A large number of Black women reported in a newly released survey that they felt they needed to change their hair in order to be considered for job positions.
In a new survey held by LinkedIn in collaboration with Dove, 1,000 Black women ranging from the ages of 25 to 64 participated in the CROWN Research Survey; all of the women were either full-time or part-time employees.
In their findings, the study found that a quarter of Black women had an experience where they weren’t given the opportunity to interview for a position because of their hair. For a job interview, nearly 66% said that they changed their hair because they didn’t want to lose the chance to interview over hair discrimination.
Once in the workplace, the study found that Black women with curls were twice as likely to be targeted with microaggressions when compared to Black women with straightened hair. When it came to the experiences of women from the age range of 25 to 34, 25% said that employers had sent them home because of their hair.
“The goal of the partnership between Dove and LinkedIn is to help put an end to race-based hair discrimination in the workplace,” said the President & CEO of Dove’s parent company, Esi Eggleston Bracey, per a public statement. “We intend to shine a light on this issue and call upon employers, hiring managers, and professionals to adopt equitable and inclusive practices that create a respectful and open world for natural hair.”
Efforts to fight against hair discrimination have been made in recent years. Last year, the House passed the CROWN Act for the second time. Standing for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” the bill bans hair discrimination against hair texture and hairstyle.
However, the Senate once again blocked the bill in December 2020 as Republican Senators still continue to stand in the way of its official passage.
Despite this, the CROWN Act legislation has been put into law in 20 states, such as California, Colorado, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts and New York, amongst others. President Biden and his administration have also previously shown support for the bill.
“The President believes that no person should be denied the ability to obtain a job, succeed in
school or the workplace, secure housing, or otherwise exercise their rights based on a hair texture
or hair style,” said the Administration per a public statement. “The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress to enact this legislation and ensure that it is effectively implemented.”
