyles in the corporate world. As the conversation around hair discrimination continues, it is clear that efforts like the "#BlackHairIsProfessional" campaign and the CROWN Act are essential in creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace for all.
However, it is important to note that there are still no protections against hair discrimination at the federal level in the US, highlighting the need for continued advocacy and policy changes.
- The "#BlackHairIsProfessional" campaign, launched by Dove, the CROWN Coalition, and LinkedIn, aims to educate one million hiring managers and workplace professionals by the end of 2023.
- Like TikTok, social media platforms are being used to raise awareness and promote support for the CROWN Act, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and respect for diverse hairstyles.
- Experts in diversity and inclusion, such as Janice Gassam Asare, PhD, have written about the pervasive issue of hair discrimination, particularly affecting Black women in the workplace.
- The CROWN Act, passed in several states, protects against discrimination based on race-based hairstyles in the workplace and public schools.
- National CROWN Day, celebrated on July 3rd, is a day to acknowledge Black Hair Independence and advocate for policy changes to protect individuals from hair-based discrimination.
- The marketing executive Bozoma Saint John has supported the campaign, stating that it addresses microaggressions related to hairstyles in the corporate world.
- The broader context of anti-hair discrimination efforts includes interviews, where more than half of Black women feel the need to wear straight hair due to perceived unprofessionalism.
- In the ongoing conversation around hair discrimination, education and self-development are key to understanding and addressing the issue, with many career resources available for those seeking to learn more.
- Advocacy for policy change concerning hair discrimination is not only essential for workplace-wellness, health-and-wellness, and mental-health, but also for general-news, policy-and-legislation, and social-media, as well as the broader context of diversity-and-inclusion and business.
