Last year, Massachusetts became the 18th state to adopt the CROWN Act, an imperative bill that shields individuals from discrimination over natural and protective hairstyles in the workplace and other institutions. But as lawmakers work tirelessly for the bill to be passed nationwide, the fight to end race-based hair discrimination continues.
A new study co-commissioned by Dove and LinkedIn found that Black women’s hair was 2.5 times more likely to be perceived as unprofessional in the workplace. The data revealed that 66 percent of Black women often change their hair for a job interview, with many opting for a straight hairstyle over their natural coils.
Participants said they were overlooked for job opportunities and faced microaggressions
54 percent of participants surveyed felt they had to wear their hair straight to be seen as professional or successful. Other women said they experienced microaggressions from co-workers or higher-ups when wearing their natural or textured hair around the workplace.
“More than 20 percent of Black women aged between 25-34 had been sent home from work because of their hair,” the study noted.
Young black professionals are feeling the brunt of the hair discrimination crisis in the U.S. According to the study, 44 percent of Black women under 34 said they felt pressured to have a headshot with straight hair, while 25 percent revealed that had been denied a job interview or overlooked for opportunities because of their hair.
“For far too long, black women and men have been subject to unfair treatment, outright discrimination and a myriad of inequities for simply wearing our natural hair texture and hairstyles that are inherent to our cultural identity,” said Esi Eggleston Bracey, President & CEO of Unilever Personal Care in North America in a statement.
“This includes being denied employment, being sent home from work, being overlooked for promotions and a range of…
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