(Cash, 1990)Beautyism in the Workplace

HRM 599- Human Resource Management Capstone
Strayer University

November17, 2014
Beautyism in the workplace
Question1. Define “beautyism” and its potential discrimination effects on hiring in the workforce.
Beautyism is a term that describes the social advantage attractive people get over less attractive attributes (Cash, 1990). It is well known that individual with physical beauty earn significant social benefit within the society and culture. Evidence proves that being beauty has a positive impact on the employer’s hiring decision, and the majority of hired candidates are more attractive (Nguyen).
However, being beautiful dose not means the candidate has the needed knowledge to success neither less attractive candidates may not have the required knowledge for success. The assumption can be made and developed from the special treatment that is given to the candidate who hired because of beautyism.
Beautyism is not discriminate, but the bias against less attractive applicants may lead to a particular aspect of discrimination. However, relevant federal law is Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967(ADEA). This law protects individuals who are forty years of age and over. In case of hiring a young attractive applicant over less attractive older applicant that is over forty years could indicate to a potential discrimination under ADEA. Appurtenance and weigh are not protected class under Title VII. Still, applicant with morbidly obese may apply to American with Disabilities Act (ADA). On the state level there is no law that ban discrimination based on physical appearance and weight except Michigan that protects against weight and few cities such as District of Colombia protects against personal appearance.
On the other hand the employer may defend the beauytism practice Under Bona Fide Occupational