Are YOU a great writer/editor!?
I am usually a good writer, but that is when I am writing fiction. This assignment is an argumentative research paper, and I am failing in flying colours at it! Please be blunt, and give me any and all tips you may have! Thank you!
Is it Fair to Discriminate Against Body Modification in the Workplace?
Body modification: “Intentional alteration of the human body for religious, aesthetic, or social reasons.” (“Body Modification”) Body modification is not an “immutable characteristic”, meaning it is an option, unlike race, age, or gender (Roleff, 59). People can choose whether or not they have piercings, tattoos, or unique hairstyles, whereas immutable characteristics are not a choice. While it is illegal to discriminate against persons because of immutable characteristics, there is no law against “employment discrimination [of ‘individuals with tattoos and piercings’] on the basis of their appearance.” (Roleff, 56) Human beings tend to stereotype, and most would say that someone with tattoos falls under a certain “category”. Discrimination: “treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit” (“discrimination”). As it is their belief that looking the way they do is perfectly acceptable, it only makes sense to have laws in place to prohibit discrimination in the workplace against persons with tattoos or piercings.
In Kimberly M. Cloutier v. Costco Wholesale Corp., a woman sued Costco because she was fired for failing to remove her eyebrow piercing. This woman, Miss Cloutier, belonging to the Church of Body Modification, claimed she was fired on religious basis, because her beliefs are that stronger spirituality is obtained through body modifications such as piercings, tattoos, and skin manipulation. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that this was a fair termination because law states dress code must be on an equal basis, meaning if she was permitted to wear her piercing it would be unfair to other employees. “A dress code policy is permissible under federal and state discrimination laws as long as it is enforced on an equal basis.” (Roleff, 57) If Cloutier was allowed to wear her piercing, the dress code could simply be changed so that every employee was allowed to do the same, and therefore the law is still enforced because the code would be equal to each individual. If law is changed so that discrimination against an individual’s looks of any kind is illegal, the line between “within dress code” and “against dress code” will be a lot clearer.
Supporters of having a dress code in the workplace believe that there are many advantages to enforcing said code. For example, a dress code helps the employees to understand what professional, acceptable business attire is (Ayers). Having a dress code helps to clear up any questions or misunderstandings new employees may have about what is permitted in an establishment. Another benefit is that it helps employees feel like they are part of a team. Employees who stand out may cause discomfort in their coworkers. Sociological studies have proven that the feeling of being part of a team or social unit improves the employees desire to succeed in their tasks. On the other hand, do the appearances of staff members really affect how people perceive the actual product or service being sold? Would it only attract liberal-minded clientele, or would conservative customers also look beyond a sales’ person’s looks? Studies over the years have in-fact shown that we are a visual society. People who are more “attractive” are promoted more often. “Attractive” children are treated better by their teachers and thought to be more intelligent. Beautiful people consistently get better service than “unattractive” people. This applies not only to general attractiveness, but to other features as well. “For example, tall people are often associated with power, with tall people being seen publicly as more capable and thus more deserving of power than shorter people.” (Berry) These theories have been proven in many different studies over the years; however, the question remains whether a business’ profits can be affected by their employee’s looks. If this an unproven fact, how is it that a company can justify discriminations against body modification?
Certain types of dress symbolize delinquent behavior (Lofing). It is human nature to arrive at preconceived conceptions based on appearance, in other words, to judge. These conceptions evolve according to changes in fashion trends. For example, the hoodie. “Part of the problem with the hoodie is that it’s no longer just a sweatshirt. It’s associated with gangs and crime.” (Lofing) Think of the word hoodie. “FROM DA HOOD”. The sweatshirt with a hood has not always been considered the mark of a criminal or deviant. Could it be that tattoos and piercings have simply not evolved into a
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