Law in defense of hair

PARIS (EFE).— The French National Assembly approved yesterday Thursday a text that criminally punishes those who discriminate against a person based on the color and size of their hair, a proposal that seeks to protect, among others, curly hair of African origin.

The text obtained 44 votes in favor and two against and will now go to the Senate, which must give its approval for it to come into force.

The independent deputy Olivier Serva, representative of the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe (where there is a large African footprint), justified this proposal because many companies pressure workers, especially black women, to cut their hair or undo their braids for image reasons. .

Serva cited that her text aims to protect not only “black women forced to straighten their hair before a job interview,” but also “redheaded people” and “bald people,” both also subject to prejudice, among others. .

The proposition, inspired by the one that has been in force in California since 2019 (“Crown Act”), aims for hair discrimination to join the list of plausible discriminations of criminal sanctions included in labor and criminal law.

The text, which could return to the Assembly for a new vote if the Senate (dominated by the right) does not approve it, received the explicit support in the chamber from certain female deputies of African origin.

Braids Deputy

“I am a black woman originally from Guinea and here I am with my braids,” said the deputy from Macron’s party Fanta Berete.

The proposition voted on yesterday cites a study from the United States that states that black hair is 2.5 times more likely to be seen as “unprofessional.”