The British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC) is urging clinics and salons across the UK to make their spaces inclusive of all gender identities.
During Pride month in June, the association compiled the Diversity & Inclusivity Best Practice guide for embracing all gender identities in clinics.
The guide offers pointers which include:
- Continually educating yourself on various gender identities in order to avoid discrimination, and to make patients feel comfortable in your clinic
- Making consultation forms inclusive by adding Mx alongside Miss, Mr and Mrs to give gender-fluid individuals an option
- Checking that marketing and your clinic space itself has a welcoming atmosphere for all
- Making treatments gender neutral, e.g. not branding certain injectable techniques as just designed for female patients
Lesley Blair, CEO and chairperson of BABTAC, said, “As practitioners, our very purpose, regardless of what treatment we perform, is to improve our clients’ overall wellbeing, including boosting their self-esteem and self-confidence. Intolerance or ignorance should have no place in our clinics, so making sure we’re always reflecting and improving our businesses to be more inclusive is key to holding us accountable.”
