Chapter 2: Establishing Gender Inclusivity in Hair Salons: Shaping the Future of the Beauty Industry 1 CE Hour Course overview
Suppose your salon is searching for ways to become more welcoming to people of diverse beliefs, backgrounds, and identities. In that case, this class can increase your appearance in today’s society. This course explores gender inclusivity in hair salons, examining its meaning, Learning objectives After completing this course, the learner will be able to: Define gender inclusivity. Describe a gender-inclusive hair salon. List ways to identify a gender-inclusive salon. Explain the importance of gender inclusivity.
its importance, and how it may be incorporated into the hairstyling businesses. When taking this course, cosmetologists and barber stylists take giant steps toward symbolizing equal rights and creating spaces where clients may feel respected, included, and safe. List approaches toward incorporating gender inclusivity in hair salons. List and explain ways to promote gender inclusivity in hair salons. Explain the benefits of gender inclusivity in hair salon.
INTRODUCTION
telephone survey system that collects data about residents of the U.S. regarding their chronic health conditions, the use of preventive services, and health-related risk behaviors, and it has become a powerful tool for targeting and building activities advocating health promotion. As reported by Flores and Conron (2023), 5.5% of U.S. adults identify as LGBT (approximately 13.9 million). Salon Direct (2024) considered the reported population within the LGBT community and the Equal Rights Act of 2010 and therefore noted that the consideration of gender inclusivity is essential for ensuring that employees and clients feel respected, safe, and included in the hairstyling industry. This class is not just about theory but about practical steps that can be taken to establish gender inclusivity in hair salons, empowering you to make a difference. The course begins by defining gender inclusivity and then explains gender inclusivity in salons and how to tell if a hair salon is gender inclusive. Further content discusses ways to incorporate gender inclusivity into hairstyling shops and the potential benefits of the advised efforts. This class proposes a new way of prosperity for hair salons. The information supports methods that yield positive environments of enthusiasm and productivity inclusive of people of all communities, cultures, and lifestyles (Minerva Beauty, 2024). Establishing gender inclusivity in hair salons is an avenue of success for those brave enough to take the baton and carry it forward today.
As part of an industry shaped by society, hair salons play a significant role in reflecting the latest fads, styles, and movements. For instance, in the 1970s, they mirrored the freedom movement with retro styles and warm-colored walls, creating a groovy look that welcomed the people and fashions of the times. The 21st century is also a time of significant societal change and movement, demanding bias-free and equitable considerations, nondiscriminatory spaces, and nonsexist environments. Like in the 1970s, hair salons must keep up with societal changes. As noted by Salon Direct (2024), for future success, hair salon owners and employees must be innovative, adaptive, and progressive in aligning their thinking toward business practices supporting equality and inclusivity. The industry’s influence and responsibility are key themes of this course. Hair salon owners and workers play a significant role in shaping and contributing to cultures and communities. Their influence is profound, and they can support and reinforce societal change, growth, and renewal among the public. This influential position in society comes with significant responsibilities, one of which is to ensure equal rights for all, including diversity in gender preferences and sexual orientation, as emphasized by the Equal Rights Act of 2010 (Human Rights Campaign, 2023a). Flores and Conron (2023) estimated the number of LGBT adults in the U.S. at the national, regional, and state levels, utilizing the 2020–2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). According to BRFSS (2024), the BRFSS is a
DEFINING GENDER INCLUSIVITY
problematic concerns in essential aspects of society such as health, education, and business. Only since the late 2000s has the movement become part of studies that analyze the health, patterns, and conditions that define populations. Known as epidemiological research, this work supports closing the gap between the public and the knowledge needed to identify participants among diverse sexual and gender orientations correctly. Significantly, these types of studies also assist in decreasing the disadvantages among gender and sexual minority populations (Ballering et al., 2023).
According to Ballering and colleagues (2023), gender inclusivity means valuing, and respecting people of diverse or different gender identities in community settings, businesses, and programs, including participation in the change necessary for gender inclusivity to be accepted in the normality of society. Advocates have fought for decades for the inclusion of gender, sex, and sexual orientation movements. Despite these advances, the three concepts are mistakenly equated, have gained little attention, and are often operationalized non-informatively. The lack of information on gender, sex, and sexual orientation results in
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Book Code: ENC0826
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