I was recently told by my manager that our country was founded on discrimination. As much as I don't want to believe it, I think he just might be right. People are constantly judging other people based on looks and superficial first impressions. It's a sad reality.
This whole topic came up because of our "look policy." I work at a company where you need to be attractive to be hired. If a manager sees someone unattractive applying they are supposed to go up to them and tell them we have only impact positions available. Basically hiding the "ugly" people in the back of the store where customers don't have to look at them.
To me this whole process seems illegal. Is it not the law to not discriminate based on sex, religion, or sexual orientation? Certainly this includes physical apperance? How do we judge what is considered attractive? How do you set a standard? It's a grey area that seems to be everywhere.
My manager's argument was that I would never be picked to play proffesional basketball but is that illegal? Being 5 feet tall I have never considered trying out for basketball but what if I wanted to? What if i wanted to model? No agency would ever book me thanks to my short stature. Is that legal?
What about the college selection process? Is that not discrimination? A mentally challenged person wouldn't get into Harvard.
I now see how obvious discrimination is occuring in our daily lives. It really bothers me. I think everyone should try to be more open to all individuals. I realize this is extremely idealistic of me but I don't see why we can't try.
Are we doomed if we're not attractive?
By lizcamp - Posted on October 4th, 2008
One can not escape bias...especially in the business work place, but there are certainly certain some causes that deserve justice action.
My Blog: www.progressiveu.org/blog/jlepp-journey
Sadly enough, some people DO discriminate others based on attractiveness. Can you really blame someone for their genetic makeup? Yes, bias is everywhere, but tolerating serious discrimination is not an option, in my opinion.
My Blog: http://progressiveu.org/blog/kkhanna
Ugly is also in the way you carry yourself. I wouldn't hire an ugly person, either... but that doesn't have anything to do with the way their body features are.
To me, ugly is not caring about what you look like. It's coming to get an application or coming for an interview dressed like you would any other day. It's not combing your hair. It's asking "you guys got any appl'cations?" Instead of "Hello, may I please have an application?"
Also...
You said A mentally challenged person wouldn't get into Harvard....
Well of course not. Depending on what type of mentally challenged, a "mentally challenged" person wouldn't likely get into any university. It's not discrimination. Universities are supposed to prepare people for a line of work of the more intellectual nature. If people are mentally handicapped (if it's extreme enough a handicap) they wouldn't benefit from a university. Especially not one like Harvard.
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Procrastination isn't the problem, it's the solution. So procrastinate now, don't put it off. [Ellen Degeneres]
We base our opinions of a person in context. If a person has spiked hair, a nose ring, and dresses in all leather, he or she would probably not fit into the dress code of retail. Thus, if they dress like this when preparing to get an application or at an interview, of course they won't get hired.
The college admissions process works similarly... at least at high end schools. They require an interview for acceptance, because they want to make sure you're the type of person who will fit into the surroundings of the school. If you don't, what good will it do to either of you to get accepted?
As a side note, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine has a non-discrimination clause that does not include religion. Why? Because they were founded as a medical school that accepted Jews when no one else would. Interestingly, Albert Einstein College of Medicine is designed for Orthodox Jews... they get off of school on Jewish holidays, their entire cafeteria is certified kosher, and they allow those who cannot work on Saturdays to do administration work in the clinic, rather than working the clinic on Saturdays. They do have a non-discrimination clause that includes religion.
~C
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