Those sporting Afro-styled hair, blonde or ginger hair, dreads, braids or even balding heads could gain new protections in France, where a bill outlawing discrimination based on hair texture, length, colour or style cleared a first hurdle in the French parliament on Thursday. While some argue the law is unnecessary, others say it will fill a gap in existing legislation tackling discrimination.
After years of hearing all sorts of derogatory comments from schoolmates about her Afro-styled kinky hair, Kenza Bel Kenadil was met with the same contempt when she entered the job market. At the tender age of 17, she was told at work that her hair was “unprofessional, dirty and wild”.
