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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To make a complaint about a barber

50 replies

sam2069 · 23/04/2018 19:24

Went into a barber this afternoon on the way home from work, around 4.30. I have a short mohican and just wanted the sides shaved. Normally go to a unisex salon in town but only wanted a tidy and couldn't be bothered.
I went into the barber and he had no one waiting, just a guy in the chair. I sat down to wait and he asked me what I wanted. I said, "Oh just a trim," and he said "No!" I laughed and said "You're joking?" He was like, "No I'm not." I said "That's sexist." He just stared at me. I laughed and said that I would make sure that told everybody. So here I am, telling everybody.
Now my question is - AIBU if I make a complaint because he has infringed my rights to receive a service based on my gender - that's discrimination right?

OP posts:
Butterymuffin · 23/04/2018 19:26

I'm really not sure exactly who you would complain to about this.

Ummmmgogo · 23/04/2018 19:26

who would you complain to?

Scabetty · 23/04/2018 19:27

Haven’t we already had a thread on this Confused

CrumbliestFlakiest · 23/04/2018 19:32

This sounds familar

catattack123 · 23/04/2018 20:24

A barber cuts men's hair, you are not a man so imo YABU. He has been trained and specialises in men's haircuts, he wouldn't cut a women's hair incase he messes it up.

Katinkka · 23/04/2018 20:26

Barbers cut men’s hair. HTH

ButchyRestingFace · 23/04/2018 20:26

You missed a trick, OP. Should have told him you were a man.

The moment has however passed. I would suggest building a bridge and getting over it.

validusername1 · 23/04/2018 20:29

You are a woman.
He is a barber.
Barbers cut men's hair.
You are not a man.
You are unreasonable.

Seeingadistance · 23/04/2018 20:29

Have to admit, I've never thought about complaining about it, but I've asked in a couple of local barbers for a hair cut and they've refused on the basis that they only cut men's hair. I have pointed out that men and women's heads are pretty much the same, but that made no difference.

And for what it's worth, I have a short undercut - the sides and back are clipped, and I strongly suspect that a barber would do a better, and cheaper, job than a hairdresser simply because they get more practice using clippers.

WhatToDoAboutWailmerGoneRogue · 23/04/2018 20:30

We had this thread the other day. Barbers cut mens hair.

It doesn’t infringe on any rights; stop being ridiculous.

user1471517900 · 23/04/2018 20:32

So here I am telling everybody

Well done. It will really hurt their business. Especially not knowing where on earth it might be.

NewYearNewMe18 · 23/04/2018 20:33

No where in your OP have you said "he refused to cut my hair and stated it was because I am a woman." But then again, you haven't said in your OP that you are a woman either.

Perhaps he just doesn't do extreme hair cuts? Or perhaps he didn't want to be alone with a woman in an intimate setting and be accused of an assault? Perhaps he thinks your hair would be a reflection on his trading reputation?

ShatnersBassoon · 23/04/2018 20:34

Self-employed person chooses not to do every job that is offered to them. It's shocking stuff.

LovelySouffle · 23/04/2018 20:39

Well, I for one will NEVER get my hair cut there now!

foreverandalways · 23/04/2018 20:43

I am female and always go to a barber for my haircut.....always.....my friend who told s female is also a qualified barber...not quite sure what the issue seems to be here.....

Northernparent68 · 23/04/2018 20:43

Op, is it really so bad to have barbers as men’s spaces and women’s hairdressers as women’s spaces ?

Tiredmumno1 · 23/04/2018 20:44

*Lovely
*
Grin

crazycatgal · 23/04/2018 20:47

@Northernparent68 Every 'women's' salon that I know does men's hair as well, so they aren't women's spaces.

MyDcAreMarvel · 23/04/2018 20:50

My ds barber happily trims my dd’s shoulder length hair.

corcaithecat · 23/04/2018 22:21

No mystery. If he hasn't been trained in women's hairdressing, he won't be insured to cut women's hair. Hmm

Jaylabelle · 23/04/2018 22:34

YABVVVVVU.

The world doesn't revolve around you. He's a barber. He cuts men's hair.

supermodel · 23/04/2018 22:38

I think as it was just the sides needing to be shaved he should have done this for you.

AuntMabel · 23/04/2018 22:41

Shaving a head is hardly chopping in a Rachel bouffant. Are barbers seriously not insured to shave a woman's head?!

Doraaaa · 23/04/2018 22:42

Aw.

Frequency · 23/04/2018 22:48

I would imagine they are insured for what they've trained in i.e using scissors and clippers. I do both and I don't have separate insurance for each one. The insurance is mainly for insuring against injuring people (i.e cuts/chemical burns) and damaging property. The insurers don't imagine someone will try to sue for you giving them a wonky mohican or mum-bob.

I was on the barber's side on the last thread, however, I do think he should've done OP's hair in this case. If I wanted clipper work doing, I'd go to a barber as they're more experienced and better trained in clippers than hairdressers.

Saying that, I don't have an issue with men having their own barbers and keeping them men only.