new thread
I work for a company in southern Florida that does park maintenance that is hired out by the city of Weston. I was hired by the supervisor guy, he said that its "a requirement to be clean cut/clean shaven" and I promptly told him I am an Essene Nazarene under the Nazarite vow and I cannot cut my hair. He accepted and told me to just wear it back in a ponytail or braid and put it under my hat or shirt...
So, then, about a month later, a guy that was training me (not the regional manager that hired me, he was fine with it, this was a guy that supervises a park I happen to work at) kept insisting "cut your hair... you look like a girl... are you a girl? If you don't cut your hair, Me and my friend are going to hold you down and cut it ourselves." I told him it was against my religion, he said "Your religion is a pussy religion" I said I can't do it over and over, he said "I don't care, I'm cutting it if you don't go with me to the barber shop" I caved then, because I didn't want to be physically assaulted, he took me to a barber shop immediately and pretty much laughed at me and got hung up on his little ego power trip bullshit...
(by the way, my religion promotes veganism, which I also get ridiculed for constantly)
I still have long hair, its past my clavicle shoulder bone, I wouldn't allow the barber to go shorter than that, but I immediately afterwords wrote him a letter explaining how I have certain civil rights (the civil rights act of 1964 in title 7 prohibits religious discrimination) and I also contacted the guy that hired me that had no problem with my religion. He spoke with the guy, and now the guy is pissed at me. Whatever though, the guy is a douschebag.
What I'm getting at though is the other day he was saying how the city is complaining about my hair (since the company I work for is hired out by the city) And I'm wondering what can I do to avoid people constantly talking mick about me?
I'm thinking of hiring a lawyer and taking legal action, because I see many people on here getting discriminated against and its time someone stood up for longhairs. I know its an uphill battle, but I'm stubborn and determined. It does involve my religion, so that actually would make it easier for my case in court.
Any advice, please, don't be shy.
By the way, before the "haircut incident" my hair was past my elbows.
I have had it below waist level before.
It shouldn't be a problem doing any kind of work, because when it gets to certain lengths, even if doing construction or landscaping or painting or whatever kind of work, it can be tied back in a taught braid, then doubled or tripled over in loop-ponytails, or put up in a hat with the double-loop. Or hell, even put it in your shirt, tuck it down your collar, it might get hot, but its YOUR CHOICE.
I could at least understand if it was so long that it reached the floor, or so long that it reached the waist that it might be considered a safety risk, but at solar plexus level (below the ribcage bone, approximately elbow length) it poses no risk if pulled back neatly and doubled up so it doesn't hang and droop into equipment.
(by the way.... have you guys ever noticed a lot of long hairs seem to work construction/landscaping/plumbing/carpentry work, yet everyone calls us "pussies"? Kind of ironic, huh?)
Well apparently the guy has no respect for other religions. I personally have not heard of a religion that discourages cutting one's hair but that's beside the point :P I think people take one look at other people's religions (or rather what they THINK is the other person's religion) and then conclude whether or not it's "worth following" or not without really giving it a chance--I should know, I'm Muslim and we get ridiculed alot by many non-Muslims thanks to the events of 9/11 (and some events that have occured beforehand)
At any rate as long as your hair is neat, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to work. Sometimes I wonder if guys with short hair feel like that might go bald because they see another guy with long hair or if they're so easily persuaded by culture (as many people are) that they believe it's feminine to wear something that naturally grows from your body.
i hear ya man
thats something that annoys me...a lot of austrailians and americans think that every muslim is a terrorist or beats there wife or something stupid like that...just becuase they dont agree with the values of another culture/religion it doesent mean its wrong or the person associated with said religion is limited or has a bad life.......i mean isnt sometihng like 30% of the world population muslim? what do they think that they are all evil terrorists
Hehe let me be the first to tell you that muslim men are not supposed to beat their wife/wives. that in particular is the culture of the people in those countries and countries that are close to them. It's just the type of culture and mind-frame that some of the men have. Too many times people to justify their actions (letting culture dominate their religion) and it makes the rest of us look bad. Other times people (eg. Al-Qaeda and Talibaan) read only Al-Qur'an from one point of view completely forgetting that everything is not supposed to be taken literally.
Aat any rate, I would definitely probably press charges if I was in this situation. I would never cut my hair for an employer/coworker.
yea thats what i was trying to say about the beating...actually your other description sounds very similar to some christians the wrole culture and takeing is literally thing
Just a point of note. There are two religions which immediately come to mind which do discourage cutting of hair. Sikhism and Rastafarianism.
oh thanks. i never knew that about sikhs and i have definitely never heard of rastafarianism lol but thanks for pointing them out
nobody should EVER have to live in fear especially ofr such a rediculous thing...if anyones the pussy its him and his freind for ganging up on you.
its too bad you alreadt got the cut....someone like him should be put in his place the correct way...contact the police...if someone threatens physical interference on someone hes already commited a crime.
im a Vego and i have long hair and if anyone said sometihng like that to me id just let him know that as soon as he tries to do that me hell have to struggle to do it and therefore it would constitute as assult.
Hey man, I also live in Weston, Florida. What are the chances eh? I take offesnse of that guy calling you a pussy. He ever threatens you again you let me know man. I'll break that guys neck. I am a kick-boxer. Good luck man.
It is very simple. Walter's idea of consulting a lawyer is not a bad idea, however, that will cost you money. The most cost effective step you can take is to keep a careful diary of everything that happens to you on the job,
AND
Call the Florida affiliate of THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION. You do not have to be a member, but it would be a good idea to join. (20.00 in NC) No fee will be charged to assist you in asserting your rights, and if there is any violation of your constitutional rights, the ACLU will speak on your behalf and if necessary go to court for you.
Your body is your body, and the government does not have any right to intrude on your space.
This is why there is so much emphasis on privitazation of work by some political parties in the US, work which could be done more efficiently by the government itself, like the recent idea of outsourcing collection of income tax.
A private company can demand any adjustment in our appearance that suits their dress code; they can require you to offer them liquids that have passed through your glomerural filtration system for chemical analysis, while the government cannot require that unless you are in the military. [More commonly called p in a c] but the program that controls our site may not let me say this, for good reason because of possible abuse.
However, you have rights to the integrity of your body and this extends to your finger nails, under the US constitution.
Many people think the ACLU is a way out organization, but it is simply the voluntary agency that assures that our government support the first ten ammendements to the constitution, The Bill of Rights.
Before the American Revolutaion, and the establishment of our constitutional government in 1776, most people were subjects of their King. Our glorious republic insisted that people were citizens, unfortunately not fully realized at the beginning and not fully yet, with equal rights who together were their own govenors: of by and for the people.
Tragically, how few Americans really understand this.
A religion of only one person my be suspect. But it is clear, that those of us who have long hair belong to a religion, even though the ethics and standards of that religion have not yet been fully articulated, and when they are we are surely to differentiated in different denominations: trimmers vs. never cutters, etc.
This is one of my central committments, to add substance to the idea of our religion. Our long hair religion needs a better articulated code of ethics.
The ACLU will support you.
If you do not know how to contact the Florida affiliate of the ACLU, go on line. It will be there.
If you have questions, e-mail me:jbhphd@bellsouth.net. I am president of the WNC chapter of the NC affiliate.
Caledonian
I am at a loss as to why you caved in to this bully (because that is what he is, and a sh*tebag). He threatened you with emotional harrassment and physical harm which, i'd say, must be against the law somehow.
p.s.
As for Sikh's (I thought everyone knew this!!)
Sikh's have the 5 K's, which are 5 physical symbols worn by Sikhs who have been initiated into the Khalsa;
Kesh (uncut hair)
Kara (a steel bracelet)
Kanga (a wooden comb)
Kaccha (cotton underwear)
Kirpan (steel sword)
Sikh men and women are not allowed to cut hair from any part of the body.