Short answer
Challenge assumptions about appearance and behavior in professional settings by designing for inclusivity and de-emphasizing subjective aesthetic criteria in favor of objective skill-based assessments.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (2014)
- Method
- Qualitative research, including participant observation, interviews, and analysis of job advertisements.
- Sample
- Not explicitly stated for all studies, but includes observations of service interactions, interviews with fit models and coworkers, and analysis of 77 job advertisements.
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Workplace demands for specific appearances and behaviors, known as aesthetic labor, can perpetuate social inequalities by favoring individuals from privileged backgrounds and influencing hiring and job retention. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2014 study published in eScholarship (California Digital Library). Using Qualitative research, including participant observation, interviews, and analysis of job advertisements. with Not explicitly stated for all studies, but includes observations of service interactions, interviews with fit models and coworkers, and analysis of 77 job advertisements., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Challenge assumptions about appearance and behavior in professional settings by designing for inclusivity and de-emphasizing subjective aesthetic criteria in favor of objective skill-based assessments.
Aesthetic Labor: How Appearance Expectations Shape Hiring and Job Security
Workplace demands for specific appearances and behaviors, known as aesthetic labor, can perpetuate social inequalities by favoring individuals from privileged backgrounds and influencing hiring and job retention.
eScholarship (California Digital Library) · 2014
Key Findings
- 01Interactions in professional styling services are shaped by perceptions of clients' 'deservingness' and difficulty, influenced by organizational biases.
- 02While specific bodily measurements are critical for hiring in roles like 'fit models,' long-term job security is also dependent on interactional elements and adherence to aesthetic expectations.
Application
Design takeaway
Challenge assumptions about appearance and behavior in professional settings by designing for inclusivity and de-emphasizing subjective aesthetic criteria in favor of objective skill-based assessments.
How to apply
When designing recruitment platforms, professional attire guidelines, or customer service protocols, actively question and test for potential biases related to appearance, race, gender, or body size.
Project actions
- 01When researching user needs, consider how societal appearance norms might influence user behavior or perception of a product/service.
- 02Explore how the aesthetics of a product or service might inadvertently create barriers for certain user groups.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a nuanced understanding of how appearance is managed in professional settings.
- +Connects micro-level interactions to broader patterns of social inequality.
Limitations
It can be difficult to isolate the exact impact of aesthetic labor from other factors influencing hiring and job security. Measuring 'deservingness' is subjective.
Reliability & validity
The qualitative nature of the study provides rich insights but may have limited generalizability. Triangulation of methods (observation, interviews, document analysis) enhances validity.
Think critically
To what extent should design prioritize subjective aesthetic appeal over objective functional performance, especially when those aesthetic preferences may be rooted in social biases?
Design Principles
"Design for equitable access and opportunity by scrutinizing and mitigating the impact of subjective aesthetic labor demands."
Understanding aesthetic labor is crucial for designers and researchers aiming to create equitable and inclusive work environments. It highlights how seemingly neutral appearance standards can act as barriers, impacting a diverse range of individuals and reinforcing existing societal biases.
What This Means for Your Design
This research shows that how people look and act at work can unfairly affect their chances of getting hired or keeping a job, especially if they don't fit certain appearance expectations.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing the social and psychological impact of design choices on users, particularly in professional or service-oriented contexts.
- 2.Use it to justify the need for user research that explores not just functional needs but also social and aesthetic expectations.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights the significant role of 'aesthetic labor' – workplace expectations for appearance and demeanor – in perpetuating social inequalities. By examining how these expectations influence hiring and job security, the study reveals that subjective standards of attractiveness and style can act as barriers, disproportionately affecting individuals from marginalized backgrounds and reinforcing existing societal biases within professional environments.
Source
eScholarship (California Digital Library)
Properly Attired, Hired, or Fired: Aesthetic Labor and Social Inequality
journal · 2014
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about aesthetic labor: how appearance expectations shape hiring and job security?
- Challenge assumptions about appearance and behavior in professional settings by designing for inclusivity and de-emphasizing subjective aesthetic criteria in favor of objective skill-based assessments. Evidence: eScholarship (California Digital Library) (2014).
- Why does "Aesthetic Labor: How Appearance Expectations Shape Hiring and Job Security" matter for design?
- Understanding aesthetic labor is crucial for designers and researchers aiming to create equitable and inclusive work environments. It highlights how seemingly neutral appearance standards can act as barriers, impacting a diverse range of individuals and reinforcing existing societal biases.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Challenge assumptions about appearance and behavior in professional settings by designing for inclusivity and de-emphasizing subjective aesthetic criteria in favor of objective skill-based assessments.
- What were the main findings?
- Interactions in professional styling services are shaped by perceptions of clients' 'deservingness' and difficulty, influenced by organizational biases.. While specific bodily measurements are critical for hiring in roles like 'fit models,' long-term job security is also dependent on interactional elements and adherence to aesthetic expectations.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative research, including participant observation, interviews, and analysis of job advertisements. with Not explicitly stated for all studies, but includes observations of service interactions, interviews with fit models and coworkers, and analysis of 77 job advertisements..
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2014 journal from eScholarship (California Digital Library).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing recruitment platforms, professional attire guidelines, or customer service protocols, actively question and test for potential biases related to appearance, race, gender, or body size.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focuses on specific industries and roles, and the findings may not be universally applicable across all professions. The subjective nature of 'aesthetic labor' can be challenging to quantify.