Case 34: Looks Discrimination at A&F
1. What are the legal and ethical issues in this case?
2.
concept in practice? Have other retailers used this approach?
I have been in Abercrombie & Fitch stores, and in my opinion, the evidence presented in the case
is largely true. A&F seeks attractive, white employees for its retail stores. I can understand the
3. Are the employment practices of A&F intended to be discriminatory? Are they unfair? What
ethical principles or precepts guide your analysis?
4. Did the EEOC go too far in naming specific groups about who employers should be
particularly sensitive? Could this have been a political decision?
5. What could A&F and other retailers be doing, that they are not doing, that would make its
hiring practices less controversial?
help it to grow again?
6
company?
7. Are there other companies that promote a particular look? Are they being discriminatory?
Where do you draw the line?
There are other companies who promote lookism and many that attempt to manage their brand