Lookism is discrimination against or prejudice towards others based on their appearance. The term is not yet in widespread use, though it appears in major English-language dictionaries ^[1].

Lookism has received scholarly attention both from a cultural studies and an economics perspective ^[2]. In the former context, lookism relates to preconceived notions of beauty and cultural stereotyping based on appearance as well as gender roles and expectations. Important economic considerations include the question of income gaps based on looks, as well increased or decreased productivity from workers considered beautiful or ugly by their co-workers. Cultural studies combines sociology, social theory, literary theory, media theory, film/video studies, cultural anthropology and art history/criticism to study cultural phenomena in industrial societies. ... Face-to-face trading interactions among on the New York Stock Exchange trading floor Economics, as a social science, studies the production, distribution, and consumption of commodities. ... A nymph with morning glory flowers by Lefebvre. ... The word gender describes the state of being male, female, or neither. ...

After September 11, 2001, lookism has been a rapidly rising form of discrimination in America. While many may not realize that when they see people that appear to be of "Middle Eastern decent", they become weary of their personal safety. Many of these pre-judgments are strictly based on the fact that an individual has the physical characteristics that are associated with people of Middle Eastern decent. These characteristics may include a dark, tanned skin, dark, almost black hair, dark eyes, and possibly facial hair for men. Women also have these characteristics, but can often be found wearing burqa’s. Many of the assumptions American’s carry about the Middle Eastern population in the United States are terrorist related. However, the main reason Middle Eastern people travel to America is for personal advancement, and to flee persecution. Since September 11, more than 1,000 men have been detained because they are of Middle Eastern decent, and “have links to terrorist groups”. Many of these men were released, having no terrorist connections whatsoever. Many people fall subject to discrimination by the way they look, however, not just people of Middle Eastern decent. In his book “Covering”, Kenji Yoshino discusses the problems many people face with being ashamed of their appearance because of the way the look, their name, or their sexual orientation. In an effort to “cover” their perceived flaws, people will go so far as to change their name completely in order to hide their nationality. As an example, Yoshino uses Martin Sheen, who’s original name is Ramon Estevez. Being ashamed of actually having to change his name to further advance his career, he urged his two sons to use the original family name. There have been many people throughout history to “cover” their true selves, mainly because people are ignorant. Many Americans are quick to judge people because of what the public media broadcasts as acceptable, and unacceptable.

See also

• Sexual selection
• Discrimination
• Sexism
• Fat acceptance movement
• Heightism
• Gender role
• Beauty
• Ugliness
• Human physical appearance

Illustration from The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex by Charles Darwin showing the Tufted Coquette Lophornis ornatus, female on left, ornamented male on right. ... The word discrimination comes from the Latin discriminare, which means to distinguish between. Discrimination is more than distinction, it is action based on prejudice resulting in unfair treatment of people. ... The sign of the headquarters of the National Association Opposed To Woman Suffrage Sexism is commonly considered to be discrimination and/or hatred against people based on their sex rather than their individual merits, but can also refer to any and all systemic differentiations based on the sex of the... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Heightism is a form of discrimination based on height. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... A nymph with morning glory flowers by Lefebvre. ... Gargoyles are often described as ugly or grotesque. ... Variation in the physical appearance of humans is believed by anthropologists to be an important factor in the development of personality and social relations in particular physical attractiveness. ...

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