Women's Appearance as the Focus of Attention in Organizations

This teaching case focuses on appearance and gender discrimination in the workplace. Previous studies show, for example, that appearance, women’s especially, can be an invisible mechanism of discrimination and interpreted as a justification for sexual and gender-based harassment. Prior research also indicates that women suffer from gendered ageism, also related to looks. However, issues about appearance are seldom analysed from the perspectives of organizational (mal)practices and women’s career barriers and problems. This teaching case presents the case of Anna. The case is meant for management and organization students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Anna is a well-educated youn…