Height discrimination?

[Stephanie218]

I worked at Abercrombie for a few months in college. I don't remember them focusing on height - I'm only 5' 4" and there were a few guys around my height working there. They did tend to focus on "recruiting" rather than just accepting applications to work there. We had business cards to hand out to attractive people we saw shopping in the store, and would invite them to work at A&F because they "fit the mold".

The discount was amazing though, and the clothes really do last. I just threw out my favorite pair of jeans from sophomore year of college yesterday actually, 5 years later.

 

[Liberty Belle]

As a 'mama', I know this seems just so wrong!!!!.

But what is wrong is not that they may have decided against hiring your son, when looking at all the other frontrunners... What is wrong is what was said in public!!!!!

Even though I am below average in height, I would hesitate to start thinking in terms of height discrimination.

And, while I fully understand your son's feelings and issues re: his height and/or appearance, I tend to wonder if those underlying things kept him from walking in there 'loud and proud' as he might have. Especially in a place like A&F!!!!! (which I would not want to shop there anyhow)

I could possibly see this having some impact on the managers impressions.

If your son were a bit shorter, I just may be able to see the word 'awkward' being used.... I don't know that a height alone of 5'4" for a nice looking teenager would bring out the word 'awkward'???? I wonder if his age and demeanor may have contributed to their overall impression/hiring choice.

Good Luck to your son!
I am sure he will land a much better position,
with much better management,
than A&F!

That could be, I suppose. I wasn't there with him, of course. He does come across as confident, though, but that was his first job interview, so maybe he was extra nervous.

Thank you. I'm sure something better will come along.

 

[NHdisneylover]

You're right. I could, but I feel it's really up to him.

Btw, I just told him what you were saying about why is he ok with them hiring based on (facial) good looks, but not on height. He thought, laughed, and said, "Well, that's legitimate."

Good for him Sounds like a great kid (from everything you say--really).
I was just playing around on A&F's website--still getting over the open shirt just shot of the buff chest area being the first and main image you see on the KIDS page (I think it is okay--just. . . um . . . odd marketing I guess). If he wants to try them again sometime and he wants to stand out like a previous PP said--maybe he can take in a paper resume with a "headshot" attached (like a model would since this is "casting" and have someone get a shot of him that is very much their style and in all black and white, etc. At least it would show that he understands their compnay and how they market and the look they are after (and that he does look good without a shirt on that seems very big with this store).

 

[Liberty Belle]

I worked at Abercrombie for a few months in college. I don't remember them focusing on height - I'm only 5' 4" and there were a few guys around my height working there. They did tend to focus on "recruiting" rather than just accepting applications to work there. We had business cards to hand out to attractive people we saw shopping in the store, and would invite them to work at A&F because they "fit the mold".

The discount was amazing though, and the clothes really do last. I just threw out my favorite pair of jeans from sophomore year of college yesterday actually, 5 years later.

Hmm...maybe it was just that manager's opinion?

 

[Wishing on a star]

Hmm...maybe it was just that manager's opinion?

This would be my assumption....
Based on a lot of things, with height perhaps just being one of the more 'obvious'.

 

[NHdisneylover]

As much as I hate to think this--maybe he was also too polite I am thinking that a store that markets to the 14-25 crowd with model like employees going around topless is not really going for a ma'am and sir demeanor. Again, I do not think polite is a bad thing AT ALL, but maybe it is not the "attitude" to go with the "look" that the store is after

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I would hope they do. He always uses "Ma'am" and "Sir", though, and just seems more respectful than the typical teenager.

He's mostly looking at retail jobs right now and none of those things would matter, too much, I wouldn't think.

He's very political and has volunteered on different campaigns since age 8.

He knows minimal Spanish and German. Hmm...school projects - none that I can think of that would emphasize his skills. He's athletic (a gymnast), good at debate, very knowledgable about politics, history, and geography. He'll have to start early next year and try to find work in something where those things would matter.

Trust me, with the job market the way it is nowadays, it all matters no matter the position you are applying for. If someone has to go through 200+ applicants (and there are some McDonalds in my area getting that many) they are looking for anything that makes a person stand out.

Right at the moment your son stands out but in a negative way (at least in this situation). He needs to put anything and everything down that will make him stand out in a positive way; even if it is just a job flipping burgers for the summer.

 

[Liberty Belle]

As much as I hate to think this--maybe he was also too polite I am thinking that a store that markets to the 14-25 crowd with model like employees going around topless is not really going for a ma'am and sir demeanor. Again, I do not think polite is a bad thing AT ALL, but maybe it is not the "attitude" to go with the "look" that the store is after

He very well could have been.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I always thought that was because of how the clothing would fit.

There are petite clothing for petite people. As long as they're skinny.
This is what a petite model would be showing off. They just don't model the high fashion stuff.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

One reason height could be an issue in this particular situation is that the sales racks could be as tall as a 5'4" person. A. Customers would not be able to readily find a salesperson of this height if clothing racks are blocking the view, and conversely, B. The prospective employee would not be able to see over racks to observe customers in the store.

While I've never been in an A&F store, not one in either local mall, I can't say for sure.

No matter, it was rude of the manager to say as much within earshot of someone applying for a job. I hope your son grows 6 more inches by the time he graduates from college. Good luck to him.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

When I worked at the post office, I was told by my postmaster that if he had been postmaster when hiring me, he would not have hired me based on my height. (same with another girl who was even shorter than me. I am 5'3"). He said nothing personal, but the racks that we sorted the mail into were pretty high. The top rows I would need to be on my tip-toes and reach. The PO is HUGE on safety, and it is an injury risk.

We just laughed and said, "Well thank goodness you were just a lowly supervisor when we were interviewed"

So, no I don't think it is discrimination. Height can affect a job's performance. Even where I work now, in a pizza place, I am constantly asking for height to get something off the top shelf.

 

[ctinct]

I'm not sure if it is A & F or Hollister, but one of the things my daughter has mentioned as we shopped in those places (uggh-I really dislike those stores) is that they do not refer to their employees as cashiers, stockers and the like, but as models. Perhaps in that case height would be a bona fide job requirement, although you'd think they would list it on their application if that were the case.