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Thesis Statement:
Some major theme parks do not allow employees to promote individualism therefore, the human resources department needs to fix their appearance guidelines in order to hire people with many different looks and styles.

Definition of the Controversy:
Everyday numerous people apply for jobs in the theme park industry. Many of these people are turned down simply because of their looks. Most major theme parks, such as Disney, Universal, and Six Flags, do not hire employees who have visible tattoos, multiple piercings, brightly dyed hair, or even too much facial hair. This poses a problem for those who are taking part in openly expressing themselves via style. The theme parks have a long list of looks and styles a potential employee cannot sport. By not hiring employees like those described, the theme parks are both limiting the number of future employees and also giving off the impression that the companies do not support self-expression. In order to fix this, the companies’ human resource department needs to revise their policies by allowing employees to show their personalities subtly during work hours. If employees were given just a little bit of leeway concerning appearances, the parks could have more, possibly better, workers.

Illustration of the Problem:
How would you like to be fired from your job because of your hair style, yet you were never told the restrictions? That is exactly what happened to several African American employees at Six Flags America in Largo, Maryland. Their managers approached them one day and told them that their hairstyles were inappropriate. The employees suggested that the employee handbook is biased against African Americans and that the managers said they wanted an ‘all-American’ look. The general manager, Terry Prather, claimed that yes the guidelines were not strictly enforced but Six Flags tell their employees that the company has been in business for a long time and they want standards. Mr. Prather claims the problem was that the park had a management switch so the rules did not transfer over to the new employees, such as the ones in this case. Mr. Prather also stated that he has not spoke to his management team yet about the guidelines and how they should be enforced, but he plans to. Without proper instructions, the employees cannot possibly know the ‘standards’. With these standards in place, the park employees are not allowed self-expression.

Sources:

Background Information:

http://afterthemouse.com/node/2521

https://www.wdwcollegeprogram.com/sap/its/mimes/zh_wdwcp/disneylook/disneylook.html

http://www.ushjobs.com/image.php

Support/Evidence:

Griffin, Emma. Email Interview. 27 Feb. 2010.

Koenig, David. Mouse Tales. Irvine: Bonaventure , 1994. Print.

Koenig, David. Realityland. Irvine: Bonaventure, 2007. Print.

http://www.icmrindia.org/CaseStudies/catalogue/Human%20Resource%20and%20Organization%20Behavior/Personal%20Appearances-The%20Changing%20HR%20Norms.htm

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1291&dat=20030713&id=kvMPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JY4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4134,6004254

Opposing Viewpoints:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5503209