Discrimination based on hairstyles and headwears has always gone unnoticed. Berkeley, however, is making changes that will outlaw this type of discrimination, a move many have hailed as progressive and going in the right direction.
There will be sweeping changes in Berkeley that will see the ban on hairstyle and headwear discrimination in places of work. The bill which has been introduced by Berkeley City Councilmember Rigel Robinson will also extend to housing and public accommodations.
Robinson has said that the bill will look at ways to ensure that discrimination based on race, sex and religious affiliations should not be tolerated in the city.
If the bill passes, Berkley would be the first city to outlaw discrimination of people based on their religious headwear. This move is being hailed as progressive and a move in the right direction.
The fight against discrimination
In comparison to other cities, such as California and New York cities which have in the past passed laws against discrimination based on hairstyles called ‘Crown Acts’. These Acts do not protect religious groups and they leave them vulnerable in places of work and in their day to day work.
Robinson in an email said,
The City of Berkeley has long been at the forefront of social progress. It’s our mission as a City to promote universal respect for all, regardless of race, sex, language or religion.
He also added about the importance of such legislation saying that it will expand citizens’ rights to wear and also protect their rights when it comes to religious matters.
Support from student leaders in Berkeley
The legislation has gained a lot of support from student leaders in Berkeley with many openly coming to support this legislation.
ASUC Senator Omotara Oloye, who serves the Black and Afrikan Community as well as minorities in STEM said discrimination comes in different forms from microaggressions to systematic discrimination.
The ASUC senator gave an example where California Dance Team refused to let students whose hair did not follow the down and style hairstyle. The office argued that this was discrimination for certain hair types. They also pointed out that those with religious headwear also could not take part, pointing out that this should not have happened.
The legislation has also been supported by UC Berkeley’s Middle Eastern North African Recruitment and Retention Center who expressed similar sentiments of discrimination. They said that with the passing of this law, they were optimistic that things will be better going forward.
Many have said that these changes were long overdue and will help a lot in ensuring all communities feel welcomed in Berkley. The legislation is expected to be a bipartisan issue and it is expected to pass.
The University of California, Berkeley is a public research university in Berkeley, California. It was founded in 1868 and serves as the flagship campus of the ten campuses of the University of California.
