Beauty privilege

This article's idea came after watching a video about “free advantages” some people might have because they are considered “beautiful” by the standards of the society. After some research, I'm now able to develop this curious concept.

First of all I need to make a disclaimer. There is no intention of creating negative differences between people according to their looks and I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable; so if you have some issues with the beauty standards or insecurities linked to your physical appearance, please don’t feel compelled to read this article. There are many ways to be beautiful and it’s not necessarily related to the shape of your body and face. The purpose here is to talk about the concept of “beauty privilege”, what the statistics say about it, and how are the concrete advantages and inconveniences for a person considered “pretty” by the majority of the population.

“Pretty privilege is a concept describing the fact that we attribute more social or intellectual qualities, opportunities, indulgence and affection to people considered attractive than to those who are not. These advantages are perceived as undeserved because they are directly linked to beauty.”

In its article "CEO Pulchronomics and Appearance Discrimination", the Asian network Social Science Research noticed that people considered attractive are paid 10-15% more than those of average beauty. This difference in salaries also exists among CEOs.

ABC News declared that prison sentences for people considered hideous are on average 20% longer than for the rest of the population. Differences have been noted according to the nature of the fault: burglaries led to a 24% heavier sentence, while for serious crimes (murder and rape) the gap narrows, but remains at 10%. As a concrete example, let's analyse the case of Ted Bundy, an American serial killer who kidnapped, raped, and murdered numerous young women and girls during the 1970s and possibly earlier. After more than a decade of denials he confessed to thirty murders. In the eyes of his victims, Bundy appears as a good-looking and charismatic man - traits used to gain their trust. Even during the trial and after being considered “guilty”, some women wanted to attend the hearings just to see him and continued saying that “a man that handsome couldn’t do something like this”.

Now, that you’re scared about the worst consequences of beauty privilege, I will share my personal experiences as a person considered “pretty” by the actual society standards. Across the following questions, you will see few situations I faced and some pros and cons related to that “pretty privilege”.

Are there more advantages or disadvantages to being considered “pretty”?

According to my own experience as a “pretty face” of the society I feel privileged. Receiving compliments from people you know personally, but also from people you just crossed in the streets, increases the self-confidence. It also gives some working opportunities. And I feel lucky in general because I don’t specially deserve it, I’m just born like this.

Is it easier to be hired for a job?

It depends of the job.

Yes being a model is the simple results of luck. I first won the genetic lottery thanks to my parents and then I was contacted by modelling agencies. I worked as a model for approximately 5 years beside my studies, considering it as a student job.

I’ve also been a hostess in a luxurious restaurant of Paris and I was chosen for three reasons: 1) being good looking, 2) speaking English, because the customer base was international, and 3) having more than three brain cells to work with hundreds of clients. If you have the last two qualities you can’t work there, that’s why I put the “beauty” on top criteria for that job.

In the same category, I worked a short time at Abercrombie & Fitch and for those who know the firm you probably already noticed that the sellers are fitting in the beauty standards of the brand aka “pretty face, skinny, athletic” for girls, and “pretty face, tall, athletic” for guys.

To conclude this answer, I also worked on social media as a brand ambassador for cosmetics and fashion groups.

All the working experiences I just listed happened during high school and university, and were student jobs few times during the week or during vacations. So yes, when your diplomas aren’t high enough and you want pocket money, you can rely on your physical appearance. It’s a big advantage.

Can you have all the jobs you want?

However it’s impossible to have all the jobs you want. Right now, I’m working in a big company and I was hired thanks to my master’s degree, to the languages I speak and to my working skills. Being pretty in that case would be completely irrelevant because I never use my physical appearance but only my brain to do the job.

However I don’t know if for equal CV, I have more chances to be hired than someone who isn’t considered “pretty”. It could be a bonus, but who looks funnier, good vibes, more sociable, charismatic, strong? Plenty of criteria could be taken in consideration.

Can it make you rich?

Going back to the modelling industry reference, if you have all the criteria to be the next top model, of course. You have to be good looking, tall, fit in the trend / “being commercial” and most of the time thin.

In a more controversial industry, you have probably noticed that the pretty faces of the society in their early twenties are the favourite targets of sugar daddies and pimps. Several times per week (I don’t check every day), on my social media, I have propositions from old men offering me thousands of euros in exchange of a week with them and as you can imagine sexual relations (...crazy world).

If you choose to not rely on the 2 previous options to be rich, you have to gamble on your brain. The way you look and dress up will always be appreciated in any job, but it won't be the top criteria to hire you.

More than just a pretty face?

As I just said, if you don’t count on your physical appearance to make money it’s most of the time because you did some studies, went to university, have certain degrees and diploma. A master’s degree is obviously more difficult to get than just being good looking. So it is logical that you are more proud of your diploma than your pretty face.

However, when you meet someone for the first time, the initial thing he or she sees is your physical appearance. All humans are making judgements. Some of them will try to know you, will be interesting in your personality and your work for example. Others will automatically put you in the “pretty face category” and won’t think you are more than that. And finally certain will criticise it, by using comments like “is she/he seeking for attention?”, “slut”, “just pretty with no brain”…

Is it dangerous?

The simple fact of being pretty isn’t dangerous, but the consequences can be.

Let’s take 2 examples which happened during the last weeks. I was walking in the street to join friends at a restaurant for dinner in a district considered “safe”. While I’m listening some music a guy which could be considered as Mr. Everyone comes to me and tells me that I look stunning. According to the fact he seems serious and doesn’t want to bother me, I just say thanks and keep on walking. He is going in the opposite direction. Until now everything looks fine. But 100 meters later I hear someone running and calling me. It’s the same guy. I’m wondering what he wants and he starts walking next to me, holding my arm, while saying these exact words: “I think you’re the woman of my dream, the person I would love as a wife, please tell me you’re open to discuss about it”. It’s 8pm, I’m late for the dinner with my friends, I tell him that these feelings are not reciprocated, that I’m not interested, and that his behaviour is starting to be weird according to the fact we don’t even know each other. He finally gave up after 10 long minutes and the story ends here. No danger occurred, but what if it wasn’t 8pm but 3am, what if it wasn’t before a party but after with alcohol in my blood? Potential danger so.

Second story: I’m in a train station next to the rails, waiting at the area corresponding to my carriage. I have absolutely nothing specific to do and no reason to move because the train is going to arrive between 5 and 10 minutes. Earlier that day, someone came to me in the street and asked for directions, so when the same situation happens while I’m waiting for the train I’m not worried. A man is coming to me, looking a bit lost and is about to ask me a question, but instead he puts a knee on the ground, hold my hand and starts a poem like a wedding proposition. It’s awkward, but I wait until he’s done. Around us, people are looking and by the expression of my face they can guess I will say no. I also look around to see if it’s not a prank, it’s not, no one is filming or laughing. Finally, as you can expect, I said “I’m not interested” and jumped in the train. It’s a pretty funny story. But imagine a second if the guy had a needle with drug in his hand and prick me. I could be robbed or kidnapped easily in that train station.

How to avoid danger?

When you’re considered “attractive” you have more eyes looking at you than other people, so the chances of being seen by a crazy person increase. It’s a fact, you don’t deserve to face that risks, but you can’t really change it. I would say that this is the major inconvenient of being pretty. So how to react? First of all you have to be cautious every time: in front of the guy flirting with you in the bar and proposing you free drinks, or in the public transports, outside in general. Then you can either make yourself ugly or be active and defend yourself. I chose the second option because I don’t think I should change my way to dress or limit my activities and my life just because of a bunch of idiotic and weird people. Self-defense, pepper bomb and staying confident in every situation look pretty efficient ways for now.

JT

@jane_thms