Pogontseva, D.V. Etho-lookism: a glance at the problem.

Abstract: The article concerns the phenomenon of ethnical discrimination based on appearance. The author provides theoretical and experimental works of foreign researchers concerning the lookism problem on one hand, and on the other hand its reflection in inter-ethnic groups. In its classic form lookism is discrimination of beautiful/non-beautiful people, however, in this case lookism is understood as discrimination of persons with certain appearance. The author takes into account the role of skin color and physiognomic specificities for the categorization pu r poses of “other” and expressions of discriminatory attitude. The author raises the issue of lack of studies of this topic in the modern Russia, noting that the problem of discrimination of ethnical groups is usually regarded from the standpoint of jurisprudence and social studies, while it is hardly viewed from the standpoints of ethno-lookism and specific features of categorization of others based on their appearance, and their ethnical specificities in particular. The author also noted topicality of this problem and the need for a more detailed study of the role of appearance in the categorization and discrimination processes (ethno-lookism).

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