Why Personal Style Should Be Considered a Federally Protected Characteristic

Why Personal Style Should Be Considered a Federally Protected Characteristic

From hairstyles to accessories, personal style is a huge part of our lives. It helps us express ourselves and communicate our personalities to the world. Unfortunately, personal style has also been a source of discrimination for many people, particularly those from marginalized communities. This is why it’s time to consider personal style as a federally protected characteristic.

What are federally protected characteristics?

Before we get into why personal style should be added to the list of federally protected characteristics, let’s first understand what this term means. Federally protected characteristics are traits that cannot be used as a basis for discrimination in employment, housing, and other areas of public life. These characteristics include race, gender, age, religion, disability, and national origin.

The problem with discrimination based on personal style

Personal style is often used by employers and landlords as a way to discriminate against people. Racial and ethnic minorities, as well as individuals from the LGBTQ+ community, are particularly susceptible to discrimination based on their personal style choices. For example, an employer might choose to not hire a person with dreadlocks simply because they don’t fit into their idea of a “professional” appearance. Similarly, a landlord might deny housing to a potential tenant because they wear a headscarf or turban.

Why personal style should be protected

Adding personal style as a federally protected characteristic would help to ensure that individuals are not discriminated against based on their appearance. This protection would benefit people with natural hair, certain religious head coverings, tattoos and piercings, and other style choices. By recognizing personal style as a protected characteristic, employers and landlords would be prohibited from making decisions based solely on a person’s appearance. This would level the playing field for individuals who may have been excluded from certain opportunities due to their personal style.

Examples of why personal style protection is needed

There are already plenty of instances where people have faced discrimination based on their personal style. For example, in 2018, a high school wrestler in New Jersey was forced to cut his dreadlocks in order to compete in a match. In another case, a Muslim woman in Michigan was denied a job at a salon because she wears a hijab. Protecting personal style would prevent these types of discrimination from taking place.

Conclusion

Personal style has become a vital part of our identities. It helps us express our unique personalities and cultural backgrounds. However, it has also become a source of discrimination for some people. It’s time to recognize personal style as a federally protected characteristic to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and given equal opportunities regardless of their fashion choices.