'Tomboy's' firing ruled unlawful (hotel staff should be pretty, wore men's button-down shirts etc)

http://www.omaha.com/article/20101116/NEWS97/711169871/0#-tomboy-s-firing-ruled-unlawful

Published Tuesday November 16, 2010

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal jury in Des Moines has ruled that an Iowa hotel chain unlawfully fired an employee because of her "tomboy" appearance.

The jury found that Heartland Inns of America fired Brenna Lewis for not conforming to the hotel's gender stereotypes about how women should look or behave.

Lewis, who had described herself in her lawsuit as "slightly more masculine," claims she was fired from the company's Ankeny hotel in 2007 for not conforming to sexual stereotypes and for questioning the company's changes in hiring policies.

Court records show Lewis had worked for Heartland since 2005 when the company's director of operations, Barbara Cullinan, hired her for a day-shift, front-desk job in Ankeny. Records show Cullinan approved the hiring over the phone but after seeing Lewis said a second interview was needed. Lewis was fired three days after questioning why a second interview was necessary.

Heartland claimed it fired Lewis for thwarting the interview procedure and was hostile toward new company policies.

FULL story at link.

I wish this young woman all the best.