I was discriminated at the hair salon today (Friday)...

LuciaDisturbed

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due to the fact that I don't go to church.

MODS: this is NOT a religious discussion and it is NOT about religions, it's simply about discrimination and professionalism, and I wasn't sure where to put this in as this topic is DISCRIMINATION. Since it had nothing to do with disabilities I can't put this in the "Americans with Disabilities Act" forum. This is discrimination based on SOMETHING that they THINK I SHOULD be DOING but I am NOT doing - something that is really NONE of their business. Please don't move it to the religious forum - we are talking about DISCRIMINATION here. Bottom line - discrimination of civil rights. Thank you very much.

Anyhow, today I decided I wanted to go get my hair cut as my hair was getting shaggy and the nearest hair salon was just around the block. Costs more than the local beauty college, but I was willing to pay for it, no problem, I just wanted my hair cut as I had something going on tomorrow and wanted to look good for it and the beauty college was already closed. I had my old clippers but they were broken hence the reason for my going to this shop (I originally thought clippers would cost $30 and the haircut at the shop would be only about $14 as I didn't want to spend that much money on clippers at this time, I wanted to save my money and buy the clipper another time). It was going to be my first time having my hair cut at this specific shop. I went to the hair salon which was still open and when I got there I went in and told one of the women that works there via paper and pen (my own paper and pen) that I would like to have my hair cut. First they asked me how I would like it cut, so I thought this was going to be okay and that there wasn't going to be any issues. I told them how I would like my hair cut. Then all of a sudden one of the women asked me if I knew "the lord jesus". I thought, "WTF? Are they supposed to be asking me this, isn't this a place of business?" and I just said "um yeah but thank you" just to try to kindly tell them that I wasn't interested in this topic but thank you, just was trying to be polite as it wasn't something I wanted to talk about. She then asked me if I went to church. Of course I said no as I don't go and have not gone for the last ten years or so and I honestly don't see what the huge deal was about this anyway. Like I said, WTF? I told them that I really don't think that one needs to go to church in order to have beliefs. They continued to insist that I go to church. I then simply said "OK" hoping they would drop the subject so I could get my hair cut already because that was the only reason I came into the shop for - to get my hair cut. That's when the other woman bluntly said that when I started going to church they would cut my hair, they were refusing to cut my hair til I started going to church. I simply said, "That's discrimination". I am not sure exactly what the first woman wrote next as her handwriting began to get a bit illegible, but I think she was asking me if I was going to pay her, and I said of course. Then the second woman asked me what do I think it is, that I don't have any money or something like that which made me go WTF, I think she was getting bitchy with me or something. I don't know what her problem was. But I said nicely that I said I do have money, even though I don't work but I do have the money for the haircut, that I would have no problem paying for the haircut (I had cash on me). (Like I said earlier, WTF?). That's when they suggested that I try another hair salon that they claimed was "up the street" (which I knew was not there - in fact it was in ANOTHER zip code - I know exactly where it is because it is where my fiance gets his hair cut at). I guess at this point they no longer wanted my business, which was fine with me. I then asked them where they meant it was at, and they changed their claim to say it was a DIFFERENT street name, AND one that wasn't even "up the street", either. And even so I knew there was no such hair salon on that street either because I am on that street frequently and know it well and have seen no such hair salon and I double-checked with my fiance on my SK3 and I was right. They then changed their claim AGAIN to say that it was by the post office on ANOTHER street, and I know there is no such hair salon by the post office because that is MY post office that I frequent. They then asked me where I lived, to which I did not respond to as my address is none of their business and I knew where they were getting at. I was still talking to my fiance on the SK3 and that's when they noticed my SK3 and that's when they had the "oh shit" faces and went "get the notes, get the notes" but I had already took the notes away and put them in my pocket and that was when one of the women tried to paw me but I simply stepped back and said "hands-off please" (with the universal "stop" gesture using both hands - I don't like to be touched and pawed) and then they got another piece of paper and wrote to ask where the notes were at and that's when I said "Why? Are you afraid I'm going to report you?" and that's they told me to get out, to that of course I replied, "okay" and left, only pausing outside to note the address, name, and phone number of the shop, and then went along on my way to go to a store to buy my own clippers so I could do my hair myself. Unfortunately I was unable to get the names of the women that was there. Clearly they realized they did discriminate me, that's why they got all frantic about the notes, they knew that I had proof. :roll: BTW, I found clippers for sale for $13 so I guess I got lucky, and it will pay for itself in the long run anyway and I won't have to deal with the hoity-toity people. I cut my hair tonight and I look awesome.

They've lost my business. They shouldn't be discriminating against customers based on whether they go to church or not, that's real dumb.

I still have the notes and will be contacting the BBB as well as the Texas Cosmetic Commission on Monday.

Geez, I came in to get my hair cut and was refused service simply because they won't do business with people who doesn't go to church. :roll: How mature.

What a bunch of self-righteous hoity-toity women. Whether I go to church or not is none of their business...their job is to cut my hair and that's it. It's a HAIR SALON not a church. It's not even Sunday, either. Geez. I guess I should have simply said that it was not a subject I wished to discuss but I have a feeling they would press on the subject until they got an answer they wanted to hear. Some people are like that. :roll:

Oh well, I now feel I can no longer trust them with my hair especially if they feel this way about MY own beliefs, they might do a half-assed job if they did end up cutting my hair anyway, I'd probably have ended up with bald spots (I have most of my head shaved with a #4 clipper and the front is just long bangs). I don't think they were acting professional anyway. I'm taking my business elsewhere. True professional hairdressers do not do this kind of thing, they do not ask about such personal aspects of your lives in order to decide whether you're someone they would want to cut hair for, because they are normally in this for MONEY - PROFITS - not to get nosy about someone's life. If you were causing trouble, I would understand but I wasn't causing trouble, I simply wanted my hair cut and that's where they started their own trouble. When they told me to get out, I left without protesting. I simply said "okay" and left the shop. My fiance is also not happy with the way they have treated me via discrimination.

Oh well. Just wanted to share with y'all about something I totally did not expect at a hair salon.
 
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Interesting. have you considering talking to the manager of this saloon and let them know how the two people who works there treats you like that?? that is so bizarre how they approached you and asked all of personal questions. im sorry.
 
That's a new one for me. Religion in a hair salon? Usually those places are the last places for anyone to preach religion as hair salons are usually about vainity. Did the name of it have any religous tones to it?
 
Wow, and all this happened through pen and paper notes? That is a long encounter, Wow

I don't know much about where you are Lucia but I do not think it is healthy for you to live there. There seems to be a negative and a battle for you every day.
Can you move back to where you were before?

Usually those places are the last places for anyone to preach religion as hair salons are usually about vainity.
True, and local gossip :giggle:
 
That's probably the craziest thing I've ever heard in my entire life!!!!!! Definitely discrimination!!!! Those people are weird in my POV ;)

You did right by leaving, taking notes, etc. Do report them! :D and keep us posted... I'm curious to where this is going...

insane :roll:
 
fucking oath Jamielynn, i second what you said too

wow. Hmmmm next time they ask you about religion , how about say 'Im from a muslin family and my brother is out working in Yemin as a missionary. and say how its very stressful and that a new haircut was recommended by my psychiatrist. JK JK< that's real sad some people dont learn and worse that they underestimate words are really hurt and bring hatred in this world.
You have my pat and a beer ,cheers, *want some smoke too?* lol
 
I have never heard of that before from a hair salon to ask , whether or not you go to church. Most places, welcome , do the service without a problem. Odd , salon.
 
Its not discrimination, it is purely religious harassment! That place needs serioous professional training!
 
I don't know what to make out of this, I don't know if you're taking this all the wrong way or assume that they're trying to pressured you in going to church. There are often many times I've went to a hair salon, the person who cuts your hair always starts off with a conversation, and keeps it going so that you won't be bored, but this is the first time ever that I've heard any persons had preached about religious at a hair salon. If it had happened the way you said, then I report them.
 
Its not discrimination, it is purely religious harassment! That place needs serioous professional training!

Incorrect, how can you get harrassed on basis of religion?, a REFUSAL to serve on basis of religion IS discrimination. Discrimination is usually done on the grounds of race, age, sex, religion, disability attributes. Harrassment my ass, dont make me laugh.
 
The big WOW. Yea I would report it if I was you. Keep us post. Good luck girl!. You have my pat on the shoulder.
 
Harassment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Look at section thats called religious harassment

But, they did not exactly tell her what specific religious she should be part of. Jehovah's Witnesses people are far the worst, they come to your place of home, preach/tries to force you into joining their religious, now that's what I would call "religious harassment" But, in Lucia's case it's discrimination.
 
Yes, your right.

Harassment is often misunderstanding term. What it means is that one wants to make unwanted conversations while engaging activities other than what conversation was about or what the intention of meeting somebody about. Harasser tend to try to be reasoning and try convince you to follow what harasser wants you to do.

Discrimination in other word really means do not want something or someone without any conversation or reasoning. For example, I cant hire you because your deaf, that is clearly discrimination.

But, they did not exactly tell her what specific religious she should be part of. Jehovah's Witnesses people are far the worst, they come to your place of home, preach/tries to force you into joining their religious, now that's what I would call "religious harassment" But, in Lucia's case it's discrimination.
 
Yes, your right.

Harassment is often misunderstanding term. What it means is that one wants to make unwanted conversations while engaging activities other than what conversation was about or what the intention of meeting somebody about. Harasser tend to try to be reasoning and try convince you to follow what harasser wants you to do.

Discrimination in other word really means do not want something or someone without any conversation or reasoning. For example, I cant hire you because your deaf, that is clearly discrimination.

Ok, so we're both right... and .. I also learnt something new, tbh i didnt really know exactly what harrassing is, i thought its like heckle, try force them do somthing they dont really want to do (like sexual favours) but i can see how harrassment can be discerned as a technical term reflecting on the nature of what kind of relationship, either a cut-off (discrimination) or an unwanted persuasion (harrassment). thanks. But its clear the saloon discriminated her.
 
Sounds really strange and weird to me...never have encountered something like this, and I've been around a while!...I know that are some people that are "overly religious" and zealous about their Church. And some business do have religious signs all over their walls. I take it with a grain of salt when asked if I attend Church, etc., and make my answers "short".

But to refuse "service" to someone because they don't attend Church? Strange to me!

At one time, a co-worker, who was overly religious keep "hounding" me about Church, and I became frustrated, and told my boss about it. My boss "gave me a lesson" in humanity, and said...."He's just overly religious. He means no harm! Just say "Thank You" and walk away....which I did afterwards, and the guy got the message, without me having to curse him out!

Some of my old time friends are deeply into religion now, also, and before they never were. But I did not cut my friendship with them. I accepted it. But kept my own ideals to myself.

But to walk into a Hair Salon, and have them tell me they would not cut my hair unless "I went to a Church, or to their Church".....something's not right there! I would have just said, "OH, well, thank you". And walk out! and never go there again....Let them "cut their own throats" because their business will suffer.
 
just maybe it wasnt that saloon per see maybe a new employee forgot the pill?
 
Yeah, ;)

This is really bad business practice, I will never patronize that place, and would give em double middle finger.

Ok, so we're both right... and .. I also learnt something new, tbh i didnt really know exactly what harrassing is, i thought its like heckle, try force them do somthing they dont really want to do (like sexual favours) but i can see how harrassment can be discerned as a technical term reflecting on the nature of what kind of relationship, either a cut-off (discrimination) or an unwanted persuasion (harrassment). thanks. But its clear the saloon discriminated her.
 
never heard something like that sheesh.. do report them and see what happens next it wud be funny if they lost the business over something so immature :roll: shouldn't talk about beliefs cuz it's their own business and like it is just come and go.. than pressuring them into something they wud not dare do.. anyways kudos to you luciadisturbed :cool2:
 
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