Physical Appearance Conference 2008 -- PAC2008

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Physical Appearance Conference 2008

Theory - Research - Perspectives - Realities

December 4-5, 2008
Delhi, India
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Welcome!

The Physical Appearance Conference 2008 (PAC2008) will be held at the University of Delhi Conference Centre, in Delhi, India, during December 4 to 5, 2008. Its overall objective is to provide multi-disciplinary opportunities for academics, practitioners, and other interested people to exchange theory, research, perspectives, and realities, to advance awareness, knowledge, and insight, concerning physical attractiveness.

PAC2008 will focus specifically on the physical attractiveness dimension of appearance, with mission, vision, and scope formally defined as follows:

·	Mission of PAC2008 -- To advance awareness, knowledge, and thought about physical attractiveness phenomenon (referenced also as, PAP and Lookism). Underlying this mission is the orientation that turning a blind eye to problems and discomforting issues does not make them disappear, resolve corresponding injustices, or answer problems.
·	Vision of PAC2008 -- To include the goal of making this forum the first in a continuing series of recognized conferences dedicated to investigating the physical attractiveness dimension of physical appearance.
·	Scope of PAC2008 -- To embrace all efforts and approaches to look behind the curtain and to look beyond what may initially meet the eye, to explore physical attractiveness--how it influences our world and what influences it. PAC2008 will be accordingly multi-disciplinary, and include academicians, practitioners, and other interested participants. In addition to organized sessions, a major part of the program will consist of opportunities to interact with people interested in diverse realities of physical attractiveness, learn what they are thinking and doing, and provide input and perspective concerning future physical appearance conferences.

Four important dates: (1) The deadline for submission of presentation proposals, research papers, and abstracts, is November 15, 2008. (2) Individuals who submit materials with complete contact information will be notified whether their material is selected for conference presentation by November 22, 2008. (3) At the option of individual authors/presenters, presented materials will be published in a Proceedings after the conference and, to be included in the Proceedings, individuals must submit their respective completed material in Microsoft Word format to the conference chairperson by December 19, 2008. (4) Registration to attend the conference is currently underway with a modest fee, and a small late fee is added for registrations after November 24, 2008, as well as on-site during the conference.

Academicians, practitioners, and others are invited to present research, papers, proposals, and perspectives.

Everyone is invited to attend PAC2008, whether as a presenter or only as an interested observer. Likewise, Session Chairs and other volunteers are welcome and encouraged..

Sincerely,

Gordon Patzer

Gordon Patzer, Ph.D.
PAC 2008, Conference Chairperson

First Email: gpatzer@fms.edu

Second Email: PAC2008@GordonPatzer.com

Website for Conference Information: www.GordonPatzer.com/PAC2008.html

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                                                                            Introduction

Physical attractiveness holds a dominate position among the many dimensions that comprise physical appearance. It is a dimension of physical appearance that impacts every individual, throughout every community, across India and around the world. Its influence occurs throughout life-literally from birth to death-from employment to entertainment and everywhere in-between. The collective realities can be reasonably designated by the descriptive term, Physical Attractiveness Phenomenon.

Researchers in fields ranging from A to Z, anthropology to zoology, investigate physical attractiveness phenomenon through use of scientifically valid methodologies. Forums that document this research exist as papers presented at professional conferences and articles published by scholarly journals. These forums organize specific to one particular scientific field and not specific to one particular research topic; which then excludes research about the same particular topic when conducted in another scientific field. However, multi-disciplinary or cross-disciplinary knowledge is most important to understand physical attractiveness. Therefore, the conference described here is organized specific to the one particular topic of physical attractiveness, which includes research not limited to any one particular scientific field. Accordingly, the December 4 -5, 2008, forum at the University of Delhi Conference Centre (Delhi, India) carries the following title and subtitle:

                                                   Physical Appearance Conference 2008 (PAC2008)
                                                        Theory - Research - Perspectives - Realities

The Physical Appearance Conference 2008 (also referenced as, PAC2008), comprises a multi-disciplinary dual-track program with academicians and practitioners representing different disciplines, professions, and occupations. Its program of offerings include 3 plenary sessions with speakers, 7 breakout sessions with speakers, and 18 total sessions over 2 days with opportunity for additional participants’ suggestions and discussions concerning physical attractiveness and specifically this year’s conference focus on fairness of skin tone.

Physical attractiveness, particularly physical attractiveness phenomenon, spans a vast array of sub-topics, professions, and disciplines, in terms of interests, implications, and applications. Future physical appearance conferences will continuously accommodate increasing depth and breadth of investigations about physical attractiveness. These future conferences will be scheduled with intent for sufficient advance announcement time to accommodate participation by internationally prominent academicians and practitioners (who may wish to travel to the conference for a potential combination of professional and personal reasons).

                                       Mission, Vision, and Scope of PAC2008 Conference

Mission of the Physical Appearance Conference 2008 (PAC2008) is to advance awareness, knowledge, and thought about physical attractiveness phenomenon (referenced also as, PAP and Lookism). Underlying this mission is the orientation that the proverbial turning a blind eye to problems and discomforting issues, does not make them disappear. To avoid recognitions of PAP/Lookism does not resolve corresponding injustices or answer problems, as witnessed by injustices aligned with sexism and racism. To avoid acknowledgement of physical attractiveness phenomenon or deny it, let alone to practice it, only promulgates it. In addition, lack of awareness, knowledge, and thought neither challenges ethics and social responsibilities nor does it provide insights for strategies and opportunities to benefit commercial goals and/or societal goals.

Vision of PAC2008 includes the goal to make this forum the first in a continuing series of recognized conferences dedicated to investigating the physical attractiveness dimension of physical appearance. This vision of PAC2008 and the subsequent conferences is:

·	To increasingly help explain and understand physical attractiveness, based on scientifically-valid research, conducted in fields that include but are not limited to the broadly defined disciplines of business, psychology, and sociology.
·	To provide relevance to aspects of life that include government policies, business strategies, social consequences, and ethical issues, as well as relevance for implications that range from employment to entertainment to the myriad life dimensions in-between.
·	To conduct these physical appearance conferences with an “open source” or “Cloud computing” orientation that encourages and utilizes meaningful collaboration and input from participants and potential participants. Accordingly, program suggestions are welcome and encouraged for the design and delivery of conferences.
·	To increasingly move in future years to formal blind refereed selection processes concerning submitted conference papers, identification of best conference papers, and arrangement for publication of these best papers in a journal listed in Cabell’s Directory of Publishing Opportunities.

Scope of PAC2008 embraces all efforts and approaches to look behind the curtain and to look beyond what may initially meet the eye, to explore physical attractiveness--how it influences our world and what influences it. PAC2008 will be accordingly multi-disciplinary, and include academicians, practitioners, and other interested participants. In addition to organized sessions, a major part of the program will consist of opportunities to interact with people interested in diverse realities of physical attractiveness, learn what they are thinking and doing, and provide input and perspective concerning future physical appearance conferences. Within the vast universe of physical attractiveness dimensions and dynamics under the umbrella of physical attractiveness phenomenon (also known as, PAP and lookism), PAC2008 will focus on skin tone as defined by fairness of color.

Physical Appearance, Physical Attractiveness, and Physical Attractiveness Phenomenon

Physical appearance involves many dimensions; for products, places, people, and more. Although it can be defined simply as the way something or someone looks, it communicates much, sometimes accurately and sometimes not so accurately. Concerning the dimensions of people, despite conventional wisdom that appearances can be deceiving or misleading, appearances commonly communicate: age, education, ethnicity, gender, race, socioeconomic level, intelligence, fortune-misfortune, health-illness, respect, authority, expertise, liking, marriage partner appeal, suspicion-trust, friend-enemy-terrorist, and so forth, including physical attractiveness.

Among the dimensions of physical appearance, physical attractiveness tends to be rather uniquely important to the extent that it often dominates other dimensions of appearance in ways that are powerful, pervasive, and frequently unrecognized or denied.

As a particularly important dimension of physical appearance, and frequently the predominate factor in regard to other factors that compose appearance, physical attractiveness -- for products, places, and people -- can be a blessing or a curse, an asset or liability, a benefit or detriment. To understand when and how physical appearance affects the success of a product in the marketplace or the success of a person in the workplace, it is important also to understand what determines favorable and less favorable appearances, in regard to higher and lower levels of physical attractiveness, and why or how these determinations occur.

In summary, published research conducted literally around the world, through scientifically valid procedures, by scientists in fields literally A to Z, anthropology to zoology, documents that:

·	Many factors or variables compose physical appearance, with physical attractiveness frequently the most dominant and powerful.
·	Physical attractiveness impacts our lives, culture, and economy, in ways pervasive and powerful, while often unknown, unrecognized, and even denied by some people.
·	Physical attractiveness of a product or person-or more importantly, how others perceive that physical appearance-shapes the life of products and people in many ways.
·	The physical attractiveness aspect of physical appearance is, in-turn, composed of many, complicated, interdependent, physical and non-physical sub-factors and dimensions.

Fundamentally, physical attractiveness can be defined simply as how pleasing someone or something appears. Due to the context or dynamics in which it occurs, physical attractiveness can be a blessing or a curse, an asset or a liability, a benefit or detriment. It can grant power or confer weakness. Accordingly, physical attractiveness comprises a phenomenon with values, order, processes, and consequences far more than meets the eye. The collective realities concerning the physical attractiveness dimension of appearance can be reasonably designated by the descriptive term, Physical Attractiveness Phenomenon (abbreviated, PAP).

Physical Attractiveness Phenomenon

Physical attractiveness phenomenon (PAP) applies analogously to both non-living inanimate entities and living non-human organisms, as well as to humans. Regardless of entity or organism, PAP transforms physical appearance (especially as represented by different levels of physical attractiveness) into a value that can make the holder accordingly liked or disliked, desired or undesired, and successful or unsuccessful. In other words, physical appearances equated with levels of higher and lower physical attractiveness result in corresponding benefits and detriments to the respective holder.

Scholarly research suggests that physical attractiveness phenomenon occurs through a process that begins with the use of physical attractiveness as an informational cue. From this informational cue, people infer extensive information that triggers assumptions, expectations, attitudes, and behaviors that cause pervasive and powerful consequences/effects. The effects overwhelmingly favor those with appearances higher in physical attractiveness and disfavor those with appearances lower in physical attractiveness. These consequences circulate back to influence the informational cue stage of the process.

For additional information about Physical Attractiveness Phenomenon, please see the website: www.GordonPatzer.com

People and Physical Attractiveness

A person’s physical attractiveness is far more than meets the eye, with consequences that extend far beyond surface looks or surface appearances.

Physical attractiveness phenomenon impacts every individual, throughout every community, across India and around the world. It is the collective realities of a person’s attractiveness, with influences that range from employment to entertainment and everywhere in-between. These realities connected to a person's physical attractiveness exist throughout life--literally from birth to death, from cradle to grave--and, likely increasingly in the future, even before life begins.

Although a person's appearance is multi-dimensional, physical attractiveness is possibly the prevailing dimension. Accordingly, the physical attractiveness phenomenon is not limited to a particular sex, age, race, income, or geographical location. It affects males and females, young and old, rich and poor, white and black, small village and big city, and all other people regardless of demographic and socioeconomic descriptor.

Not surprisingly, people at times express discomfort about realities of physical attractiveness phenomenon, particularly in regard to effects on the lives of people. Those effects ultimately cause individuals with physical appearances equated with higher and lower physical attractiveness to then correspondingly experience more or less benefits and detriments throughout their lives. Nevertheless, research conducted around the world through scientifically valid procedures repeatedly document that this phenomenon transcends time, geography, and culture.

Physical Attractiveness beyond People

Existing research data indicate that the basics of physical attractiveness phenomenon apply comparably to products, places, and things living and non-living, as well as to people.

Successful product designers of all sorts, as well as successful businesses representing a large array of products, concern themselves with the physical appearance of their efforts. Particularly marketplaces with competing products-locally, regionally, and internationally-the most successful products are likely to be those with physical appearances considered to be most physically attractive (of course, without significantly compromising function or performance of the product). Certainly, people prefer to surround themselves with more physically attractive environments rather than less, as well as to use respective products to perform their work and live their lives. Accordingly, architects are known to grapple with the topic of physical appearance and specifically physical attractiveness in the design of buildings, as do city planners, certain types of design engineers, artists of all kinds, and designers of all varieties.

With an eye keenly focused on physical appearance, successful designers of such non-living (i.e., inanimate) items and products maintain consciousness that people will use the finished item to perform jobs, to live lives, or, depending on the type of item, to enhance their physical attractiveness.

Another category of non-living things likely significantly affected by physical attractiveness phenomenon consists of products used by people to affect their physical attractiveness. With an eye keenly focused on physical appearance, and specifically on physical attractiveness, successful designers and businesses working in these product categories consisting of non-living (i.e., inanimate) items maintain consciousness that people will use the finished item not only to perform jobs and to live lives but, depending on the type of item, to enhance their physical attractiveness. In these situations, the designers are concerned about both the physical attractiveness of the non-living item and its synergistic impact on the physical attractiveness of the person associated with these items. This dual appearance consideration confronts all people involved with almost all products directly or indirectly applied or used by people. For example, clothes designers might first come to mind, but other professions such as dentists confront analogous dual questions about the appearance of an inanimate item (e.g., shape, color, and look of a tooth cap or porcelain veneer) and its effect on the attractiveness of the person receiving it.

Confronting Physical Attractiveness Phenomenon: Professional-Personal Comment

“Beauty is Ugly” or, at least, “Beauty can be ugly” expresses a perspective of the world held by Conference Chairperson Gordon Patzer. For both males and females of all ages, society and individuals in society place entirely too much importance on the physical attractiveness dimension of a person’s appearance. A result is that discriminations arise and lead to a range of negative consequences that include social injustices, eating disorders, and unrealistic pursuits of higher physical attractiveness. And yet, despite the power and pervasiveness of physical attractiveness phenomenon, many people either fail to recognize the importance of physical attractiveness or they deny it.

People too often fail to acknowledge, or too often resist acknowledging, the significance of physical attractiveness and specifically physical attractiveness phenomenon. My own commitment to topic began formally more than 35 years ago, when in 1973 I conducted a formal university psychology experiment to investigate related realities. Since then, my physical attractiveness phenomenon research has taken me into diverse disciplines ranging from business to medicine to politics to many other disciplines. Along the way, the American Marketing Association (with its global perspective, despite its country-specific moniker) acknowledged the pertinence of this research topic, as indicated when it issued its official competitive award for “one of best dissertations” to my Ph.D. dissertation that investigated physical attractiveness as a business strategy. Five years later, Plenum Press published my first book (The Physical Attractiveness Phenomena, Plenum Publications, 1985, New York and London), which has been widely and favorably reviewed and cited in scholarly journals by many researchers in diverse disciplines. My commitment continues today, and has included presentations and citations literally around the world.

This work of mine, or maybe my mission in life nowadays, is to strive to challenge and correct certain discomforting and unacceptable discriminations carried-out by society and individuals. These discriminations lead to consequences that give benefits to those individuals stereotypically defined or viewed by society as good-looking people, and force detriments upon their counterparts who society defines, or views, as not so good-looking people. In turn, one ramification concerning looks is that people increasingly spend unaffordable time and money in pursuits of unattainable higher levels of physical attractiveness (again, as defined/viewed by society and individuals within that society), and do so with unrealistic hopes.

For me, I believe that people benefit less by looking the other way (ignoring, disregarding, or denying) than by acknowledging and then realistically idealistically challenging conventional wisdom. At the same time, my intent is never to embarrass anyone nor in anyway reinforce the physical attractiveness phenomenon. In fact, I have long deliberated whether it is better to articulate the reality of the world in terms of physical attractiveness phenomenon (also referenced as PAP and also as lookism) along with my usual message of trying to change it. Alternatively, I have deliberated whether is it better not to acknowledge that reality, or even to deny it as any people do in hopes that it either does not exist or that it will go away.

Well, I have concluded, denying PAP/lookism/physical attractiveness phenomenon or in other ways turning a proverbial blind eye to it is not the best action. In turn, I know my own individual actions will not provide an ultimate solution, but I believe my actions point toward a solution better than taking no action.

Two statements that I make repeatedly in my speaking and writing pertain here. First, in my perspective, "Beauty is Ugly" or, at least, "Beauty Can Be Ugly". Society and individuals who compose society place entirely too much importance (and value) on a person's physical attractiveness. Second, as in most regards in life, people "should not do nothing, just because they can't do everything." I certainly cannot eliminate the world of PAP/lookism/physical attractiveness phenomenon. But I will do what I can, which to me is making people of average and higher physical attractiveness (as society might traditionally stereotypically define such) to be aware that their worlds might be much different than the world of others of less physical attractiveness than theirs (again, as society might traditionally stereotypically define it).

In these regards, I am particularly encouraged by one reviewer’s published comments that “Gordon Patzer makes me think… If a profound writer's job is to comfort the afflicted while afflicting the comfortable, Patzer continues to pass this test.” These comments specific to my 2006 book (The Power & Paradox of Physical Attractiveness) can found at that publisher's website (www.BrownWalker.com) as follows:

"Gordon Patzer makes me think. This is a high compliment in a world of vapid sound bytes and meaningless clichés. Having written a cover story on the subject of beauty for Psychology Today, I feel qualified to say that Patzer's work is interesting, fearless and even inspired. If a profound writer's job is to comfort the afflicted while afflicting the comfortable, Patzer continues to pass this test." (Michael Levine -- Best selling author of 16 books.)

It is clear to me that for both males and females of all ages, in the marketplace, workplace and throughout life, entirely too much importance is placed on the looks of a person. Objective scientific research strongly documents that the consequences-whether we like it or not-is that good looking people experience benefits throughout life that not so good looking people do not experience. Because this reality discomforts many, we then too often do not recognize this well-documented fact or we even deny it.

Lack of knowledge and awareness does not resolve problems. Awareness about differences experienced by people with differences precedes corrective actions. For too long, people not affected negatively by discrimination-aligned with differences based on race, sex, physical attractiveness, and so forth-believed life to be a reasonably level playing field. At best, their insensitivity was inadvertent.

Whatever our indignities and resolve, we can not avoid physical attractiveness phenomenon as it exists currently. To avoid it or deny it, let alone to practice it, only promulgates it. In life as we know it today, we interact all the time with people who do-consciously or unconsciously-make judgments about us based on what we look like. Nevertheless, each of us can realistically challenge realities of lookism and rise above it by beginning with respective awareness, knowledge, and insight
.
-- Gordon Patzer

                                                  Principal Overseers, People and Entities

FMS Advisory Council (University of Delhi, Faculty of Management Studies):

          Professor Jay K. Mitra*
          Professor Vijay Kapur**
          Professor Gordon Patzer***
          Dr. Ajay Pandit
          Dr. Mala Sinha
          Dr.Harsh Verma
          Dr. Anupama Vohra

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          * Professor Jay K. Mitra, Ph.D., Head & Dean of Faculty of Management Studies
         ** Professor Vijay Kapur, Ph.D., Professor of Marketing, Sales, and Strategic Management
                                                           Chair, FMS International Relations Secretariat
       *** Professor Gordon Patzer, Ph.D., U.S. Fulbright Scholar
                                                               PAC2008 Conference Chairperson

                                                                      Contact Persons

For questions and answers, please contact the appropriate person below.

To submit presentation proposals, research papers, and abstracts, as well as to inquire about volunteering to assist with the conference, inquiring about the conference proceedings, and inquiring about policy and procedure issues regarding this conference, please contact:

          Professor Gordon Patzer
          Conference Chairperson
          Email #1: gpatzer@fms.edu
          Email #2: PAC2008@GordonPatzer.com
          Postal mail address:
                   Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, INDIA 110 007
          Office telephone (landline) at DU FMS: 27666382, extension 219
          Office FAX: 27667183
          Mobile telephone (Delhi, India): 9718020797

For questions about the Delhi University Conference Centre, how or where to make registration payments, questions about locations or local travel directions, conference served food, and other procedural and logistical questions, please contact the conference chairperson, Gordon Patzer, and he will forward your contact as appropriate.

          Mr. Atul Sethi
          PAC2008 Conference Assistance

          Ms. Arum Anand
          PAC2008 Conference Support Assistance

          Ms. Pronitha M. Shankarananda
          PAC2008 Conference Support Assistance

          Ms. Priyanka Verma
          PAC2008 Conference Support Assistance

          Mr. Pushpender Kumar
          PAC2008 Conference Support Assistance

Host Institution: Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), University of Delhi

The Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) is "India's first business school...and still leading the way," as expressed by its formal vision statement to: "Develop FMS as a world-class university based institution of academic excellence and thought leadership in management education." FMS offers post-graduate programs leading to MBA and Ph.D. degrees with specializations in a wide range of business functions and industries, and FMS is consistently ranked formally in the top tier of MBA programs in India.

The University of Delhi is located at Delhi, India and is funded by the Government of India. Established in 1921, it is one of the premier universities of the country and is known for its high standards in teaching and research. With the number of students approaching 350,000, it is among the largest universities in the world. The Vice-President of India is the Chancellor of the University of Delhi. The University has a distinguished alumni body and faculty.

For additional information about the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) and the University of Delhi, please see the website at: www.fms.edu

Conference Chairperson: Gordon Patzer, Ph.D.

Gordon Patzer serves as a lecturer at the University of Delhi with the FMS (Faculty of Management Studies), based on his U.S. Fulbright Scholar award to India. In the U.S., he holds a position as full-time, tenured professor of business administration at Roosevelt University in Chicago, and was promoted to rank and title of Professor in 1990.

Professor Patzer’s history includes successful employments in executive positions inside and outside of academia. His university employments include university dean (12 years), business school department head (10 years), and tenured professor (for more than 20 years), as well as earning a Ph.D., MBA, MS, and BA. In addition, in 2004, California State University honored him with their lifetime title of Professor Emeritus.

Business employments for Dr. Patzer have focused on marketing research and marketing strategy. His prior executive positions include Saatchi & Saatchi (in the movie industry division) and CBS Television Network (in primetime programming). Much earlier, as an entrepreneur, he started a talent-booking agency, an employment agency, and a not-for-profit organization (Board of Directors, founding member) to assist blind, visually impaired, and physically disabled persons, for employment.

Dr. Patzer has received respect and recognition, nationally and internationally, for his research and expertise concerning physical attractiveness phenomenon. His first formal research to investigate physical attractiveness phenomenon was more than 35 years ago, in 1973. Hundreds of researchers and scholars have formally cited his related work, while comparable numbers of reporters for popular mass media have published quotes from his interviews, analyses, and perspectives.

Dr. Patzer has published more than 20 scholarly research articles and 6 books, with his latest book published in 2008 titled, LOOKS: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined. The publisher, Amacom Books in New York City, is the publishing division of the American Management Association.

International locations taught or traveled include residential teaching or teaching tours in the following locations: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, England, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Macau, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Poland, San Salvador, and Switzerland. His additional travel includes: Canada, China, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, Scotland, Thailand, and Wales.

For additional information about Gordon Patzer, please click to the website page: About Gordon Patzer

Contact information: Professor Gordon Patzer can be contacted while in India at his University of Delhi FMS email address (gpatzer@fms.edu) or at anytime at his current Roosevelt University email address (gpatzer@roosevelt.edu) or through his permanent website (www.GordonPatzer.com) at his respective website contact page: Contact Gordon Patzer.

                                  Program In-Brief: Topics and Speakers of Conference

As stated in the “Call for Papers” text, suggestions are welcome and encouraged for design and delivery of the conference overall and specifically in regard to the program. At current, the following details are planned:

Thursday morning, December 4, 2008, Conference Opening Session - Plenary Session 1.2

          · Chief Topic: Fairness of Skin Tone, Physical Appearance, and Physical Attractiveness Phenomenon
          · Chief Speaker: Specific Person To Be Announced

Thursday morning, December 4, 2008, 2 Concurrent Breakout Sessions - Sessions 1.4 and 1.5

          · Session 1.4: Fairness of Skin Tone through the Eyes of Oneself, Other People, and Mass Media
                                    ranging from Literature to Movies

          O Session 1.4 will emphasize what males and females, of all ages, possessing lighter and darker skin
                                tone see/think consciously or subconsciously about themselves when they look into a mirror, and what
                                people see/think about others when they look at people of lighter and darker skin. These views will
                                include what the eye of mass media sees and communicates, ranging from literature to movies.
          O Sub-topics will be probable implications for self-esteem, confidence, and happiness, perceived
                                intelligence, abilities, and potentials, and expectations by teachers about students. Discipline emphasis
                                will be psychology and sociology broadly defined. Likely topics will span overt and covert attitudes,
                                perceptions, associations, and beliefs by others and by individuals themselves.
          O Speakers (2 to 4 speakers plus session chair/moderator, likely scholars and academicians):
                                Specific Persons To Be Announced.

          · Session 1.5: Facing Lighter-Darker Realities, Proposing Ways to Help

          O Session 1.5 will go beyond attitudes and perceptions to whether there are actual differences in life for
                                people of lighter-darker skin tone. Focus will be on real-world consequences for those who possess
                                lighter or darker tone of skin, such as actual differences in by society overall and individuals in society.
                         O Sub-topics will be actual relation to employment dynamics that range from hiring data for job
                                applicants, promotions once hired, and income/salary differences, existence or non-existence of a
                                so-called glass ceiling for individuals of lighter-darker skin tone along with differences for males and
                                females in a variety of industries and positions. Additional potential sub-topics will be popularity of
                                children among other children, political election outcomes, assumed guilt of persons accused of
                                varying types of crimes, and proportion differences of lighter-darker skin tone of general population
                                compared to incarcerated population, statistics and case studies of people with related eating
                                disorders, obvious and subtle treatments in regard to education concerning teacher expectations about
                                student performance, medical care, and connections with suicide statistics. Further sub-topics will
                                address proposals to help people with problems related to lookism, ranging from self-esteem to
                                treatment by others, averting related suicides and suicide attempts, advising employees and human
                                resource offices, establishing government services, and identifying legal aid.
          O Speakers (2 to 4 speakers plus session chair/moderator, likely professionals and practitioners who are
                                not academicians): Specific Persons To Be Announced.

Thursday afternoon, December 4, 2008, 2 Concurrent Breakout Sessions - Sessions 1.7 and 1.8

          · Session 1.7: Marketplace Values concerning Lighter-Darker Skin Tone

          O Session 1.7 will emphasize the different value within the marketplace placed on individuals with more
                                and less fair skin, ranging from matrimonial advertising in newspapers and on Internet to corporate
                                advertising in print and broadcast mass media for products and services to lighten skin tone.
          O Sub-topics will be consumer behavior related to motivations in pursuit of higher physical attractiveness
                                (through products and services) with consideration about different cultures and subcultures defined in
                                terms of demographic, religious, and socioeconomic categories. Specific products, brands, and
                                companies will be cited along with rationale, strategy, and ethics for specific advertising appeals for
                                certain products.
          O Speakers (2 to 4 speakers plus session chair/moderator, likely academicians but not necessarily):
                                Specific Persons To Be Announced.

          · Session 1.8: Marketplace Products and Services, including Medical Tourism

          O Session 1.8 will emphasize specific products intended to increase physical attractiveness with specific
                                attention to lightening skin tone. Products will be cited with promoted objectives and medical tourism
                                will be discussed as pertinent.
          O Sub-topics will be products and services from consumer products commonly available over-the-
                                counter to medical products available only with prescription to those delivered by only license
                                professionals such as injectable face fillers and substances to dentistry (routine and esthetic) to
                                cosmetic surgery procedures (in-hospital and out-patient). Another potential sub-topic will be
                                international medical tourism for cosmetic surgery and such products and procedures to enhance the
                                physical attractiveness of a person.
         O   Speakers (2 to 4 speakers plus session chair/moderator, likely professionals such as medical and
                                dental licensed practitioners): Specific Persons To Be Announced.

Thursday end-of-day, December 4, 2008, Conference Closing Session - Plenary Session 1.10

          · Chief Topic: Fairness of Skin Tone throughout India.
          · Chief Speaker: Specific Person To Be Announced

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Friday morning, December 5, 2008, 2 Concurrent Breakout Sessions - Sessions 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4

          · Session 2.2: The Weird and Wacky…Products, Myths, Rumors, and Projections about the Future
                                    concerning Fairness (of Skin Tone), Physical Appearance, and Physical Attractiveness

         O Session 2.2 will present precisely what the session title states: weird and wacky products,
                              myths, rumors, and projections about the future concerning fairness of skin tone, physical
                              appearance, and physical attractiveness. Examples of products will be cited that make claims
                              of effectiveness that are suspect, unproven, unsubstantiated, rather outlandish by any objective
                              evaluations, or clearly unattainable even if desired.
         O Speakers (2 to 4 speakers plus session chair/moderator, likely students and/or entrepreneurs
                              and inventors of pertinent products and ideas for products): Specific Persons To Be Announced.

          · Session 2.3: Future Research concerning Physical Attractiveness Phenomenon, Inclusive or
                                    Exclusive of Fairness (of Skin Tone)

         O Session 2.3 will emphasize current plans and thoughts for future research ranging from formal
                              proposals to preliminary ideas for investigating physical attractiveness phenomenon. This future
                              research may or may not pertain directly to fairness of skin tone or any other such dimension.
         O Research presented in this session will include considerations about methodologies (e.g., tried-
                              and-true techniques and procedures, unique or innovative methodologies, characteristics of research
                              subjects, and special considerations to in conduct such research), quantitative and qualitative
                              analysis tools, , expenses, funding needs, opportunities or ideas for funding, and ideas for
                              dissemination of the research findings.
         O Disciplines will be open, as well as multi-disciplinary for future research presented here.
         O Speakers (2 to 4 speakers plus session chair/moderator, likely researchers ranging from university
                              faculty to graduate students to undergraduate students): Specific Persons To Be Announced.

          · Session 2.4: Future World concerning Fairness (of Skin Tone)

         O Session 2.4 will emphasize, first, current cutting edge, state of the art, products and technologies
                              concerning physical attractiveness in general and fairness of skin tone in particular and, second,
                              future products and technologies.
         O Another emphasis of this session will be what might be the world of the future and what should be
                              the world of the future in regard to fairness-darkness considerations of skin tone and physical
                              attractiveness phenomenon. Topical questions to be explored include whether fairness of skin tone
                              in the future will be more or less relevant, whether government should pass related laws, what will
                              be its future in the workplace and in the market place, and whether surround thoughts and practices
                              be more blatant or more subtle than present and past?
         O Speakers (2 to 4 speakers plus session chair/moderator, from any discipline or vocation):
                              Specific Persons To Be Announced.

Friday end-of-day, December 5, 2008, Valedictory Session - Plenary Session 2.6

          · Chief Topic: Fairness of Skin Tone as an Aspect of Physical Attractiveness -- Injustices
                                    and Realities.
          · Chief Speaker: Specific Person To Be Announced

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                    Program In-Detail: Comprehensive Listing of Sessions of Conference

As stated in the “Call for Papers” text, suggestions are welcome and encouraged for design and delivery of the conference overall and specifically in regard to the program. At current, the following details are planned:

Thursday, December 4, 2008 (Sessions 1.1 through 1.11)

9:30AM to 10:00 AM -- Session 1.1
Registration
Beginning-of-day, Coffee-Tea-Cola (and possibly early day light foods/snacks)

                    Complimentary Coffee-Tea-Cola - Session 2.1
                    Sponsored by ________________________

10:00 AM to 11:30 AM -- Session 1.2
Plenary Session: Conference Opening Session

                    Welcome - Professor Kapur
                    Keynote Speaker - Professor Patzer
                    Chief Topic - Fairness of Skin Tone, Physical Appearance,
                                         and Physical Attractiveness Phenomenon
                    Chief Guest - Speaker To Be Announced
                    President’s Welcome Address - Professor Mitra, Dean and Head, DU FMS
                    Vote of Thanks - Speaker To Be Determined

11:30 AM to 12:00 NOON -- Session 1.3
Break / High Tea

12:00 NOON to 1:30 PM -- Sessions 1.4 and 1.5
Conference Concurrent Breakout Sessions

                    Session 1.4: Fairness of Skin Tone through the Eyes of Oneself, Other People,
                                        and Mass Media ranging from Literature to Movies
                    Session 1.5: Facing Lighter-Darker Realities, Proposing Ways to Help

1:30 PM to 2:30 PM -- Session 1.6
Lunch (with table discussions and no conference speaker)

2:30 PM to 4:00 PM -- Sessions 1.7 and 1.8
Conference Concurrent Breakout Sessions

                    Session 1.7: Marketplace Values concerning Lighter-Darker Skin Tone
                    Session 1.8: Marketplace Products and Services: The Real and Not-so-Real

4:00 PM to 4:15 PM -- Session 1.9
Break / Evening Tea

4:20 PM to 6:00 PM -- Session 1.10
Plenary Session

                    Chief Topic: Fairness of Skin Tone throughout India
                    Chief Speaker: Specific Person To Be Announced

6: 00 PM -- Session 1.11
Disband/End-of-conference-first-day

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Friday, December 5, 2008 (Sessions 2.1 through 2.7)

9:30AM to 10:00 AM -- Session 2.1
Beginning-of-day, Coffee-Tea-Cola (and possibly early day light foods/snacks)

                     Complimentary Coffee-Tea-Cola - Session 2.1
                     Sponsored by _________________________

10:00 AM to 11:30 AM -- Sessions 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4
Conference Concurrent Breakout Sessions

                     Session 2.2: The Weird and Wacky…Products, Myths, Rumors, and Projections about the Future
                                          concerning Fairness (of Skin Tone), Physical Appearance, and Physical Attractiveness
                     Session 2.3: Future Research concerning Physical Attractiveness Phenomenon, Inclusive or Exclusive
                                         of Fairness (of Skin Tone)
                     Session 2.4: Future World concerning Fairness (of Skin Tone)

11:30 AM to 12:00 NOON -- Session 2.5
Break / High Tea

12:00 NOON to 1:30 PM -- Session 2.6
Plenary Session: Conference Valedictory Session

                     Chief Topic: Fairness of Skin Tone as an Aspect of Physical
                                         Attractiveness-Injustices and Realities.
                     Chief Speaker: Specific Person To Be Announced
                     Vote of Thanks - Professor Mitra, Dean and Head, DU FMS
                     Welcome to Closing Session - Speaker To Be Determined

1:30 PM -- Session 2.7
Lunch (with table discussions and no conference speaker)

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Physical Appearance Conference 2008

Theory - Research - Perspectives - Realities

-----------------------------------------------------------

Call for papers and presentations about Physical Attractiveness Phenomenon

University of Delhi (India) Conference Centre
December 4-5, 2008

Academicians, research scholars, policy makers, corporate executives, medical and dental professionals, representatives from NGOs and interested others, are invited to contribute papers on topics related to physical attractiveness, specifically physical attractiveness phenomenon (known also as, “lookism”): theory, research, perspectives, realities. A 300-500 word abstract of the paper or presentation proposal should be sent, preferably as an email attachment, by November 15, 2008. The abstract should include research objectives, methodology and significance, followed by keywords. All scholarly methodologies are welcome. Author’s name, institution, address, phone number and email address must be included in a brief author profile on a separate page. Acceptance of the abstracts will be notified by December 1, 2008.

About the conference, PAC2008

Mission of the Physical Appearance Conference 2008 (PAC2008) is to advance awareness, knowledge, and thought about physical attractiveness phenomenon (referenced also as, PAP and Lookism). Underlying this mission is the orientation that the proverbial turning a blind eye to problems and discomforting issues, does not make them disappear. To avoid recognitions of PAP/Lookism does not resolve corresponding injustices or answer problems, as witnessed by injustices aligned with sexism and racism. To avoid acknowledgement of physical attractiveness phenomenon or deny it, let alone to practice it, only promulgates it. In addition, lack of awareness, knowledge, and thought neither challenges ethics and social responsibilities nor does it provide insights for strategies and opportunities to benefit commercial goals and/or societal goals. This calls for an immediate attention.

Realizing the importance of physical attractiveness phenomenon across India and around the world, the FMS (Faculty of Management Studies) at the University of Delhi has decided to organize an international conference on December 4-5, 2008.

Objectives of the conference, PAC2008

1. To provide a platform for discussion regarding physical attractiveness and physical attractiveness
     phenomenon.
2. To bring together the efforts of academia, industry, government, NGOs and others interested in this
     topic of physical attractiveness phenomenon, to gain a more complete understanding of pertinent issues
     and concerns.
3. To raise awareness and explore solutions to problems associated with physical attractiveness and
     specifically physical attractiveness phenomenon / lookism.
4. To generate discussions regarding attractiveness for the benefit of the public
5. Under the umbrella of physical attractiveness phenomenon (also known as loookism), to focus on skin
     tone as defined by darkness or fairness of color.

Sessions and themes of the conference, PAC2008

·    Fairness of skin tone, physical appearance, and physical attractiveness
·    Fairness of Skin Tone through the Eyes of Oneself, Other People, and
     Mass Media ranging from Literature to Movies
·    Facing Lighter-Darker Realities, Proposing Ways to Help
·    Marketplace Values concerning Lighter-Darker Skin Tone
·    Marketplace Products and Services, including Medical Tourism
·    Fairness of Skin Tone throughout India.
·    Future Research concerning Physical Attractiveness Phenomenon,
     Inclusive or Exclusive of Fairness (of Skin Tone)
·    Future World concerning Fairness (of Skin Tone)
·    Fairness of Skin Tone-Injustices and Realities

Important dates for conference, PAC2008

Ø Abstract / Presentation proposal submission ---------------- November 15, 2008
Ø Notification of acceptance for conference presentation ----- November 22, 2008
Ø Late registration fee begins for conference attendance ----- November 24, 2008
Ø Conference Inaugural ------------------------------------------- December 4, 2008
Ø Valedictory Session --------------------------------------------- December 5, 2008
Ø Final paper due for post-conference proceedings ----------- December 19, 2008

For more information about conference, see: www.gordonpatzer.com/PAC2008.html

Please send abstracts / presentation proposals, preferably by email attachment, to:

          Dr. Gordon Patzer
          FMS (Faculty of Management Studies)
          University of Delhi, Delhi (India) 110007
          Email: gpatzer@fms.edu

                                           Registration for Conference Attendance

Registration is required to attend the Physical Appearance Conference 2008, and includes all food served and one copy of the post-conference published Proceedings.

Regardless of days or length of attendance, the non-refundable registration fees will be:

      General attendees -- India Rs.750
      Students with proof of ID -- India Rs.250
      Presenters in one or more sessions - Registration fee waived

Late registration after November 24, 2008 - In addition to the above registration fee amounts, an additional India Rs.50 fee will be required for registration payments received after November 24, 2008 or on-site on either day of the conference.

Registration fees can be paid only in check or cash. The university cannot accept credit or debit cards for this conference. Do not send cash through the postal mail service. In advance of the conference, fee payment can be sent by check in the name of "The Registrar, University of Delhi" to Conference Convener, Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi, INDIA 110007, or payment can delivered to the "Conference Convener" at the FMS.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Please print this "Conference Registration" basic form, complete the information, and submit it with your registration payment.

Thank you, Professor Gordon Patzer
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I intend to attend all or some of the Physical Appearance Conference 2008 to be held December 4-5, 2008, at the University of Delhi Conference Center.

Please check one (individuals paying student registration fee should be prepared to show valid student ID):

      _________ General attendees -- India Rs.750
      _________ Students with proof of ID -- India Rs.250
      _________ Presenters in one or more sessions - Registration fee waived

Name: ____________________________________________________________________

Email: ____________________________________________________________________

Address (optional): __________________________________________________________

Date Registration Submitted: __________________________________________________

Supplemental Info about PAC2008 Conference, 37-page PDF

For individuals interested, various proposal and support details regarding this PAC2008 conference are available. Double click anywhere on the title page below and a 37-page PDF-Word document should open with supplemental conference information, in addition to the text presented above on this website page. If the PDF file does not open on your computer, you can send an email message with your specific request to the PAC2008 conference chairperson and a copy of the document will be sent to you as an email attachment in Microsoft Word format.

Email contact for conference chairperson: PAC2008@GordonPatzer.com