Hotties Need Only Apply?

Abercrombie & Fitch recently came under fire in the media over CEO Mike Jeffries’ unapologetically audacious (and really, really stupid) comments about wanting only thin and beautiful people to wear his clothes. And even more recently, it has surfaced that the company’s “larger” (what, size 6??) female employees were forced to wear ill-fitting “men’s clothing” to work, it would seem as a mode of humiliation or punishment for being heavier than what the company viewed as an ideal weight.

Sounds callous and appalling, doesn’t it? But the kicker is, Abercrombie & Fitch doesn’t appear to be the only company that’s discriminating against the average-looking. There seems to be somewhat of a trend taking place – a trend toward some businesses believing it’s okay to hire based on aesthetics.  For the life of me, I can’t fathom anyone being okay with this demeaning and discriminatory policy. (Not to mention it being a potential lawsuit just waiting to happen!!) But, it is happening, thanks, in no small part, to websites like beautifulpeople.com. The way this site (which began as an online dating service) works, is that the only way one can become a member, is to be voted in, based on attractiveness, by existing members. 

What does this have to do with employers hiring hotties only, you ask? Well, the site recently added a new feature for employers looking to recruit beautiful employees only. The slogan on their website reads, “An attractive face is always a great first impression for any business.” 

I don’t know about you, but I think my first impression of any business that would integrate its hiring practices with such superficial frivolity, would be that I would not want to do any business at all with them.

Don’t get me wrong, I love to gander at a Johnny Depp look-alike as much as the next girl, but in a world where we’re seeing an increasing amount of discrimination and intolerance, do we really need to see it being carried over into the professional realm? Would I hire him solely based on the fact that he’s so hot? I think not.

Where do you stand? Would you hire someone simply because you like the way they look?