Gender and Race Discrimination?

Sorry this is wordy, I just want to be as detailed as possible.

Gender and Race Discrimination:
I work for a company that has a 70% female to 30% male ratio requirement.

When asked why this is I'm simply told that "girls sell more".

I have been outspoken about the validity of this statement, and to the fact that to me the rule seems to violate the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Being short staffed by at least 50%, and not fully understanding the reason behind the rule (of which nobody can fully and adequately explain to me) I did a round of hiring of individuals that I felt were qualified candidates. Of those candidates only two were female, further unbalancing my female to male ratio (it became approx 20% female, 80% male).

My District Manager on a visit refered to my staff and "not Brand Right**". What basis he made this comment I have no idea seeing as he never spoke to any of them, knew there names, or anything about them. He based it on sight alone. The only thing that I was able to take away from that was that it was because they were all African Americans.

** "Brand Right" is a general term for people that the company feels fit and represents the lifestyle and look we are marketing to.

Shortly after that I recieved a 30 Day Action Plan from my DM. One of the points on it was that all of my potential hires had to interview and be approved by him to ensure this "Brand Right".

Several days after recieving the Action Plan I was informed that my hiring was being turned over to another store manager (a female) to do group interviews with only females for my location in order to boost my ratio up to 70%. The reasoning behind this was that I was unable to procure qualified female applicants that were "Brand Right".

Here some 45 days later on my 30 Day Action Plan my DM and I sat down to discuss the progress and outcome. On the issue of hiring, he asked how I thought it was going, basically a "pass or fail" situation. I had to say fail due to the fact that I was still understaffed and had continuing issues with the 70/30 rule and the "Brand Right" issue.

I have also requested several times to promote my Floor Supervisor to ASM, an African American male. I am repeatedly told that he is not "Brand Right" and that "We need to get you a girl in here." I have asked to put him on an Action Plan to make sure that he is properly trained and ready to move up when the time is right. That request has been denied and I am told "It's time for him to move on to another company."

I feel this is ultimately hindering my performance as a manager to run my business and my ability to hire those that I are qualified individuals.

Can the company not hire qualified male candidates for less qualified female candidates in order to maintain a ratio because they feel they "sell more"? It's not like I work at a Hooters restraunt or some place similar.

Can the company use such a blanket and broad term as "Brand Right" to exclude anybody they want?

Females also get preferential treatment. The policy on dress code and apprearance says that an employee may have no more than two facial piercings.
I have two. However, I have been regularly told that I need to remove or hide them.
The first time I was told, our DM had another store manager, a female, come to my store and tell me that I had to take mine out.
The catch is, is that she has the SAME exact piercing, yet has never been told to take them out.
At the company meeting I was approached right after getting off of the airplane and told I needed to remove/hide my piercings. This other female store manager, as well as numerous other female store managers, were not instructed to also take theirs out.

If I am within the company's set policy guidelines, then why am I being forced to take mine out or hide them?
If I am being told to take them out, why are the female managers not being asked to?
I refuse to follow a policy that I feel discriminates against qualified male candidates, and when I don't or question it I am reprimanded.

How do I handle this?

You may want to read this article to see if your situation falls under this: Gender and *** Discrimination Lawyers