France, March 28 -- France's National Assembly on on Thursday approved legislation against a form of discrimination that's often overlooked: prejudicial treatment on the basis of hair. The bill, which still faces a vote in the Senate, is inspired by laws in the United States, where anti-racism campaigners have long argued that black people face unfair pressure to modify their natural hair.

"They called me into the office and said, 'we know you care about your hair ...' And I said, 'oh and you don't?'"

Fanta, a former police officer, is black. She says she's experienced what's been dubbed in Francediscrimination capillaire- hair discrimination.

"They asked me to straighten it because it wasn't professional. My hair, even if I straighten...