Impact of Physical Appearance on Employability: Navigating Biases in the Indian Labor Market
Published: 2025
Author(s) Name: Ashutosh Bishnu Murti, Kaberi Das, Anchit Rakesh |
Author(s) Affiliation: Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam, India.
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Abstract
Physical appearance significantly influences professional opportunities. Although this aspect of labor market dynamics has been explored in Western contexts, there is limited research on how it plays out in India. This is vital because here cultural norms and expectations differ widely. The
present article answers the call and examines the impact of societal beauty standards and body image on employability in the Indian labor market. By conducting in-depth interviews with 28 professionals from various sectors, the work uncovers the existence of biases related to appearance in both hiring processes and career progression. The findings reveal that both men and women face unequal treatment based on their physical appearance—either benefiting from aligning with societal ideals or experiencing subtle discrimination when they deviate.
Keywords: N.A.
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