Shojiro Kotegawa: What is the Problem with Appearance-Based Discrimination?

2021/08/20

"Don't judge a person by their looks." Many people have likely been told this since childhood. Nevertheless, these words carry a certain hollow ring. Living in a reality where people considered "good-looking" benefit everywhere, it is understandable to feel like saying, "In the end, it's all about looks!"

That said, or rather precisely because of that, it is important to consider where "appearance-based discrimination" (lookism) begins and what the problem with it is. As pointed out by Miki Nishikura, a leading researcher on lookism in Japan, lookism does not simply refer to an emphasis on looks or physical attractiveness; it means discrimination where appearance is (excessively) evaluated, particularly in situations such as employment or performance reviews, thereby hindering equal opportunity (Miki Nishikura, "A Study of the Concept of 'Lookism': Discrimination Based on Appearance," Bulletin of the Faculty of Education, Wakayama University: Humanities, No. 71, 2021). For example, not being hired or receiving a low evaluation because of facial features or body type is a typical form of appearance-based discrimination.

Those who criticize lookism are not claiming that "looks should never be emphasized in any situation." Rather, they argue that "it violates the principle of equal opportunity when looks become a factor in evaluations in situations where they should not inherently be evaluated, such as job hunting or entrance exams, causing some people to suffer disadvantages."

Of course, depending on the type of job, facial features or body type may be considered essential to the nature of that profession, and evaluations based on appearance may not be deemed unjust. However, such occupations are limited to a very small number, such as models. In other cases, the problem lies in the fact that appearance has become a target of evaluation despite the fact that it should not inherently be evaluated or emphasized to such a degree.

Some might argue as follows: Appearance is an individual's personality refined through various efforts, and if the results of that effort can be evaluated, it cannot be called discrimination. Rather, hasn't refining one's appearance been an opportunity for people raised in underprivileged families to achieve success? Certainly, it is undeniable that by refining one's appearance, one can gain a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem, or acquire status and fame by jumping over disparities in social class or economic background.

However, on the other hand, we cannot overlook that lookism is inseparable from inequalities surrounding gender, race, and class. In fact, women are overwhelmingly more likely than men to be required to have a "good appearance" in society. Women are forced to wear makeup or pumps during job hunting or in the workplace and are often evaluated in connection with their appearance. As a result, many women devote time and money to their appearance, sometimes facing risks such as eating disorders.

In the first place, it takes labor and money to obtain a "good appearance." People who have neither the time nor the money to begin with are placed at a further disadvantage in a society where lookism is rampant.

Furthermore, a "good appearance" is often linked to specific racial characteristics. In Japan, cosmetic surgeries are performed to eliminate the so-called "epicanthic fold" or to create double eyelids in pursuit of a "Western-style mixed-race face." How close one can get to a "good appearance" depends heavily on innate conditions. Therefore, lookism not only undermines equal employment opportunities but also risks promoting sexism, racism, and class discrimination.

So, what should be done? Most companies likely do not include appearance as an evaluation item, and evaluators would say they evaluate regardless of looks. However, it has been reported that the impression of a photo on a resume affects the evaluation of the written content, and that teachers or students perceived as good-looking tend to receive higher evaluations. In short, even if you intend "not to evaluate based on looks," you may be unconsciously discriminating based on appearance.

In such cases, it is vital to discard the assumption that "I can evaluate fairly" and establish evaluation methods that leave no room for appearance to enter the process. For example, removing the photo section from resumes or grading while hiding names are things that can be implemented immediately.

As face-to-face meetings are restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the myth that first impressions are determined by looks is also crumbling. In classes where faces are not visible, remarks made during class or post-class surveys shape the impression of the other person. When meeting face-to-face after evaluating remarks or writing without being caught up in looks, the perception and evaluation of the other person can be different from when starting from appearance. Even beauty pageants, which have been seen as symbols of lookism, could provide an opportunity to reflect on how biased our evaluations were when caught up in looks, if they were to start with things like speeches without showing faces.