Barbers and hairdressers often hear from clients who have experienced domestic violence. A new bill that hopes to provide them with training on how to spot and help clients in need.
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
Hairdressers, barbers, aestheticians – all can be privy to some of their clients’ deepest secrets. And when it comes to domestic violence, they might be helpful. There is a bill aimed at providing them with training to recognize signs of abuse in their clients. Natasha Senjanovic reports.
NATASHA SENJANOVIC, BYLINE: Domestic violence hinges on controlling someone, on isolating them from support systems, and hair salons are among the few places many victims can visit alone.
TAMMY DUCKWORTH: The people who are cutting your hair are going to notice the bruises on your neck, are going to notice that you’re tender around areas where perhaps you’ve been struck.
SENJANOVIC: That’s Illinois Democrat Tammy Duckworth. She’s co-sponsoring a new bipartisan Senate bill by Tennessee Republican Marsha Blackburn. It’s based on laws that already exist in their states and one other. In Tennessee, for example, all beauty industry professionals must take free domestic abuse awareness training as part of their recertification process. Hairstylist Susanne Post was crucial in getting that law passed to help abuse survivors.
SUSANNE POST: We may be the person that is in the position to gently nudge them when it’s time.
SENJANOVIC: Time to find an exit strategy. Post created the online training used in her state. It teaches to lend a compassionate ear but not push anyone to just leave. That, she says, could be fatal.
POST: It has to be the right time, and you can’t force that for someone else.
SENJANOVIC: Instead, says Post, sprinkle your shop with flyers about victim services. At most, discreetly hand a client a hotline number. Post also consulted on the Senate bill. It would give a grant to states that make the training mandatory, and it also…
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