French Parliament Backs Bill Against Hair Discrimination Affecting Black Women
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published March 28, 2024 | 07:19 PM
France's lower house of parliament on Thursday approved a bill forbidding workplace discrimination based on hair texture, which the draft law's backers say targets mostly black women wearing their hair naturally
Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Mar, 2024) France's lower house of parliament on Thursday approved a bill forbidding workplace discrimination based on hair texture, which the draft law's backers say targets mostly black women wearing their hair naturally.
Olivier Serva, an independent National Assembly deputy for the French overseas territory of Guadeloupe and the bill's sponsor, said it would penalise any workplace discrimination based on "hair style, colour, length or texture".
Similar laws exist in around 20 US states which have identified hair discrimination as an expression of racism.
In Britain, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has issued guidelines against hair discrimination in schools.
Serva, who is black, said women "of African descent" were often encouraged before job interviews to change their style of hair. Backers also say that men who wear their hair in styles like dreadlocks are also affected.
The bill was approved in the lower house National Assembly with 44 votes in favour and two against. It will now head to the upper Senate where the right has the majority and the vote's outcome is much less certain.
Serva, who also included discrimination suffered by blondes and redheads in his proposal, points to an American study stating that a quarter of black women polled said they had been ruled out for jobs because of how they wore their hair at the job interview.
Such statistics are hard to come by in France, which bans the compilation of personal data that mention a person's race or ethnic background on the basis of the French Republic's "universalist" principles.
The draft law does not, in fact, contain the term "racism", noted Daphne Bedinade, a social anthropologist, saying the omission was problematic.
"To make this only about hair discrimination is to mask the problems of people whose hair makes them a target of discrimination, mostly black women," she told Le Monde daily.
A black Air France air crew member in 2022 won a 10-year legal battle for the right to work with braided hair on flights after a decision by France's highest appeals court.
While statistics are difficult to come by, high-profile people have faced online harassment because of their hairstyle.
In the political sphere they include former government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye, and Audrey Pulvar, a deputy mayor of Paris, whose afro look has attracted much negative comment online.
The bill's critics say it is unnecessary, as discrimination based on looks is already banned by law.
"There is no legal void here," said Eric Rocheblave, a lawyer specialising in labour law.
Calling any future law "symbolic", Rocheblave said it would not be of much practical help when it came to proving discrimination in court.
Kenza Bel Kenadil, an influencer and self-proclaimed "activist against hair discrimination", said a law would still send an important message.
"It would tell everybody that the law protects you in every way and lets you style your hair any way you want," she said.
The influencer, who has 256,000 followers on Instagram, said she herself had been "forced" to tie her hair in a bun when she was working as a receptionist.
Her employers were "very clear", she said. "It was, either you go home and fix your hair or you don't come here to work".
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 28 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 28 April 2024
Fresh wave of rainfall in AJK continues for the second consecutive day
Babar, bowlers help Pakistan level series 2-2 against New Zealand
Attack in restive Chilean province leaves three police officers dead
PM, Saudi Royal court advisor discuss ways to boost economic ties
England clinch third successive Women's Six Nations Grand Slam
DC Bahawalnagar leads fight for fair bread prices
Sheffield Utd relegated from Premier League
02 proclaimed offenders arrested by Wah Police
Pakistan level T20I series with nine-run victory over New Zealand
Minister meets Chinese Consul General, discusses bilateral cooperation, Chinese ..
More Stories From World
-
Pakistani youth asked to carry forward spirit of Pak-China all-weather friendship
47 minutes ago -
Ukraine warns battlefield situation 'worsened' as Russia claims fresh gains
1 hour ago -
Ukraine army commander says situation 'worsened'
2 hours ago -
Spanish MotoGP results
2 hours ago -
Italian PM Meloni says will stand in EU Parliament elections
2 hours ago -
Two-time defending world champion Bagnaia denies Marquez fairytale win
3 hours ago
-
Pakistan Embassy Beijing to create platform for students, professionals to explore opportunities: Am ..
3 hours ago -
One man dead after migrant boat sinks off Greek island
4 hours ago -
Tesla CEO Musk meets China's number two official in Beijing
4 hours ago -
Hamas official says delegation to respond to Gaza truce plan in Egypt Monday
5 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results
5 hours ago -
PM calls upon bridging gap between Global South, North in health sector
6 hours ago