You’re missing the point. This isn’t saying that hairstylists are supposed to act as social workers or DV investigators for their clients. If a hairstylist sees bruising on the scalp indicating their client’s hair has been yanked repeatedly, or if a manicurist sees bruising around a client’s wrist, if a hair removal…

I think the venom must be coming from people who have never been in a position where a client might tell them something like this when you are absolutely unprepared for it.

My friend works for USAID and in the international countries she visits this is a huge part of their initiatives. For many women, hair salons are the only places they go that their husbands or brothers or fathers aren’t with them. Many women spend hours at salons for treatments and it’s a place where they can freely…

It must depend on the community the hospital is in. Growing up my family lived in rural Michigan, and there were a couple of times members of my family had random accidents (my mom fell down the stairs and my sister fell off a chair - all totally accidental!). On their respective visits to the doctor’s office, they…

The more people who are trained to support women who experience IPV, the better in my book. Women are often hesitant to talk about it - and it takes many many times before they are ready to leave for good (and are in danger when they do try), so the more people they can talk to, the better.

Ah, nope. Research on this has demonstrated that many MDs are hesitant to even broach the topic - for many reasons like lack of time, lack of knowledge of how to screen, barriers to screening, etc. - and they don’t know the community resources. I did a survey of MDs about this, and even though we are in an urban…

I mean, ideally, everyone should be able to spot signs of abuse and list resources for help? “They’re not lawyers or social workers” okay but I don’t interact with ANY of those people in my every day life, and to be quite honest I don’t know how to even go about finding one. No one is asking hairstylists to counsel…

Thank you for sharing. This is why I don’t understand the negative comments about this training. In many instances, women feel/are isolated and any avenue that offers help is a fine idea. As someone who has also experienced an abusive relationship in the past, I think I would have appreciated the support.

So many people against training others to spot the signs of domestic abuse jumps out at me like a giant red flag. Nothing is mandatory for crying out loud.

I, too, am confused with all the venom being spat at this law. What the hell?

It was a kind comment from a hairdresser who had observed some ‘iffy’ abusive behavior that that helped me listen to my own inner voice and get the heck out of my marriage.

I’m pretty sure the reason stylists require so much training is because they’re handling styling chemicals and dumping it on hair and skin, and very close to people’s eyes. They’re also using scissors and blow dryers. This is no joke - people have suffered both heat and chemical burns back in the day when this much…

I’m surprised by all the negativity - hair stylists were involved in the creation of this law, and support it. Also, there is no requirement to report, no requirement to act, no requirement to ask - it just gives training because hair stylists may well be on the front line of hearing about abuse. Women do not always…

Like abusers care if they are told to stop.

Let’s not go down that slippery slope. That’s how eugenics became a thing.

Doesn’t that say more about the police than it does about the barbers, though? Its not that barbers need less training, police just need more. I sure as hell want the person cutting my hair to have spent 1500 hours learning to not make me look any worse than I already do.

The sort who would benefit most aren’t the type to go on educational courses...

I have no idea if this will help or not, but I like the idea of more people knowing the signs of abuse and actually ACKNOWLEDGING it as being abuse.

Ugh, sucky times just suck. Luckily this suck too, shall pass.

I hate that my ex broke up with me for stupid reasons. I hate that I’m sick. I hate this stupid ice in Maryland and hate this cold.