Appearance Discrimination, "Lookism" and "Lookphobia" in the Workplace

Author(s)

F. J. Cavico, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Stephen C. Muffler, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Bahaudin Mujtaba, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Applied Business Research

Publication Date

2012

Abstract/Excerpt

This article focuses on appearance and attractiveness discrimination in the American workplace. As such, this article discusses issues related to "lookism" and "lookphobia" as a real challenge for managers who are recruiting, attracting, interviewing, hiring, appraising, and promoting employees. The article provides a discussion of societal norms concerning "attractiveness," the existence of appearance discrimination in employment, the presence of "preferring the pretty", and then the authors examine important civil rights laws that relate to such forms of discrimination. Finally, recommendations for employers and managers are provided for fair and non-discriminatory hiring and promotional practices.

DOI

10.19030/jabr.v28i5.7223

Volume

28

Issue

5

First Page

791

Last Page

802

NSUWorks Citation

Cavico, F. J.; Muffler, Stephen C.; and Mujtaba, Bahaudin, "Appearance Discrimination, "Lookism" and "Lookphobia" in the Workplace" (2012). HCBE Faculty Articles. 1142.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hcbe_facarticles/1142