PARIS: Supporters of the draft law claim that employers are mostly targeting black women who wear their hair naturally, and as a result, the lower chamber of the French parliament approved a bill on Thursday that outlaws discrimination based on hair texture.
The bill’s proponent, independent National Assembly deputy Olivier Serva, represents the French overseas territory of Guadeloupe, stated that it would make it illegal to discriminate in the workplace on the basis of “hair style, color, length, or texture.”
About twenty US states have passed laws recognizing hair discrimination as a form of racism. The Equality and Human Rights Commission in Britain has released recommendations prohibiting discrimination in schools based on hair type.
Black woman Serva claimed that women “of African descent” were frequently urged to modify their hairstyle before to employment interviews. Supporters claim that guys who wear hair in dreadlocks or other similar styles are similarly impacted.
With 44 votes in favor and 2 against, the bill passed the lower chamber National Assembly. It will now proceed to the upper Senate, where the majority is on the right and the outcome of the vote is somewhat less likely.
Serva, who also mentioned prejudice faced by redheads, blondes, and bald men in his suggestion, cites an American study that finds 25% of black women surveyed claimed they were turned down for jobs due to the way they styled their hair during the interview.
