Locs, Law & Liberation - Experiences of Discrimination Based on Hairstyles Among Black Women Lawyers

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Locs, Law & Liberation - Discrimination Based on Hairstyles Among Black Women Lawyers

Image courtesy of TheCrownAct.com

Thank you for participating in this study.

Your insights are invaluable in understanding the experiences of discrimination based on specific hairstyles, including locs (dreadlocks, microlocs, sisterlocks, etc.), braids, and twists in the legal profession. Your participation is voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time without penalty. All information you provide will remain confidential and be used solely for research.

Consent: Your participation in this survey indicates your consent to use the information you provide for research purposes. You have the right to withdraw at any time.

Confidentiality: Your identity and responses will remain confidential. Results will be reported in aggregate form only.

Support: If discussing your experiences leads to discomfort, we encourage you to seek support from free mental health resources available through your state bar association or other professional networks.

Contact Information: If you have questions about the study or your rights as a participant, please email hardrickj@cooley.edu.
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Name* This field is required.
First Name
Last Initial
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Email* This field is required.
example@example.com
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Do you wear your hair out in it's naturally curly state (locs)? By this I mean do you not regularly wear your hair straight (including chemically, thermally, or protective styles including wigs, weaves, or extensions). * This field is required.
Please Select
Please Select
Yes
No
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What state do you work in? * This field is required.
Please Select
Please Select
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
IllinoisIndiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
MontanaNebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
PennsylvaniaRhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
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Age:* This field is required.
20-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65+
Other
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Gender:* This field is required.
Female
Transexual
Male
Prefer not to answer
Binary
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With which racial category do you identify? (These racial categories are defined according to the U.S. Census definitions)* This field is required.
Black or African American
American Indian and Alaska Native
Asian
Two or More Races
White
Choose not to answer.
Other
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Do you identify as Hispanic or Latina/o?* This field is required.
Yes
No
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Years of Practice:* This field is required.
Fewer than 3 years
3 to 5 years
6-10 years
Over 10 years
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Type of Practice* This field is required.
Big Law Firm (20+ attorneys)
Small Law Firm (5+ attorneys)
Solo Practitioner
Government
In-House Counsel/Corporate
Non-profit
Other
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Level of Practice:* This field is required.
Associate
Tenured Professor
Partner/Shareholder
Law School Administrator
Managing Attorney
Law Clerk
Founding Attorney
Mediator/Arbitrator
Chief Attorney
Staff Attorney
Deputy Chief Attorney
Judge
Assistant Government Attorney
Unemployed
Assistant/Associate Professor
Other
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Are you involved in any the following organizations(choose all that apply):* This field is required.
Mandatory State Bar
Local/Voluntary Bar Association
Civic or Charitable Organization
American Bar Association
Florida Bar Association of Women
Lawyers Trade Organization
National Bar Association
Not involved in any of these organization
Other
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Please choose the hairstyle(s) you currently or most frequently wear in professional settings. Choose all that apply.* This field is required.
Microlocs
Traditional Dreadlocks
Natural, non-straightened hair in various styles
Natural non-straightened hair in a bun
Natural non-straightened hair in braids or twists
Natural non-straightened hair under a wig, weave or hair extensions
Afro
Other
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What percentage of time do you wear your hair in a locs, braided or twisted style?* This field is required.
100%
25%
75%
0%
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Have you faced any direct or indirect comments regarding your hairstyle in a professional setting that you deemed critical or negative?* This field is required.
Yes
No
Unsure
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Have you considered the possibility of facing hair discrimination when deciding on a specific hairstyle like locs, braids, twists, afro, or other style that showcases your hair's natural texture?* This field is required.
Yes
No
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Have you changed your hairstyle from a loc, braided or twisted style to a straightened style (including weaves, wigs, and extensions) in preparation for a job interview?* This field is required.
Yes
No
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Have you changed your hairstyle from a loc, braided or twisted style to a straightened style (including weaves, wigs, and extensions) in preparation for starting a new job?* This field is required.
Yes
No
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Have you ever felt discriminated against in the legal profession due to your locs, braids, or twists hairstyle?* This field is required.
Yes
No
N/A
Other
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If yes, by whom?* This field is required.
a superior/superviser
a judge
a colleague
a client
Other
N/A
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If yes, what form?* This field is required.
comment
refused an interview
refused a job
asked to change my hair
Other
N/A
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Has a colleague attempted to touch your hair?* This field is required.
Yes
No
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If yes, did they ask for your permission to do so?
Yes
No
N/A
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Has a work colleague made remarks about your particular hairstyle involving locs, braids or twists?* This field is required.
Yes
No
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If yes, did you consider the remark to be* This field is required.
Positive
Negative
Neutral
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Have you witnessed any of the foregoing behaviors happen to a colleague in your workplace?* This field is required.
Yes
No
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If yes, which one?
Touching hair
Asking about hairstyle
Commenting on hairstyle
N/A
Other
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If yes, what was your first reaction?* This field is required.
I discussed it with someone else
I reported it to HR
I reported it to a supervisor
I discussed it with the colleague to whom it happened
N/A
Other
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How did you respond to an discriminatory incident regarding your locs, braids, or twists hairstyle?* This field is required.
I reported it to HR
I spoke to the individual directly
I spoke to a manager or supervisor
I did nothing
Other
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Is your workplace's dress code or appearance policy explicitly inclusive of hairstyles such as locs, braids or twists?* This field is required.
Yes
No
Unsure
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Is your workplace's dress code or appearance policy explicitly restrictive of hairstyles such as locs, braids or twists?* This field is required.
Yes
No
Unsure
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Have you sought support from colleagues, professional associations, or other organizations in response to hair discrimination?* This field is required.
Yes
No
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Please share any additional thoughts, experiences, or suggestions related to hairstyle discrimination in the legal profession.
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8. Interview

If you're interested in being interviewed about your experience, please schedule a 30-minute interview using this link [https://calendly.com/professorhardrick/locs-law-liberation-survey]. You can do it by phone, Zoom, or Google Meet. Your responses will be attributed anonymously.

Thank you for your participation.

Your experiences and insights are crucial in understanding and addressing hairstyle discrimination within the legal profession.

This questionnaire aims to gather rich, qualitative data on the lived experiences of Black women lawyers facing hairstyle discrimination, contributing to a deeper understanding of this issue and informing efforts to promote a more inclusive legal profession.
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Are you interested in being interviewed?* This field is required.
Yes
No
Should be Empty:

Locs, Law & Liberation - Discrimination Based on Hairstyles Among Black Women Lawyers

8. Interview