Nina Droff / Photo credit: Quentin De Groeve / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 10:51 am, April 28, 2023

Every day, Europe 1 looks at an everyday idea or problem. Baldness, red or frizzy hair... Many French people are victims of mockery related to their hair, especially at work. An elected representative of the Liot group also wants to propose a law to fight against hair discrimination. What do the French concerned think?

Baldness, red hair, blond, curly, frizzy ... Many French people are victims of mockery related to their hair. The deputy Olivier Serva, himself bald, admits to having suffered. This elected Guadeloupean, member of the Liot group, wants to propose a law against hair discrimination, especially at work. A measure that already exists in the United States, for example. But would a piece of legislation be unnecessary or necessary? Europe 1 asked the question to the French concerned.

"When I go to an interview, I wonder how I style them"

Whether they have red, frizzy or blond hair, many French people say they have been mocked on their hair, especially in their professional environment. "Mockery like 'you didn't do your hair', when it is," says a young woman. "The blondness that is associated with naivety," adds another. "I was called Carrot hair, the redhead," recalls a young man at the microphone of Europe 1. "I've already been told, 'You're losing your hair, you're bald!'" said another.

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Tanita has frizzy hair styled in afro, Lucile thick brown curls that fall to the middle of her back. Both are very careful about how they do their hair at work. "When I go to an interview, I wonder how I style them. I will style them in buns, for example, to avoid any discrimination, "says the first.

"I tended to be very careful about the way I was styled because people around could very quickly find that it does not look professional when it is not true," says Lucile.

"Not sure that a law will change mentalities"

But should we make a law? Opinions differ. "It can raise awareness that there is a problem and that hair is a source of discrimination. Afterwards, I'm not sure it changes mentalities," regrets a young woman.

"It would be something interesting, indeed, to fight against discrimination and make sure not to make it normal," concedes a passer-by. "I have doubts about the fact that it really changes something and that we can stem this phenomenon of hair joke," regrets a last at the microphone of Europe 1. This bill could be presented to the National Assembly next October.