Dove fights hair discrimination in New York

The Unilever-owned beauty giant, which recently co-founded the CROWN Coalition (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) to ensure all women can celebrate their natural beauty, is celebrating the fact that NY S6209 'The CROWN Act' to prohibit discrimination based on natural hair or hairstyles passed the Senate in New York this week.

The bill, which was introduced by Senator Jamaal T. Bailey, prohibits race discrimination based on natural hair or hairstyles. Its introduction to the Senate followed a similar CROWN Act that passed the California Senate in May, and a New Jersey bill that was introduced to both the Senate and the Assembly. Dove and the co-founding members of the CROWN Coalition (National Urban League, Western Center on Law & Poverty and Color Of Change) have voiced their support of the initiatives in all three states.

"Discrimination based upon one's hair has no place in the state of New York," said Assemblywoman Tremaine Wright, who is partnering with Senator Bailey, in a statement. "It's wonderful to create legislation that will protect men, women and children in the workplace and in schools -- next step is to pass Assembly bill #A7797."

A national study carried out by Dove earlier this year found that Black women are 1.5 times more likely to have reported being sent home from work -- or know of a Black woman sent home -- because of their hair. They are also 80% more likely to change their natural hair to meet social norms or expectations in the workplace.

"For too long, narrow beauty standards in this country have perpetuated unfair scrutiny and injustice for hairstyles and textures inherent to Black identity and change is crucial," said Esi Eggleston Bracey, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of North America Beauty and Personal Care at Unilever. "Through our work with the CROWN Coalition, Dove is proud to be creating a more equitable and inclusive experience for Black women and girls by advancing this important legislation in California, New York and beyond to put an end to hair discrimination."

For more information on the CROWN Act, see www.thecrownact.com.