Ephemera Beat

The whole concept of professionalism or ability to do a job being tied to appearance seems to me like another case of clinging to traditions for their own sake instead of applying reason and logic to a situation.

I realize most people have trouble with logic. It’s the same root problem behind all kinds of stereotyping and discrimination. But just as with racism, sexism and homophobia, those of us who know better should stop kowtowing to the ignorant masses.

I think the reason we don’t is that we don’t feel it’s in our power to make a systemic change, and it’s not in our interest to fight widespread ignorance if it means losing business.

I personally try to raise awareness of issues like this whenever I have the opportunity, but it’s an uphill battle and there are more important things in life. But that doesn’t make it right, and I would hope more people would recognize that there is a gap here between the way things are and the way they should be.

It’s the same basic problem as other kinds of discrimination based on ignorance, and it should be dealt with in the same way we deal with every other manifestation of that problem.