The U.S. Army's new grooming standards ban twists, dreadlocks and some other hairstyles commonly worn by African-American women.
The new regulations contain stipulations such as braids that "must be of uniform dimension, small in diameter (approximately ¼ inch), show no more than 1/8 (inch) of the scalp between the braids."
Dreadlocks "against the scalp or free-hanging" are banned. "Unkempt" or "matted" braids and cornrows are also considered dreadlocks and "are not authorized," according to the regulations that were updated this month.
"These new changes are racially biased and the lack of regard for ethnic hair is apparent," Sgt. Jasmine Jacobs of the Georgia National Guard wrote in a White House petition she started in late March asking the Obama administration to reconsider the policy.
The petition currently has more than 14,000 signatures.
Army spokesman Troy Rolan says the updates in appearance standards were intended to clarify the professional look of soldiers, and were crafted with the help of African-American female soldiers.
"Many hairstyles are acceptable, as long as they are neat and conservative," Rolan said, noting that the Army has banned dreadlocks since 2005.
What do you think of the regulations?
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