Ditz

Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Viewpoints

Media Credit: idea-sandbox.com The cover of a Hooters restaurant menu.

Let's pretend we're friends. Since we're friends, I can usually tell what you're thinking. Like I ask, "Would you care to dine with me at Hooters tonight?" And immediately, you think: boobs, big ones. Then you turn down my invitation because you remember that we're actually not friends, even though I know that eating at Hooters makes you think of boobs.

And why wouldn't you? For 25 years, Hooters all over the country and overseas have served customers with a promise of something more than just tasty American food. It's no secret that the infamous restaurant chain has been celebrated and criticized for its busty, bare-all waitresses since the first Hooters was opened in Florida in 1983. Hooters opponents cite the restaurants' alleged sexist environment as major cause for moral concern. They claim that Hooters girls' uniforms and the male-centric sports bar setting encourages sexism and the objectification of women.

The F-Word, an online magazine that focuses on contemporary feminism in the United Kingdom, calls Hooters an "outdated and downright embarrassingly sexist U.S. bar and restaurant staffed by sexy women" who are sexually harassed on the job. Currently, Hooters is looking to open restaurants in Scotland, and the general reaction has been a negative one. "A company that not only promotes but demands the objectification of women in the workplace should have no place in Scotland," a spokeswoman for Scottish Women's Aid said. Cathy Jamieson, a leading female politician in Scotland, believes that Hooters is "a rather old-fashioned 1980s concept" and a "degrading spectacle." More importantly, she points out possible negative consequences for communities in Scotland. "Violence against women is a big problem in Scotland," she said, "and these types of establishments do nothing to promote equality or positive images of women in the workplace."

So what exactly are these degrading, sexist, discriminating, objectifying, and unfair practices that Hooters restaurants supposedly promote? A look at the employment handbook reveals how Hooters management views its treasured Hooters Girls, who are "the essence of Hooters." The Hooters' Image and Grooming Standards emphasize the importance of a neat and acceptable appearance, as well as how appearance relates to female sex appeal. After all, "The essence of the Hooters Concept is entertainment through female sex appeal," says the guide. That must be why styled hair (no ponytails, pigtails, hats, headbands, "bizarre" haircuts, or large hair clips), make-up that "accentuate[s] your features," and tight-fitting shirts are requirements for every Hooters Girl. Because, of course, "this is show business," proclaims the handbook.

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