Between Saying and Doing (or not Doing). Recruiters and the Making of Discrimination According to the Physical Appearance

In France, the law of 16 November 2001 specifies that « no one can be excluded from a recruitment procedure […] because of […] his (or her) physical appearance ». However, some studies have shown that there is a gap between the anti-discriminatory wish and speech of the recruiters and their discriminatory behaviour. This article tries to explain the persistence of this inconsistency by using neutralization theory. Using 42 semi-structured interviews with recruiters for suppliers of sporting goods, this study provides information on the ways in which discriminatory situations related to physical appearance are created.