Does Attractiveness Get You Further?
 

I did a search. Couldn't find this topic so hopefully this wasn't discussed before.

I was watching the Tyra Banks show last night. The title of the show was Does Attractiveness Get You Further? Here's a link to the recap http://tyrashow.warnerbros.com/show_...cap_tue59.html. Basically Tyra took two fairly attractive twins and alter one of the twins by giving her a pimply face, a false big nose, bushy eyebrows, pulled her hair back into a pony tail, and gave her very plain clothes. She had the twins interview for a hosting job and as a receptionist at a skin care spa. The pretty twin had 3 jobs with less than 3 months of experience not pertaining to any of the jobs and the attractive twin had 7 years of relevant experience. The attractive twin got both jobs.

On the other hand Tyra had 3 ladies on the show who basically said being attractive has hurt them socially and professionally. One of the ladies said she was a barber and her male customers were told to stay away from her by her significant others. Another said she couldn't keep any female friends because her friends' were afraid their significant others would want to date her instead.

Now I expect attractiveness to be the issue in dating and relationships. Also, I concede that if two equally or almost equally qualified people applied for a job then an employer's character and professional appearance would be fair game. But I was taken aback at the fact that a person with 7 years of experience could be pushed aside for a pretty face. I was also taken aback when one of the ladies said that she was told she was too pretty to be working and she should marry someone well off and stay at home.

My questions:
1. Do you think where you are in life professionally and otherwise has been significantly affected by your looks?
2. Do you think it is commonplace for potential employers to view looks just as if not more important than experience?
3. On the other had do you thind being to beautiful is a curse? That one may not be taken seriously for a job or socially treated poorly beacause a person is too pretty?

You're not a noob so I'm sure it was an accident, but did you see how many of these you posted?

With the case of the woman whose significant other told her clients to stay away from her, that doesn't sound like looks ruined her career that sounds like a crazy SO ruined her career.

I think that it depends on the type of job. The two women interviewed for positions where a pleasing physical appearance is an additional asset. I definitely think that there are many positions where employers would favor physical appearance over experience.

I also think that there are certain types of jobs where attractiveness can actually work against you. For instance, many folks have difficulty believe that beautiful women can also be smart. So that, for instance, in my field as an academic, some might find it difficult to take my research seriously because of my physical appearance (I have been told that I am not an unattractive person) not to mention my race, my gender, my age. It it difficult to gage how much I have encountered this because I am early in my career, but I am aware of instances where this has been the case.

Now that you mention it...
 

Wow.

1. I don't think where I am is effected by my looks. If so, I would be a lot further! LOL
2. This is a touchy one b/c they could never admit it. It would be discrimination. But I know that I was once in a position of hiring my employees and for some reason (and I'm not proud of this) I did consider some applicants more closely b/c they were easy on my eyes! LOL. Also, it is a running joke in my department at my current job that our boss only hires good looking women. And we all have certain things in common. It's very noticeable what he likes.
3. I think I have run into this a lot! Just recently I went on an interview for a job that I am more than qualified for. Upon entering he said, and I quote, "They should have warned me that you were such a stunner (stood there about 10 seconds) What position are we interviewing for again (another 10 seconds)." I then had to change the pace by giving a firm handshake and thanking him for meeting with me to discuss XYZ position. When I asked serious questions about the position he said things like 'wow that's a hard one...didn't expect that from you...well she's smart AND pretty (laughing oboisterously)." This made me very uncomfortable. Especially since he took the opportunity to remark on my "obvious good taste" and ensued upon discussing fashion for a good 5 minutes. I was flabberghasted, offered the position, and ended up turning it down. I felt that I would never be taken seriously. And I've dealt with several situations like that in my current and past postions. "Just let me worry about the details HONEY." I'm not your HONEY! I'm an intelligent woman with a brain. I'm capable of handling complex tasks and want to be taken seriously! Sorry I got carried away with that one! LOL:D

Yes, I think employers do take into consideration a potential candidates looks. I've heard somewhere that one only has a moment to make a lasting impression on people. As one of my Sorors said "unfortunately we live in a society that looks at the superficial" so having said all that appearance counts. I have had to alter my being in a sense to fit into eurocentric stereotypes about beauty and professionalism. Now that I am experienced and credentialed and proficient in what I do, I really don't care to change my appearance to suit anyone. I am speaking of the appearance of one's hair style relative to Black women in the workplace, after wearing my hair permed for years and being frustrated in the process of denying my own individuality- just so I could stay employed-I have decided to go back to wearing my hair natural. You wouldn't believe the looks I get from Black women in a supposedly progressive city where braids and bone straight perms are the norm. Luckily, I am in a profession where I have a little bit more leeway to wear it as I truly desire, and my employer is more concerned with my brains rather than my hair.

Having beauty may get you in the door, but having brains allows you so stay.

Amen to that statement.

1. My looks have nothing to do with where I'm at on my job. My skills and persistence, however, keep my job.

2. Looks on an attraction level should never outweigh experience.

3. Being pretty can be a curse if you're dealing with jealous individuals.

Overall, depending on the "high ups", looks may be able to get you furthur.

Girl, get on somewhere with that mess. :rolleyes: I'm 22 years old and I have had 7 jobs since I was 19. I may have not always been christlike, but I've always been fine! If I had my way, at this point in my life I would 've had my own clothing line, "stay" (Shamika Taylor). Or at least been a black stepford wife. The only thing my looks get me is a couple of free White Castles.

dayum... you couldnt even pull a milkshake or somg chicken rings?

LMAO @ S-dot as usual.

i love how Tyra does this "groundbreaking" talk show topics, and in the end, confirming what we already know.

and the examples she gave, realize a. she is in LA (which is very superficial. then again so is NY, but i think its a little different) b. she used the beauty industry as example, and c. she used women. i think its safe to say that most industries, looks arent going to exactly go against you. and like mentioned above, "beauty gets you in, brains keep you there."

p.s. the only female MDs (there are only a handful) at my bank are gross as a motha! then again, maybe they were hot back in the day.

1. Do you think where you are in life professionally and otherwise has been significantly affected by your looks?
not really, i am a female in a female-dominated profession. Its been to my advantage that i entered the field immediately after graduation so i am YOUNG, but my looks have been a help or hindrance.

2. Do you think it is commonplace for potential employers to view looks just as if not more important than experience?
I think it depends on the field/industry. My last position was with a membership-driven nonprofit. Everyone that worked in a public position was young, outgoing, friendly and cute. Even the older people were stunners. However, looks didn't matter with the behind-the-scenes staff. I KNOW i was sent to conferences and other events to serve as the "face" of my department because i was young AND minority. Again, not sure if in MY case it was looks per se, but...

3. On the other had do you thind being to beautiful is a curse? That one may not be taken seriously for a job or socially treated poorly beacause a person is too pretty?
I think if someone values or devalues someone based on appearance then it's the OTHER person's hangup. Not the "pretty" person's issue. Pretty people are often treated differently but that's not because they think they're too pretty for this or that. The people around them place standards and expectations of behavior on them (she can't be smart, I knew she was going to be stuck up, yadda yadda yadda...)

Professionally, I don't think my looks have anything to do with where I'm at. I worked hard to get here, and while it doesn't hurt to look nice, I think connections/the schools I went to/my BRAIN had a LOT more to do with it.

Personally I have experienced this to some degree- people always think that because of how I look that I will 'act' a certain way. Now that I have gone natural it's very different, but especially when I was relaxed or had braids this was the case. The fact that I'm a nice, funny person with unconventional likes and dislikes in almost everything is something that people just don't see at first. I don't stress it- I hang out with people who get me and other folks can just KIM.

1) In my field, someways I have been affected because of my looks. Significantly so? I do not think so.

2) I do not think it is commonplace for my employers to view looks just as or if not more important than experience. You cannot do my line of work without experience, which takes a lifetime to educate...

3) Am I too beautiful ;)... Is it a curse? :( As a pout off and away... The main treatment that I have seen in my field is that the mostly attractive women are treated like their stupid. The more astute women can play the role but fail to be promoted or do stupid things and get themselves into ethical trouble. The woman that does not play that game will do fine in the endgame. That is the safest route. I have also seen attractive women be actively discouraged early in their careers even if they are highly educated and promising...

ABC News on Friday did a show on being Privledged in America including segments on beauty. I think that there are advantages to being pretty, if not then why would we need to distinguish people as either pretty, ugly, etc. I think people have to understand that life is not fair at all and sometimes other people have the upper hand. Now that doesn't mean that attractive people are always at an advantage.

1. Do you think where you are in life professionally and otherwise has been significantly affected by your looks?
I don't think that my looks totally have gotten me where I am today. My education and experience played a huge role in my success. However in my industry(hospitality/foodservice) looks can be a factor in whether or not you get a job.

2. Do you think it is commonplace for potential employers to view looks just as if not more important than experience?
I don't think that is commonplace.


3. On the other had do you think being to beautiful is a curse? That one may not be taken seriously for a job or socially treated poorly beacause a person is too pretty?
I think it can happen. Its up to the person to not let anyone treat them poorly.

Yes. "Significantly" can mean "noticeably" in this regard and you did specify "professional and otherwise."

It depends on how much experience you have and whether you can be trained.

Yes.

Silly rabbit, they don't have milkshakes at White Castle! And chicken rings are made with fillers. I'll take my free white castles, with no onions and extra pickles, thank you. :D