This research was supported by the Saudi Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, the Saudi Centre of Philosophy and Ethics and the Saudi Association of Philosophy. Abstract
This paper explores the concept of ‘Lookism’, a form of discrimination based on a person's physical appearance. Several approaches have been proposed to combat lookism. These approaches have been categorised into redistributive and revisionary strategies. Redistributive approaches suggest altering the current distribution of beauty by broadening the current beauty standards, giving individuals more options to improve their appearance, or creating policies and implementing affirmative measures against appearance-based discrimination. The revisionary approaches propose that we abandon our current conception of human beauty and adopt a new notion that aligns better with social justice goals. The latter set of approaches has been subject to criticism. This paper asserts that both approaches are predominantly focused on beauty rather than addressing the core issues of lookism. It highlights the importance of redefining lookism and thoroughly understanding lookism as a crucial step towards its effective combat and making the redistributive approaches more practical. By understanding the defining traits of lookism, the behaviour of individuals identified as 'lookists,' and the environments that foster lookism-related behaviours, we can develop more precise and effective policies. This, in turn, enables us to allocate resources more effectively in the ongoing efforts to combat lookism.
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