By Janice Gassam Asare, Photo Illustration: HBR Staff/Suad Kamardeen/Unsplash, Harvard Business Review, May 10, 2023
Afro-textured hair is stereotyped and stigmatized around the world. Even in places where there are protections against race-based hair discrimination, Black women bear the brunt of the burden when it comes to hair bias.
In some areas, legislation is being enacted to counteract the prevalent hair discrimination many people face within workplaces and schools. An important piece of U.S. legislation that’s setting a precedent for other protections is the CROWN Act, which stands for creating a respectful and open world for natural hair. It provides protections against race-based hair bias, prohibiting discrimination based on hair texture and protective styles including braids, twists, and locs. Although 20 states have adopted the legislation, hair discrimination is not prohibited at a federal level in the U.S.
Here’s a look at the current landscape of hair discrimination in the U.S. — and strategies for leaders to mitigate it within their organizations.
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