Sept 7, Is attractiveness a valid reason to discriminate?

On Friday Sept 7 at the Ideas Cafe,  we will be discussing whether attractiveness is a valid reason to favour selection decisions.

Employers in Canada no longer ask for a photograph of applicant in their resumes while in some parts of the world, it is still an accepted practice.

I am not sure when and how the practice of not asking for pictures started or whether it is just a means of stopping racial discrimination.

However, for employers in the hospitality business,  there is a case to be made that an attractive employee creates a good first impression as well as builds good relationship with customers.  It is an undeniable fact that we warm up to attractive people more than unattractive ones.

I assume that basketball scouts cannot be blamed for discriminating potential players because of their height, then night club owners should legitimately discriminate base on their employees attractiveness?

How does this square with the idea that we are all entitled to equal opportunities in life?

Perhaps we should accept that we are not all "born equal" but we should have equal access to life's opportunities.

Is access enough? Access without practical acceptance, whether for short basketball players or unattractive waitresses, seems just theoretical with no practical implication.

What is the alternative?

Should we mandate basketball team with average player heights and have judicial boards judging waitress attractiveness?

Or should we alter our biological tendency to attractiveness?

Should we stop admiring beauty in art as well?

What about diversity.  In our quest towards equality, are we suppressing diversity?  How does diversity and equality coexist?

Let's hear your ideas on Friday at Waves in New Westminster!