"Discrimination Against Curly and Shaved Hair?"... French National Assembly Passes Anti-Hair Discrimination Law

Addition of Hair as a Protected Category Against Workplace Discrimination
Prohibition of Discrimination Based on Haircut, Color, Length, and Texture

The French National Assembly has passed a bill banning hair discrimination in the workplace.

On the 28th (local time), local media including the daily Le Parisien reported that the French National Assembly passed the bill proposed by Olivier Serva, a member of parliament from Guadeloupe, a French territory in the Caribbean. The bill includes discrimination based on haircuts, color, length, and texture as prohibited grounds. The main purpose of the bill is to prevent employers from forcing Black employees to straighten their curly hair or hide braided hairstyles. In France, 25 types of workplace discrimination, including age, gender, and appearance, are already specified by law. Hairstyle is one of them, but this bill further specifies the content of that category.

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MP Serva explained the background of the bill, saying, "France is the first country in the world to adopt a nationwide legislative system to eradicate discrimination based on hair in workplaces and public places," and added, "There is a gap between theory and reality, so a clear explanation is needed for the law that is being misunderstood." He explained that Black women actually face pressure to straighten their hair before job interviews, and that men with red hair or bald heads are also victims of discrimination. In the past, red hair in the West was sometimes associated with witches or demons.

Black MP Phanta Beretta also supported the bill, saying, "I am here wearing braided hair and a wig," and added, "I too have been told to straighten my hair when applying for certain jobs." Supporters of the bill argue that it will help punish workplace discrimination.

The French government also expressed sympathy for the purpose of the law. Aur?lie Berger, Minister for Gender Equality, said, "Our laws already guarantee the fight against discrimination," but added, "The new bill has the advantage of highlighting this type of discrimination." However, some conservative MPs mocked, saying, "This bill tries to import the American way of thinking," and sarcastically asked, "(If so) why is there no law against shampoo ads discriminating against bald people?" The bill must be passed by the Senate to be enacted.

The bill was inspired by the "CROWN Act," a hair discrimination ban law enacted in California, USA, in 2019. The CROWN Act prohibits discrimination based on hairstyle and was introduced to protect individuals' unique cultural characteristics and identities. This law is currently enforced in California as well as New York, New Jersey, Texas, and other states.