TY - JOUR T1 - Can I touch my black colleagueâs hair? JF - BMJ JO - BMJ DO - 10.1136/bmj.q1876 VL - 386 SP - q1876 AU - Rimmer, Abi Y1 - 2024/09/23 UR - https://www.bmj.com/content/386/bmj.q1876.abstract N2 - While it might seem like harmless curiosity, itâs intrusive and unprofessional, Abi Rimmer hearsRachael Harlow, clinical research fellow in pharmaceutical medicine, says, âThe short answer is noâbut letâs explore why itâs inappropriate to touch a colleagueâs hair.âCuriosity about different hair textures isnât often maliciousâbut remember this is a professional setting. Hair is part of a personâs body, and touching a colleagueâs body at work is not appropriate. Conversations about hair at work are rarely welcomed. Be respectful and avoid sensitive topics unless you can navigate them with respect. âBlack colleagues are not exhibits or pets. Even a polite request to touch someoneâs hairânot that I think there is such a thing, but for argumentâs sake letâs entertain the ideaâcan feel dehumanising. Black professionals in the NHS already face extra challenges, including higher rates of disciplinary action,1 harassment,2 and lower annual review of competency progression scores,3 and adding to that list diminishes their personhood and dignity. This is a professional, and a human being.âYour behaviour influences workplace culture. Treating black colleagues with ⦠ER -