I began a more in depth dive into researching my documentary subject. Firstly, I did a basic search to see what was already published in terms of content which mainly resulted in blog posts, articles or interviews (both factual and opinionated).
I then compiled a list of topics within the subject to develop my research in. Below are my notes of the information from the articles I found interesting and could benefit my documentary.
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| Article by Allure Magazine, Janet Mock (2017) |
ARTICLES READ:
- Is ‘pretty privilege’ actually a thing? We're still talking about it—here's why (My Imperfect life, Sagal Mohammed, 2022)
- Do YOU benefit from 'pretty privilege'? (Daily Mail Online, Stephanie Linning, 2022)
- Being Pretty Is a Privilege, But We Refuse to Acknowledge It (Allure, Janet Mock, 2017)
- Attractive women brag about ‘pretty privilege’ and the insane benefits they get (New York Post, Andrew Court, 2022)
- Pretty privilege at work: why do ‘attractive’ people earn more and face better job prospects? (Stylist, Amy Beecham, 2021)
- Pretty Privilege: Why Bias Is Real and What We Can Do About It (Life Intelligence, Olivia Simon, 2021)
- New report: Physically attractive people earn 15% more than plainer colleagues (IZA World of Labour, Eva Sierminska, 2015)
FINDINGS
Primary Benefits:
Higher chance of employment, people are nicer, validation, fame, fortune
More benefits in life compared to others:
“Suddenly, I was let in, and I did nothing to earn the attention my prettiness granted me. I soon saw that people stared and smiled, offered me seats on the bus and drinks in the club, complimented me on my appearance, and held doors open. This was partly how I experienced pretty privilege — the societal advantages, often unearned, that benefit people who are perceived as pretty or considered beautiful.
Pretty privilege can give way to more popularity, higher grades, more positive work reviews, and career advancement. People who are considered pretty are more likely to be hired, have higher salaries, and are less likely to be found guilty and are sentenced less harshly. Pretty people are perceived as smarter, healthier and more competent, and people treat pretty people better. Pretty privilege is also conditional and is not often extended to women who are trans, black and brown, disabled, older, and/or fat.”
WAGE BENEFITS: “In 2015, a report found that physically attractive workers earn up to 15% more than those considered less attractive or unattractive. It summarised that good-looking employees actually benefit their employer, especially if their job demands interaction with customers or clients because people prefer to interact with attractive people.”(Amy Beecham, 2020)
EMPLOYMENT: “Eva Sierminska, the economist behind the report said, “Our societies reward investments in physical appearance. Less attractive people must work harder and be more productive in order to achieve the same wage, whereas attractive people receive far more call-backs for interviews, indicating employers judge that plainer applicants will be less capable in their jobs.” (Amy Beecham, 2020)
LOOPHOLE: While the Equality Act 2010 makes it illegal for employers to discriminate on grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation, “attractiveness” exists as a bit of a loophole. (Amy Beecham, 2020)
WAGE INCREASE: “Attractive people are seen as better workers by their employers. In the same research that defined the term “beauty premium”, a study was conducted to determine the effects of beauty on the hiring process. Within it, employers viewing photographs of potential employees were inclined to increase salaries by nearly 10.5% to attractive people (Mobius & Rosenblat, 2006).”
BIAS/HALO EFFECT: “Similarly, the Halo Effect implies that we subconsciously assume people’s appearances are a reflection of their overall characters (Nisbett & Wilson). With this in mind, it is unsurprising that physically attractive individuals are perceived as more “sociable, dominant, sexually warm, mentally healthy, intelligent, and socially skilled” (Feingold, 1992).
Attractive people often benefit from this bias from an early age, resulting in greater confidence as adults. Researchers suggest confidence translates into successes as self-assured individuals are more likely to step out of their comfort zones (Mobius & Rosenblat, 2006).
Asking for higher wages or even a greater willingness to take on job opportunities are some ways in which confidence can translate to professional success.”(Olivia Simon, 2021)
Further research to continue after reading:
- Explore what the generally agreed upon definition of it is (if you are considered more attractive, you receive more benefits because of this), what does “pretty privilege” look like?
- Watch Netflix’s 100 Humans (“The show gathers a group of 100 diverse people to participate in interactive experiments designed to answer questions regarding “age, sex, happiness, and other aspects of being human" and explored whether good looks can keep you out of jail. After conducting a survey and extensive research, they concluded that the answer is yes. “It has been proven that if someone attractive commits a crime they are less likely to be found guilty and get less severe sentences,”)
- “Halo effect” in 1920- “whereby an individual's perception of someone is positively influenced by his or her opinions of that person’s other related traits.”
- Janet Mock- her perspective on pretty privilege (interview clip w Oprah)
- How does this affect society and how people are treated (crime, jobs, getting hired)
- Pulchronomics: The study of beauty and economics, can affect your economic well being
CASE STUDY: *interview with 24y/o woman working in finance on PP and the benefits/struggles https://www.stylist.co.uk/life/careers/pretty-privilege-at-work/586977
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