Disney & Discrimination against dreadlocks?

[Otto 83]

I was going to work retail. But, like I said, I don't want the job. I was just surprised that the guy said he won't hire me because of my hair.

Just out of curiousity - Why do you think they don't hire people with dreadlocks?

[bora bora 1]

The interviewer told me.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

wholesomeness, Leave it To Beaver, white bread, always happy...rainbows shooting out from your ####### look

I don't know. We've been to Disney in Orlando just a few weeks ago and if the white bread kind of look is one of the desired images at Disney, then I'd have to say that a lot of that white bread has been in the oven far too long. If you know what I mean. That said, I worked at a company that had pretty tight restrictions in terms of appearance: clean shaven, suit and tie, not guys with ear decoration, etc. Dreadlocks would have been a clear no-no as well. Don't like it? Don't apply. Pretty simple. Those are things you control. The things you don't control, such as the color of your skin or ethnicity, are the one's that employers cannot require one way or the other. That would be discrimination.

[Otto 83]

The interviewer told me.

Never mind

[Alex+R 0]

...Those are things you control. The things you don't control, such as the color of your skin or ethnicity, are the one's that employers cannot require one way or the other. That would be discrimination.

The only way it would be discrimination is if they wouldn't hire you because the hair is blonde. In this situation, it's just Disney being, well, Disney. They're a giant corporation and I think a "no dredlocks" policy seems reasonable considering that most dredlocks are nazzty (although yours are very clean) and they need a uniform policy. It would be difficult to draw the line in writing between rasta dreds and cleancut dreds.

[GOLDEN.247 0]

Some believe that dreads aren't and can't be clean cut. I've seen some dreads that were very clean cut and very neat. If for some reason they are more free and unkept, I could then see why they would object to them. Or maybe administration doesn't want to be in the position to say that some dreads are okay and others are not, so they band all dreads.

[Nikita2Charles 33]

I had dreadlocks in College, but after graduation SADLY yeap I had to cut my dread to fit to the so called white collar dress code. This guy was honest to tell you but other places they won't even give you a reason for it. Some people comes in then grow their dread after they get into the job by then they are used to the person work ability not by look.

[Marlita 1]

I wanted to see what you all think about this...

I'm a middle school teacher living near Orlando - a few miles away from Disney.

School ends in 2 weeks and I was thinking about a part time job - maybe something different - so I tried Disney's Job Fair.

Honestly I don't want to work there but it's close and they need seasonal workers (so I can quit no problem when I go back to school in the fall).

I went through this whole line of people, applied for a job, waited in 2 rooms, then went to see a recruiter to see if there was a part time job for me.

All this time I'm thinking I didn't really want to do this (I have an interview at Berlitz at the end of the month

Anyway, I was told by the man interviewing me - after about 5 minutes of me waiting for me clicking on the computer and then asking me "interview" questions - that Disney will not hire people with dreadlocks.

Does this seem wrong to anyone else?

Now I know they have a bunch of dumb rules, only small earrings, no mustaches, short hair only for me, no necklaces, one ring her hand, etc...

but still.

Oh wow, this was straight up discrimination! I don't know what you look like, but I see your little avatar, and if that is you, then I think you were discriminated because you were white and with dreads. They sent you through most of the interview process because they were sure what to do with you. I don't think they would have said that if you were Black with dreads. Did you see this policy in writing? Dreads are a "natural" process and state for Black hair, so they couldnt tell you to not wear your hair natural....racial discrimination would come into place here. The fact that you are white and have to manipulate your hair to dread (more so than a Black person), they probably felt the need to let you know they basically just dont like dreads. Now if you are not White, then I could be completely wrong...lol! But I definitely think that was discrimination.

[almaty 19]

allot of companies set the standards for the employees, mode of dress and appearance....it is commonplace..where i work there is a dress code ..but none for hair style or length..in fact, one of our v-p has dreadlocks...

Edited May 10, 2007 by almaty

[Alex+R 0]

I wanted to see what you all think about this...

I'm a middle school teacher living near Orlando - a few miles away from Disney.

School ends in 2 weeks and I was thinking about a part time job - maybe something different - so I tried Disney's Job Fair.

Honestly I don't want to work there but it's close and they need seasonal workers (so I can quit no problem when I go back to school in the fall).

I went through this whole line of people, applied for a job, waited in 2 rooms, then went to see a recruiter to see if there was a part time job for me.

All this time I'm thinking I didn't really want to do this (I have an interview at Berlitz at the end of the month

Anyway, I was told by the man interviewing me - after about 5 minutes of me waiting for me clicking on the computer and then asking me "interview" questions - that Disney will not hire people with dreadlocks.

Does this seem wrong to anyone else?

Now I know they have a bunch of dumb rules, only small earrings, no mustaches, short hair only for me, no necklaces, one ring her hand, etc...

but still.

Oh wow, this was straight up discrimination! I don't know what you look like, but I see your little avatar, and if that is you, then I think you were discriminated because you were white and with dreads. They sent you through most of the interview process because they were sure what to do with you. I don't think they would have said that if you were Black with dreads. Did you see this policy in writing? Dreads are a "natural" process and state for Black hair, so they couldnt tell you to not wear your hair natural....racial discrimination would come into place here. The fact that you are white and have to manipulate your hair to dread (more so than a Black person), they probably felt the need to let you know they basically just dont like dreads. Now if you are not White, then I could be completely wrong...lol! But I definitely think that was discrimination.

Just because dreadlocks are what might naturally happen to Black hair doesn't mean there aren't other ways to wear Black hair. I know few Black people with dreads. The natural state of my hair is not very presentable. The natural state of my body is naked, but that doesn't make it ok to go to work that way.

[^KK^ 3]

My little brother used to work at a water park in Orlando...Bora Bora..you probably know which one I'm talking about...you get WET and Wild there. He got hired without dreads and started growing his dreads while he was working there. He used to pull them back in a ponytail until about a year later the manager said..."Don't come back tomorrow unless you cut your hair." So he quit. It's very unfortunate that the theme parks have such high standards which they believe are dictated by the consumers. They truly believe that the guest at the parks would be offended by neat or messy dreads. It would be curious to know how many of the theme park guests actually care what the hair of the person selling them their admission ticket looks like?? and would this change their mind of going into this FUN??? park?

[Oath 0]

I can only give my own opinion.

Companies want to hire people that they believe will not only benefit the companies profits, but also improve their image, in the UK at least dreadlocks are synonomous with the rastafarian lifestyle, i don't know if its the same in the US, but someone with a clean cut hairstyle and well dressed will generally get the job over someone who is not, regardless of qualifications. I am not of course saying that anyone with dreadlocks smokes weed and sits around all day enjoying themselves, but appearences are 90% of any interview, it is down to you to convey the appearence that will get you hired. Yes its discrimination, yes it may be wrong, but you can blame the media and so called 'corporate strategists' that trained them.

When I worked at a supermarket in the UK I had long hair, It grew during my time working there. After a while working there I dyed it green, it was never called into question and had it been i would have pointed them to my outstanding work record, when I worked as a doorman, I shaved my head the reason I shaved my head was not only for appearance, but for practical reasons, you can't throw anyone out if they control your head via your hair

Appearence is the key to almost all aspects of life, no matter what and while I appreciate your outrage over being discriminated against due to your hair, you have to be willing to bend to it if you really want the job, it would be different if they had said "we don't hire blacks" or something like that, but your hair doesnt mean ######, it can be changed and it can grow back, your skin does not change color unless your Micheal Jackson so save your outrage.

[mawilson 2,133]

I wouldn't hire a natty dread either.

[Raspect 0]

YOU ALL NOW WHAT?

MAWILSON WONT HIRE NO NATTY DREAD, THAT IS OK

MAYBE NATTY DREAD DOESNT HIRE YOU, OR WHATEVER THING

BUT THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS AS A GREAT PHILOSOPHER ONCE POINTED OUT

DREADLOCK CAN'T LIVE INNA TENAMENT YARD

DREADLOCK CAN'T WORK INNA A DISNEY LAND

TOO MUCH SU SU SU SU SU

TOO MUCH WATHCY WATCHY WATCH

BUT ALSO AS ANOTHER GREAT BUNCH OF PHILOSPICAL DISCIPLES OF THE MOST HIGH SAY

YOU DONT HAFFI DREAD TO BE RASTA

THIS IS NOT A DREAD LOCK THING,

GIVE I CONCEPTION OF THE HEART

SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHERE UR LOCKS COME FROM

IF IT IS FOR BEAUTY FASHION OR FOR YOU MAKING A COVENANT WITH THE MOST HIGH

[Oath 0]

Something

If you belive its not about the dreadlocks and all about where you come from you need a boot in the #######.

I am so ###### sick of people pulling the race card every time something doesnt go their way, it may well be its not about your race, but the way you present yourself. But that not easy for some people to accept.