Abercrombie and Fitch’s comments in the recent years about avoiding “unattractive individuals” with their marketing and not producing women’s clothing over size 10 have created much disgust in the public. However Constance Ang’s blogpost “Religion or Work?” on their religious bigotry has shone a light on their discrimination that has been taken to a whole new level.
A muslim worker, Ms. Hani Khan, was suspended for her decline to take off her head covering and was later fired for “refusing to comply”. This situation has proven A&F’s unethical views and reminds me of a recent debate over the Charter of Values in Quebec. The Charter proposes that all government workers will not be allowed to wear religious symbols or clothing, although a big portion of their population have cultural and moral views tied with their religious wear. Canada prides itself in being multi-cultural and the United States, their freedom, however their religious discrimination against individuals wearing religious materials are express something quite different.
Although it is true that workers should be religiously neutral during work, religious dress does not affect customers nor the sales, according U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It is simply shocking to me that companies and even the government have such discrimination towards individuals who do not fit a certain look or as Constance mentioned, “brand image”.
Photos:
http://www.floridaemploymentlawyerblog.com/2010/02/more_allegations_of_religious.html
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Editorial+Quebec+Charter+Values+shameful/8906668/story.html