A London-based recruitment firm has come under fire for posting job advertisements that specify wanting ‘attractive women’.
Matching Models currently has a number of job ads on their website including a ‘sexy driver’ and a PA who must have ‘long brown hair with a B-C [bra] cup’.
Matching Models calls themselves ‘the employment agency for beautiful, talented people.’ In a statement on their site, they say that, “It is almost politically incorrect to request someone to work for you that is both attractive as well as professionally equipped with the right set of skills.”
“However, our company understands the importance of having the right people representing your company, because after all, first impressions count.”
Matching Models’ list of clients include Louis Vuitton, MTV, Cartier and Coca-Cola, amongst others. They also provide ‘grid-girls’ for F1 races and promotional staff for events.
In one such job advertisement, the company are asking for ‘grid-girls’ for a F1 Team in Abu Dhabi. They advertise the position as ‘currently seeking a team of blonde professional models’, before specifying that they need to be a ‘size 36’, with ‘blue eyes’ and be ‘stylish and classy’.
The company has come under fire from a number of equal pay advocates and women’s rights groups, who argue that companies such as Matching Models are the reason more needs to be done for gender discrimination.
There could also be legal complications, as under the 2010 Equalities Act, gender specific recruitment adverts were made illegal.
Commenting on the news, Sam Smethers, chief executive of The Fawcett Society, said, “Ads like these are straight out of the 1970s. It is extraordinary that they are taking this approach and almost certainly falls foul of equality legislation.”
“If we ever wonder why the battle for gender equality hasn’t been won, this is a timely reminder.”
“It is advisable and also makes good business sense to seek the best person for the job.”
“Employers can take positive action measures to recruit under-represented groups, but targeting ‘beautiful and attractive’ just stereotypes women.”
