Wanted – Only Young, Pretty Women Need Apply In Chengdu

Authorities in Chengdu, in China’s south-western Sichuan province, are only hiring young, attractive women for their law enforcement jobs, in the hopes that this will improve their district’s image, reports The Guardian.

The advertisement reads: Chinese city wardens wanted: “must be young, female and pretty. Only good-looking women under 23 need apply to become a Chengdu law enforcement officer.” Specifically: candidates for law enforcement jobs must be female, aged between 18 and 23, over 5’2″ tall, attractive and with a good temperament. Their contracts will end when they turn 26.

“Their main job is to present a good image so they have to be good-looking,” said the human resources director of the law enforcement bureau. “And when they get older, they will get married and have children so it will not be convenient for them to do such work. Having them leave at 26 is for their sake.”

Hum, perhaps he should check with one of his “good-looking female employees” ‘to see if she agrees with this assessment.

China’s urban law enforcement officers, known as chenguan, have a bad reputation, and many regard them as little more than thugs. Hence the introduction of the woman-only team to soften up the image.

But the human resources spokesperson declared that it was unfair to describe these woman as “flower vases,” which is a Chinese term for women who are attractive but of little use. “They need a good temper and communication skills as well,” he told a Chengdu news website.

Apparently it is common for employers to pick out female candidates because they are prettier. Even worse, such discrimination even extended to breast size until fairly recently. It was only in 2004 that the Hunan provincial government dropped its requirement that women civil servants have “symmetical breasts” after it was widely ridiculed.

I can’t imagine how this rule was enforced, but at least it’s been dropped.

How about dropping the “only females under 23 may apply” rule too?

Creative Commons - epSos.de

168 comments

Maria Papastamatiou
Maria Papastamatiou5 years ago

Unbelievable!

Amber M.
Amber Beasley5 years ago

that's so ridiculous! most 18-23 year olds arent even gonna be mature enough to be in law enforcement.

Jami Winn
Jami Winn5 years ago

brains before beauty

Past Member
Past Member 5 years ago

they should hire only good looking men as well then they would all be in a bind.....

Barbara Erdman
Barbara Erdman5 years ago

Thanx for the article

Dominic C.
Dominic C.5 years ago

This is China. And perhaps this is actually a reconciliation and consolation for many women in Chengdu. Remember, many Chinese families still condone female babies. And many Chinese men still thinks Chinese women are only housewives and babysitters. I hope more women will get the opportunity despite their age or their image...Who cares about the Guardian, basically a mouthpiece of the Labour Party.

Loo Samantha
Loo sam5 years ago

thanks for the article.

Lika S.
Lika S.5 years ago

I also think that the young ladies should have the option to quit or not. If she isn't married, and not planning to be pregnant til she's 30, why be pushed out? On the other hand, if she gets engaged @ 22, after being hired at 18, she should be able to quit by age 23 just to start her family.

Lika S.
Lika S.5 years ago

I realize that all too often, more attractive people get hired over their less attractive counter parts. No, it's not fair, but, often it's because the candidates have similar qualifications, and different but equal strengths. When coming down to the wire, if attractive is the only thing left, it's in your benefit. Fair? No, but fact of life. But to make it the main prerogative? That's just insane.

What, so no matter if she isn't qualified to be an officer? No idea what it takes to be an officer? No problem, she looks good so when piggish men assault the pretty officers, it's okay because it's part of the fetish to have young & attractive officers make the arrest, right?

Anyway, it's ridiculous that intellect, integrity and the right person just doesn't cut it. So in china, if you want to be a law enforcement officer, go to beauty school and become a model. Yeah?

Sue L.
Sue L.5 years ago

Although this is quite blatant I don't think people can deny that attractiveness is often a factor in hiring decisions. Usually this requirement is unspoken. It isn't fair but it is the way it is even in this day and age.