News Archive

Two bills have been introduced in the Indiana General Assembly aimed at prohibiting race-based hair discrimination in the state’s public schools. Senate Bill 94 and House Bill 1124 would both outlaw discrimination based on traits, like hair texture and protective hairstyles, that have been historically associated with race. Professor Emerita Jennifer Drobac talked with the Indiana Daily Student for a story about the proposed legislation.

The bills would amend Indiana code concerning education. The bill defines protective hairstyles, such as braids, locs, and twists, and specifies hair that is tightly curled or coiled. The bills also include traits that have been historically associated with race, like hair texture and protective styles, in their definitions of race. This means that someone who is not from a particular race yet wears a protective hairstyle may not be shielded under the proposed legislation.

“For example, Orthodox Jews who have particular hairstyles would be protected under this law in their schools,” Drobac said in the story. “But someone who's a Protestant, for example, wearing that similar Jewish hairstyle might not be protected.”

Professor Emerita Drobac is a widely known expert in sexual harassment law. Her expertise regarding civil rights and sexual harassment and assault has been cited by media sources throughout the world. She is an author of the textbook, Sexual Harassment Law: History, Cases and Practice, recently published by Carolina Academic Press. She co-authored the book with Professor Carrie N. Baker of Smith College and Professor Rigel C. Oliveri of the University of Missouri School of Law.  Professor Drobac is at work on her next book, The Myth of Consent, which is under contract with Cambridge University Press. That work will explore the neuroscience of adult decision making and how the science should influence law reform, particularly the law of consent.