Will the law protect people who are just naturally ugly or even those who make themselves ugly by deliberately getting fat, not working out, taking drugs, not brushing their teeth, etc......? Who will determine what? Will the government tell parents their child is unattractive and then proceed to give them money? Where will money come from? A tax on cosmetics? A special tax on good looking people, a double whammy on someone rich and good looking. This is wrong morally, ethically, Constitutionally and shows that Rhodes is just trying to justify her job. Get a life, Lady!

It's so nice to finally see books defending the less attractive! All too often, people are ridiculed for being genetically less fit than their peer group. What has America grown into, a concentration camp? Not if we can help it!

In response to Katie, human attractiveness is thought to be based on Darwin's theory of sexual selection. According to this theory, we have evolved over time to notice qualities that signal fitness and fertility for the health of our offspring. Unfortunately, less attractive people can live dreary lives and we may need to take measures to relieve the intense suffering that often accompanies unattractiveness.

I think the beauty bias is not about wearing nice clothes or makeup, though as some have mentioned, there is that double standard when it comes to women, but more the general attitudes of society are becoming less fair about actual looks. No one commented on the looks of John Roberts for instance but I read many nasty comments about Elena Kagan's looks. While much of it is gender related, sadly it can affect men as well. I have often remarked that in this television/internet era we would never elect Abraham Lincoln to office because he was not a handsome man. How much poorer as a nation would we have been if that had been the case, and how many good people are overlooked as a result of the bias against unattractive people.

Ridiculous!
How would you define "ugliness" or "beauty"? Would you now let the courts decide what's acceptable? If someone is smart AND pretty, is s/he in trouble?
I work in a high pressure business environment, and I do not mind "looking good" at work even after 15-hour work-days. It has nothing to do with the expensive clothes, stylist or make-up - I cannot afford brand clothing or a personal shopper. But I am in a good physical shape, I work out, and watch what I eat. That's half of the battle there. I look healthy, I feel healthy, and as a result I feel more confident about myself. By no means am I a future Miss America, but neither are 99% of women. I will never have blue eyes or curly hair, should I be angry with my co-workers, or should I make the best of what I have? It takes extra 10 minutes in the morning to brush hair or iron that shirt, is it really that hard to do? At the end of the day it comes down to personal preferences and blaming an employer for "discrimination" is finding an easy way out to justify a personal choice.

I am not sure that beauty can be legislated. After all beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I am thinking of Botero's paintings in which the people he paints are depicted as fat. There is beauty in fatness. On the other hand there is often a beauty bias in the aversion people experience when they see a mentally or physically handicapped person. I have expereinced that bias in the doctor's office. My son is mentally and physically handicapped. He does not talk. Usually the doctor comes into the examining room. He does not look at my son. He does not have him undress. He averts his eyes and asks me the standard question: "What can I do for you?" The check-up is minimal. There is no use of a stethoscope. The doctor pays attention to me but not the actual patient. Should that behavior be legislated? You bet.

I was in a panel interview for a national airline.There were about 25 of us in the interview and after the interview was over a gentleman came up to me and said "You know we are going to get hired right". I asked how he knew that and he said "look at us, you are the most beautiful woman here and I am the cutest guy. They are hiring two people, it is us just watch".
I was totally upset because I had gone to school for a job in the tourism industry and to think that all I needed to do was go in flash a smile and stick out my chest was insulting.

Unfortunately he was right. We were hired and he got to start right away while I was put through the "make-up and hair must be perfect, keep nail polish and fresh nylons in your locker for chips or runs during your shift, nail polish and lipstick must match. I could not believe it!

I happen to agree somewhat on the topic of "protecting beauty". I personally think that personal appearence or beauty is a relative term. Who determines the standard? I AM a fat person & work in a business casual environment but I'm also broke because of the recent economy so certain high priced clothing items have had to go. Should I be put down professionally because I'm being smart with my money by buying/wearing less than fasionable clothing?