Richmond women suspended for hair styles

[OneTimeSBX]

HI everyone...tried to search and see if this had popped up anywhere else, and couldnt find it.

this is a link to my local newspaper in Richmond VA. these two women (one i actually know) were suspended and/or fired over braided and locked hairstyles. those in charge considered their hairstyles to be "extreme" and unfortunately gave them hard decisions to make.

since some of us are in professional environments (i.e offices, etc.) do you agree with these hair styles being "extreme"? what about tattoos or piercings?

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/search...5-25-0162.html

this should be a very interesting discussion...

[DSTCHAOS]

If there is nothing in the policies and procedures forbidding these hairstyles, there should be no problem.

If it is up to the supervisor's discretion, it should be made clear that these hairstyles provide some CLEAR threat to safety or the overall work environment.

[SoCalGirl]

Based on what can be seen in the picture included in the link it does not appear extreme at all! I hope they win big!

[sbx_six_eye]

This story is truly interesting...I wouldn't consider the hairstyles to be extreme, but if it was in the policy it should have been enforced from day one. Then again, I know many women (here in GA) who work as correctional officers and they wear braids, twists, etc. Is this something that varies from state to state?

[OneTimeSBX]

hey six...
ive never lived anywhere but here so i couldnt tell you! it just seems to me that if the one woman with locks worked IN THE WHITE HOUSE with locks, of allll the places it could be a "security risk", i would think that would be it!

i personally from time to time put braids in my hair. i always work with the public and never once have been told they were extreme. i could see if i got green or blue up in the braids, or some wacky-azz hair design with it, because that is a bit much. but just plain cornrows? i am all up in a law firm getting my case heard!

[1908Revelations]

This is total bull!!! If they were late to work everyday, if her hair were fire engine red, if she had gold teeth, or killed somebody, but braids!?!?!!? YOu have got to be kidding me! Can you say to hell in a handbasket! The day your hair trumps your performance is a cold day in hell.....well I am so I don't know what else to say...@#$%@$!#@

[OneTimeSBX]

thank you 1908, thats all im saying!

i could see if she was a hoodrat. i could see if she was a discipline problem. im pretty sure someone not black had something to do with it. we would all be too scared to approach her about it! "you tell her she cant wear her braids anymore...she's not gonna cuss ME out!"

[Educatingblue]

It's pretty sad that these women are basically being asked to assimilate to mainstream culture. Everyone does not want to wear their hair straight and flowing. I proudly wear my hair curly everyday in a head band or pulled up. People need to educate themselves on different hair types. As the article mentioned, people of African diaspora have been wearing braids forever and this is nothing new!

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Educatingblue

It's pretty sad that these women are basically being asked to assimilate to mainstream culture. Everyone does not want to wear their hair straight and flowing. I proudly wear my hair curly everyday in a head band or pulled up. People need to educate themselves on different hair types. As the article mentioned, people of African diaspora have been wearing braids forever and this is nothing new!

Yes, people of the African diaspora have been wearing their hair in brands forever.

Not to be confused with braids, twists, and dreds being the only unstraightened hair options.

My only issue is with this hair regulation not being documented so these women could know beforehand. I've seen establishments ban cornrows and not get any complaint from the blacks who worked there because these blacks thought cornrows created a certain image, anyway. I've also seen predominantly white establishments ban whites from wearing braided, dred locked, spiked, and dyed hairstyles. If the policy applies to all, it applies to all and that's fine with me.

[DSTCHAOS]

New Jersey had settled a facial hair lawsuit with Muslim correction officers.

But places like New York and Arkansas still have strict hair regulations that could prevent these two women from working there. Arkansas is more strict than New York's. I don't know if these regulations have been updated recently.

New York:
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache...lnk&cd=1&gl=us

Arkansas:
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache...nk&cd=10&gl=us

[OneTimeSBX]

you know, i dont mind being told at the beginning that my hair will be a problem. its when ive been at a job for umpteen years and then all of a sudden it is a problem. i can understand if it became a security issue due to some situation that occurs, that is fine. but out of the blue? hmmm...

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by OneTimeSBX

you know, i dont mind being told at the beginning that my hair will be a problem. its when ive been at a job for umpteen years and then all of a sudden it is a problem. i can understand if it became a security issue due to some situation that occurs, that is fine. but out of the blue? hmmm...

I agree.

I wonder if there's something in the guidelines that says these rules can be changed without notice.

[REE1993]

LOL in Arkansas, a ponytail is considered an "extreme" hairstyle.

[OneTimeSBX]

a ponytail? my god its been around for hundreds of years!