Attractive men may be discriminated against during job interviews, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Maryland. In their experiments, researchers found out which men and women were generally viewed as attractive or unattractive. Afterwards, researchers analyzed people’s views about hiring the subjects for jobs.
The lead author of the study said that attractive men were always viewed as being more competent than unattractive men. Both men and women who were questioned in the study had the same perception about attractive men being more competent. Despite this view, participants in the study were less likely to hire these attractive and presumably competent men if they thought that they would eventually be in competition with them.
According to researchers, attractive men can have an advantage in hiring situations as long as the person hiring them does not view them as potential competition. If the person making the hiring decision thought that the attractive man would be working under them or in cooperation with them, they would be more likely to hire them over an unattractive man. However, when competition between colleagues exists at a workplace, an attractive man may experience discrimination.
A person who has been turned down for a job in favor of a less qualified candidate may want to talk to a lawyer about filing a discrimination complaint. A lawyer may be able to look into the job applicant’s case to determine if the employer was guilty of any unfair treatment. Under the Civil Rights Act of 19464, employers are not allowed to discriminate against job applicants on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin and many other factors. While appearance is not necessarily a protected status, there are instances in which a person’s religious practice will mandate certain types of attire or behavior that could lead to employment discrimination.
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