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Dove and LinkedIn partner to end hair bias, aiming to educate one million hiring managers

Prejudices surrounding natural hair and protective styles continue to affect Black women in US workplaces, hurting their employment opportunities and professional advancement. The 2023 CROWN Research Study, co-commissioned by Dove and LinkedIn, reveals that Black women's hair is 2.5 times more likely to be perceived as unprofessional. 

In light of this and other findings, Dove and LinkedIn are partnering to help end race-based hair discrimination in the US. Their initiative has three key components. Firstly, all LinkedIn users will have free access to ten LinkedIn Learning courses that help foster a more equitable work environment. Topics include 'Leading Inclusive Teams' and 'Uncovering Unconscious Bias in Recruiting and Interviewing.' 

Secondly, both brands will share findings from the CROWN study to drive urgency around the real and measurable adverse impacts of workplace hair discrimination on Black women. Finally, they'll feature and promote the voices of Black women professionals across the LinkedIn platform to help redefine what society considers 'professional' for work environments, and bring natural hair and protective styles into the fold.

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The numbers are brutal: 66% of Black women change their hair for job interviews, with 41% straightening their hair from its natural state. Black women with curly, coily or textured hair are more likely to experience microaggressions in the workplace, and 20% of Black women aged 25-34 have been sent home from work because of their hair.

With their #BlackHairIsProfessional campaign, LinkedIn and Dove have set an ambitious goal of educating one million hiring managers and workplace professionals by the end of 2023. Other brands: time to join in? Or who could you partner with to boost your own efforts to foster a diverse and equitable workforce?

Related: Dove UK helps Black and mixed-race women reclaim school picture day