LinkedIn and Dove tackle hair discrimination at work

LinkedIn has partnered with Dove to create more inclusive and equitable spaces for Black hair in the workplace – reinforcing and celebrating that Black hair IS professional.

The CROWN Act, was a law put in place to end discrimination based on hair texture and hair styles to limit companies or education systems from mistreating individuals based on usual Black hairstyles such as braids, locs, bantu knots or twists.

Despite this the CROWN Act, the New CROWN 2023 Workplace Research Study highlights that Black women’s hairstyles are unfairly seen two and half times more unprofessional by employers. Additionally, in America Black women are 54% more likely to feel like they have to wear their hair straight to a job interview to be successful. Additionally, two thirds of Black women change their hair for a job interview.

LinkedIn and Dove began their social campaign with #BlackHairIsProfessional, along side photography showing traditional Black hairstyles in contrast with hairstyles Black women adapt their hair to be deemed more ‘professional’.

Global Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at LinkedIn, Rosanna Durruthy said “While talent is equally distributed, opportunity is not. Cultural identifiers, like hair, are not determining factors for someone’s skills or experience, and no one should be denied employment opportunities or professional advancement because of their hair”.

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