麻豆传媒在线

"You shouldn't judge people by their looks." Many people have likely been told this since childhood. Nevertheless, these words carry a somewhat 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 being said—or rather, precisely because of that—it is important to consider where "appearance-based discrimination" (lookism) begins and what makes it problematic. As pointed out by Miki Nishikura, a leading researcher on lookism in Japan, lookism does not simply refer to a preference for good 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, "An Examination 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 one's facial features or body type is a typical case of appearance-based discrimination.

Those who criticize lookism are not claiming that "appearance should never be prioritized in any situation." Rather, they argue that "in situations where appearance should not inherently be evaluated, such as job hunting or entrance exams, the fact that appearance becomes a factor in evaluation and causes some people to suffer disadvantages violates the principle of equal opportunity."

Of course, depending on the type of occupation, facial features or body type may be considered essential to the nature of the job, and in such cases, evaluating appearance may not be deemed unjust. However, such occupations are limited to a very small number, such as models. In other fields, the problem lies in the fact that appearance has become a subject of evaluation or is being prioritized, even though it originally should not be.

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 disadvantaged 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 the fact that lookism is inseparable from inequalities surrounding gender, race, and class. In fact, the demand for "good looks" in society is overwhelmingly higher for women than for men. 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, obtaining "good looks" requires labor and money. Those who lack both time and money from the start are placed at an even greater disadvantage in a society where lookism is rampant.

Furthermore, "good looks" are often linked to specific racial characteristics. In Japan, cosmetic surgeries are performed to remove 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 "good looks" and with how much effort is largely determined by 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 in their evaluation criteria, and evaluators would say they judge 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 appearance," you may be unconsciously discriminating based on looks.

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

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