Plastic surgery is the next must-have career tool. Maybe
Brace yourself for the most thorough compendium of research I’ve seen about how good-looking people get more of everything. The book is Looks: Why They Matter More than You Ever Imagined, by Gordon Patzer, professor at Roosevelt University in Chicago and former dean at California State University.
It is well-documented that good-looking people make more money than everyone else. Taller men make more money than shorter men. If a woman is just 13 pounds overweight, she is penalized at work. (Hat tip: Recruiting Animal.)
We are hard-wired to treat good-looking people better and it’s pretty much impossible to overcome this tendency. Patzer shows that this salary discrepancy is true even in law firms, where the partners doing the hiring are acutely aware of how illegal it is to favor good-looking people. Researchers at University of Texas, found that even mothers treat good-looking children better than average-looking ones.
Unintentionally, of course.
Before you complain about how unfair all this is, Patzer shows that good-looking people are actually better for the company’s bottom line. This is because highly attractive people actually earn more money for a company than average looking people. One study in Holland, for example, showed that companies with better looking management consistently billed more hours at higher rates than companies with average looking management.
And, while good-looking executives cost a company more money (because they have higher salaries), they actually increase the bottom line so much that the unconscious premium in pay that people give to the good-looking is actually a wise investment.
So what should you do if you are not good looking?
1. Stay out of sales and management.
These areas are where tall, good-looking people have the strongest advantage in objective performance measures, according to a study by management professors Daniel Cable, of the University of North Carolina, and Timothy Judge of University of Florida. This makes sense to me because leadership is so much about charisma, and charisma is so much about looks. And it makes sense that people will buy more stuff from you if they are attracted to you. (Hence the huge industry of turning cheerleaders into salesgirls.)
2. Be honest with yourself.
The more honest we are about where looks matter a lot, the less time we’ll waste doing something we probably won’t excel at. (This is where women have an advantage over men because women better understand where they fall in the spectrum of good-looking.)
For example, all else being equal, a good-looking woman will negotiate better for a company than anyone else—even a good-looking man, according to research by Sara Solnick of the University of Miami and Maurice Schweitzer from Wharton. Good-looking women drive harder bargains than everyone else, and good-looking women get more concessions than anyone else. (Makes sense, right? Since these are the women in highest demand for reproducing, the genes for good looks must come with genes for having a sense of entitlement when it comes to negotiating a good deal.)
3. Get plastic surgery. Maybe.
Before you get all over me about how insane this advice is, think about this: When I was a young girl, I remember hearing women talk about if it was “okay to dye your hair.” Today we don’t think twice about it. No one cares if you do or don’t, and many styles actually emphasize unnatural hair colors.
To be honest, I am way too scared to cut anything on myself. But still, plastic surgery makes total sense to me.
We don’t flinch when we hear that Cameron Diaz got a nose job or Brad Pitt had his ears pinned. It seems like a reasonable thing to do given their profession. And look at Chelsea Clinton. She did a few changes just as she hit the adult world as a consultant at McKinsey. She’s not an idiot, and she certainly does not seem obsessed by her appearance. But she realized that she was not great looking, and the plastic surgery seems to have made some improvements.
And just ten years ago, I remember talking with my friends about how gross Botox is. But my friend Sharon, who is a hairstylist in Los Angeles, says that the majority of her clients—who range from normal housewives to corporate lawyers—have had some sort of Botox injection. She says it’s so mainstream in Los Angeles that it’s almost a statement if you don’t have it.
My editor tells me that I’m going to get killed with this post. So here is my first pre-emptive strike: This post stems from my genuine worry that I will be behind the curve. I worry that I will be philosophizing about plastic surgery while everyone else is getting it and not even thinking about it. Like Botox. Or, here’s another example: Shaving off all of one’s pubic hair. Gen Xers debate it and philosophize about it while I just learned from Cosmo magazine that more than 75% of women in their 20’s just do it. No big deal.
Second pre-emptive strike: Every woman I know who is considering plastic surgery after having kids never ever would have considered it before that. It’s a time-of-life thing more than anything else, I think.
So my prediction is that soon we will all capitulate to the undeniable evidence that we have more opportunity in life if we are better looking, and it’s relatively easy to buy good looks. So we will. It will be something everyone does as they graduate from college, and not just the most rich and privileged kids. Plastic surgery will be for the go-getters and career-minded. Just you wait and see.
I think there’s nothing wrong with it. Come on people, this is just a proposal and at the end of the day it will depends on your decision. You will always be the king of your life. No one force you to believe. What ever you’re decision, it will respectfully accepted. Just for my opinion, I’m not against with plastic surgery. If he/she thinks this will be her/his key to success on their career,then go! If it’s not then so be it. This surgeon are here to help anyone gain their confidence.
Sure, it’s just human nature for men and women to be attracted to certain physical characteristics.
Just like it’s human nature for pedophiles to be attracted to youthful features.
This is a slippery slope. Erasing moral responsibility in this area leads to a complete loss of moral responsibility in all areas.
Penelope,
Brazen Careerist is a fantastic blog/website/career knowledge source. Your perspective, your topics, and your bold, realistic, tasteful no-holds-barred writing are all right-on-target.
I believe at least some goals of Brazen Careerist overlap with goals of mine concerning the physical attractiveness dimension of a person’s appearance. Like Brazen Careerist, we strive to challenge and not to turn away from sometimes discomforting realities in work and life. At the moment I am referring to your post above titled, “Plastic surgery is the next must-have career tool. Maybe.”
The title attached to this particular blog post of yours is helpful, provocative, and completely accurate, as well as being beneficially informing, alerting and discomforting to some readers (including myself). Your text certainly reviews and interprets well the content of my book, “Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined.”
An abundance of scientifically sound research conducted by many others document clearly that, for both males and females, of all ages, in the workplace and throughout life, individuals, organizations, and society overall place much importance on the looks of a person. Objective scientific research strongly documents that the consequences – whether we like it or not – are that good looking people experience benefits throughout life that not so good looking people do not experience.
However discomforting this reality might be, individuals of higher physical attractiveness do experience benefits in the workplace and throughout life, whereas individuals who might not be so good-looking experience corresponding detriments. In addition, it is my opinion that it is better to acknowledge this reality, than not to be aware of it or, as some people do, hope it does not exist or hope that it will go away if they pretend it doesn’t exist. Well, I have concluded, denying lookism/physical attractiveness phenomenon or in other ways turning a proverbial blind eye to it is not the best action on any measure. Refusing to acknowledge something that we do not like or having lack of knowledge and awareness of such things, does not resolve situations deemed undesirable by some.
This current blog post has gotten entirely too long, but I still have several additional paragraphs to add.
In life we interact all the time with people who do – consciously or unconsciously – make judgments about us based on what we look like. Nevertheless, we are not defenseless.
Small differences can mean big consequences. For success in careers and beyond, small differences in a person's physical attractiveness can translate into big consequences. Accordingly, people should “not do nothing,” just because they cannot do everything. A complete makeover is neither necessary nor likely appropriate to reap benefits of looking better at work. And, because many factors (both physical and non-physical) determine a person's physical attractiveness, most people have actions and alternatives available to them.
Measures taken to increase physical attractiveness can range from routine to non-routine.
Small physical changes with significant consequences can begin with improvements related to grooming, hairstyle, eyewear, cosmetics, fit, style, and industry-appropriateness of clothes, as well as basic hygiene, physical fitness via exercise and proper nutrition, optimal sleep, and basic dentistry.
The other end of the continuum includes cosmetic dentistry, liposuction procedures, pharmaceutical facial filler injections, hair transplants, face-lifts, and other cosmetic surgeries. Of course, technology, ethics, religion, societal norms, social pressures, and financial resources, as well as an individual's own judgment and motivation, limit such pursuits and changes acceptable for any one person.
At the same time, internal improvements can actually improve judgments about external appearance. Changes in interpersonal styles, attitude, personality, self-esteem or self-confidence, and even education achievements increase a person's physical attractiveness as judged by others and by oneself.
As I started this post of mine, I again compliment you for your topics and for your bold, realistic, tasteful no-holds-barred writing expressed through the fantastic career knowledge source provided by Brazen Careerist.
Gordon Patzer
___________________
Dr. Gordon Patzer
author of, “Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined”
Professionally speaking, this is the biggest chunk of you know what that a person with any form of intelligence has EVER heard! It’s an insult to intelligent people. Intelligent people climb ladders, hard working people, ugly or not, progress and so on. Telling people that looks are how one advances shows the lack of intelligence and encourages professional “pimping” not to mention displays a gross sense of vanity.
There are plenty of successful people who are not exactly applicants for underwear billboards but they are where they are because of dedication and hard work. Donald Trumpp, Oprah Winfrey,Bill Gates,Condoleeza Rice, Wesley Snipes, Barb Walters etc… I probably shouldn’t even waste my time responding to this less than intelligent website. I was trying to help my nephew with preparing for an interview and ran across this nonsense.
For those of you who believe what was written on this page and for those of you who believe you have to be pretty or sexy to get that job that you want, please think more of yourself. Young people, please possess better self esteem than what this is promoting.
Now, I believe it’s time to navigate to a more accurate webpage.
Nice attempt to justify your vanity.
White teeth, clear skin, snoobs, and tight ass (or whatever plastic surgery you’ve thought of)ain’t gonna do it.
Mediocre — well hell, good looking or dreadful looking people — don’t, eventually, go anywhere long term without the rest of it. And even then, not that much further — at least enough to justify surgery. Way to take a kernel and make an ear — out of an obvious concept — people like attractive people and the rewards for that follow.
Damn. Surgery as career advice???? WTF?
I’ll take a Tim Russert over Gerald Rivera anyday.
Whatever you’ve had done — God knows — you should’ve considered saving it instead.
As much as you probably want to jump off the bridge for hearing it, your appearance isn’t enough for anybody to care — no matter what procedures you have, want to have, or been told to have.
Dr. Gordon Patzer, gimme a break. Quit with the shallowest of shallow, transparent, self-serving, shameless promotion. It makes my brain hurt.
BTW: I am considered well above average in terms of looks. Save the B.S. ad hominum attack for someone else.
Joel,
Although I disagree with most of what you've stated, I appreciate your taking the time to write your comments/thoughts/thinking and I can understand your perspective given your apparent level of understanding (or lack of understanding) concerning the physical attractiveness dimension of a person's appearance. Physical attractiveness and specifically physical attractiveness phenomenon is far more than meets the eye, to the extent that yes, for both males and females of all ages, "beauty can be ugly."
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. Well, I have concluded, denying 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.
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.
Best wishes, Gordon
___________________
Dr. Gordon Patzer
author of, “Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=
P.S. At this time I am living in India for 6 to 7 months (from July 2008 with my return back home to Chicago scheduled for around mid-January 2009). During these months I am living in the capital city of India (Delhi), traveling within India, and learning first hand how Physical Attractiveness Phenomenon (lookism) compares in similarities and differences in the United States and India. In the process, I am able to inform people within India with whom I speak about Physical Attractiveness Phenomenon and, likewise, I am adding to my knowledge for when I return to the United States. To carry-out this current travel of mine, I have been awarded a highly competitive U.S. Fulbright Scholar grant based on a lengthy (nearly year-long), thorough, five-stage review process conducted in the United States and India.
The U.S. Fulbright Scholar program's purpose is to build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the rest of the world. And, it is my perspective, that one important way to achieve this purpose is through better and greater understanding of the role of looks/physical attractiveness phenomenon, which might also be described as, "Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined."
Established in 1946, award recipients of the U.S. Fulbright Scholar program are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. Known worldwide as America's flagship international educational program, it is sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The Program operates in over 150 countries worldwide and seeks to promote mutual understanding and respect between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.
Michelle,
Please, do not deny your nephew the opportunity to secure employment, let alone optimal employment for him. Please do not sell him short. Well intentioned parents, as well as, I guess, other well intentioned relatives, sometimes suggest to those younger, that looks should not matter. Regardless how admirable that the notion might be, that looks should not matter, to tell someone starting their career that looks do not matter is counterproductive when that job-searcher encounters reality outside of the friendly confines of well-intentioned, albeit sometimes unrealistic, relatives.
However discomforting reality might be to you, to not be aware of reality, not to acknowledge reality, or to deny it to others within your potential temporary influence, will not make it disappear. I too might wish what you seem to see through your rose-colored glasses to be true in regard to the physical attractiveness phenomenon, but I've removed those glasses of mine long ago based on objective reality in which exceptions to a rule do not invalidate the rule.
Dr. Gordon Patzer
author of “Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined”
Dr. Gordon Patzer,
I enjoyed reading your comments and agree with them for the most part. However I would like to add the following to them by commenting on two paragraphs you wrote above –
“Small physical changes with significant consequences can begin with improvements related to grooming, hairstyle, eyewear, cosmetics, fit, style, and industry-appropriateness of clothes, as well as basic hygiene, physical fitness via exercise and proper nutrition, optimal sleep, and basic dentistry.
The other end of the continuum includes cosmetic dentistry, liposuction procedures, pharmaceutical facial filler injections, hair transplants, face-lifts, and other cosmetic surgeries. Of course, technology, ethics, religion, societal norms, social pressures, and financial resources, as well as an individual's own judgment and motivation, limit such pursuits and changes acceptable for any one person.”
I believe almost everyone should start with the small physical changes you describe so they can assess the changes that they have made and take additional steps if they feel it necessary to do so. Behavioral changes such as exercise, good nutrition, and adequate sleep require constant due diligence and are not easy to achieve or maintain. Many people look at plastic surgery as a quick fix requiring little effort on their part. Plastic surgery is surgery with all its’ associated risks so to me it would be a big decision. I would want a plastic surgeon who was not only very good and came well recommended but someone who would be willing to tell me a certain procedure would not be in my best interest. I know this is a judgment call but unnecessary work performed is what concerns me here. As you can probably tell I’m on the fence with the issue of plastic surgery but can definitely see it’s rewards. Thanks again for your comments.
Mark
Mark,
Thank you for your comments, and I agree fully 100% with your comments. Furthermore, I would say in regard to the fence location, that it is far better to error on the side of caution side of the fence on this matter (of not taking the cosmetic surgery step) than to take it…as you have stated very well.
Gordon
Gordon Patzer, author of Looks: “Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined” and a longtime researcher on the impact of physical attractiveness, can run through a laundry list of study results that point to the advantages of being good looking. Cuter newborns in a nursery are touched, held, and talked to more than less attractive babies. Elementary school teachers unknowingly tend to hold higher expectations for better-looking children. Parents may be less protective of less-attractive children.
Then, when people reach working age, good-looking college graduates are more likely to get hired. Employees themselves tend to be willing to do more for better-looking bosses.
I recently got breast augmentation and I couldn’t be happier. Even though I knew it was silly, I always wanted bigger breasts. I think less is definitely more when it comes to plastic surgery. I went with smaller implants and they came out looking very natural and proportionate to the rest of my body. The key is to have realistic expectations – and a good doctor. Shout out to http://www.doctorciano.com in Thousand Oaks!
Thank you Alba for sharing your decision and action as you’ve written above. Your message, action, and expressed thoughts have merits on multiple dimensions.
Dr. Gordon Patzer
Plastic surgery is not a frivolous decision to make…it is undergoing a major procedure where there are risks involved. It is true that the risk is minimal today. Process has gotten better. Medicine has advanced. But, it is still something one must consider for a while before choosing to have a procedure done.
Having something active that you love, and keeping in shape doing it is more likely to make you “good looking” in a real and confidence-inspiring way than going to a plastic surgeon. Get real.
I am currently over in Taiwan and billboards for plastic surgury are more prevelent that ads for getting a haircut.
I am thinking what plastic surgery really is?
We always think that it was about breast implants, liposuction and etc . . . .
But why? To makes us beautiful and attractive to the eyes of the other people, especially the women. Right? But why it is there are so many people undergo to surgery wherein they are already attractive and beautiful. Instead of prioritizing our personal wanted, why we don't help those children that have a cleft lip. It is the separation of the lip or roof of the mouth. There are so many children who need our help. There are so many Plastic surgery foundation and charities that accept voluntary help for those children that have this kind of condition.
Surgeries make us beautiful and attractive to the eyes of the other people, especially the women. Because we concede that beauty is an asset of an individual. It was about breast implants, liposuction and etc . . . . As of now, many plastic surgery foundations and organizations conduct this kind of medical specialty, for the individuals whose interest is about looking beautiful. But always keep
in mind that aside from us there are more people needs of it. Like, those young children born every year that has a cleft lip.
The health of the people is really the foundation upon which all their happiness,all their powers as a state depend. Aside from being healthy, people will be happy also if they are beautiful and attractive. There are so many doctors, hospitals and plastic surgery organizations that promote this kind of medical specialty.
Thank you for this articles author. from here we can choose which should be done and what does not and it will be very impressive.
thanks!
I’d stick to Botox injections. It’ll give you the same benefits without quite the commitment.
I enjoy greatly this discussion about looks, physical attractiveness phenomenon, and cosmetic surgery pertaining to workplace and our pursuits of employment and career advancement. As the author of the book (LOOKS: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined) that Ms. Trunk commented on at the start of this discussion, I am always interested to learn about these topics. My feelings are mixed because a primary theme of my research, writing, speaking, and perspectives is that I, as well as many people, find the related realities to be discomforting albeit true.
The past six to seven months I have had the opportunity to live in India as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar. During that time I studied, spoke about, and organized a two-day, international, scholarly conference focused on the topic and sub-topics of physical attractiveness phenomenon that include cosmetic surgery in regard to the workplace and the many marketplaces in which we find ourselves. And, not surprising to me, there are far more similarities than differences in these regards among the more than 1 billion people in India today as among the less than one-half million people in the United States today. Related, I have here included below a brief newspapers article that published this past week in a mainstream legitimate newspaper news source about graduating college students in China who today are securing cosmetic surgery to aid their employment and career aspirations.
Dr. Gordon Patzer
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Chinese Graduates Go Under The Knife To Get Job
Thaindian News – March 3rd, 2009 – Hefei (China), March 3 (Xinhua)
Appearance matters. That's what some job-seeking Chinese college graduates say.
Tang Tingting is among 6.1 million Chinese college students who will graduate this year.
She underwent cosmetic surgery to change her simple eye to double eye in which the skin around the eye is reshaped, saying it was absolutely necessary. She thinks it will bring her luck while job hunting.
"The new appearance makes me more confident in interviews," said Tang. She is a secretary major at a college in Hefei, capital of eastern Anhui province.
She said she has not found a satisfactory job as China is in a severe employment situation due to the economic downturn.
The surgery cost her 2,000 yuan ($292), all provided by her parents, who are farmers in Wuhu City, a 90 minute drive from Hefei. Tang said she was influenced by the current fashion trend. She had consulted the Danfeng Chaoyang Maternity Hospital, a private one in Hefei before she had the operation.
The hospital told her the percentage of college students having cosmetic surgeries has risen sharply.
Small operations such as double eye, nose augmentation or removal of whelks on face cost 1,000 yuan to several thousand yuan, said Huang Li, a doctor in the hospital.
The number of college graduates looking for jobs will exceed seven million this year, the country's top labour and social security authorities said.
"I have participated in several interviews, but failed," said a 22-year-old graduate surnamed Zhao. She is an English major at a college in Hefei.
"I felt my face broad and my eyes small," said the girl. "The appearance made me lack confidence and perhaps affected the interviewers."
With the support of her parents, Zhao had a cosmetic surgery on her face at the cost of 10,000 yuan a couple of weeks ago to make her face look thinner and eyes larger.
"At least I am more confident now," said Zhao. She said she believed she would have more chances of success in job hunting after the surgery.
"After the Spring Festival, our centre has seen a remarkable rise of the number of college students who come to have cosmetic surgeries," said Zhao Yu, a doctor who performed her surgery at the cosmetic surgery centre of the No. 1 Hospital affiliated to Anhui Medical University.
Currently, there are four to five cosmetic surgeries for graduates every day, about half of the centre's total, he said. He said both girls and boys, mainly in liberal arts and fine arts, had the surgeries.
"Appearance is a representation of a person's quality and the first impression that a job hunter leaves to the interviewer is very important," said Wang Kaiyu, a sociology researcher with Anhui Academy of Social Sciences. "It is necessary for a person to display the best aspect to interviewers."
"But job hunting is not a beauty contest, talent and working capability still remain the most important factors," he added.
Premier Wen Jiabao said in January that finding jobs for graduates was a government priority.
weak individuals have plastic surgery. if one was comfortable with one’s self and thus confident and strong then plastic surgery would not even be considered
Are you sure you meant to write “This is where women have an advantage over men because women better understand where they fall in the spectrum of good-looking.” ?
Surely we’ve all known the attractive woman who is deeply insecure about their looks? If you’d said that men tend to overestimate their looks, whereas women underestimate their looks, I think you would have been closer to the truth. But none of my experiences would lead me to believe that women have a more accurate sense of their attractiveness than men.
It’s awful how media refers to plastic surgery as a must-have, putting the industry in bad day light. Numerous plastic surgery addicts are on shown, while in fact millions of people are really helped by this procedure.
Wow. Did you get this job on your back?
I should clarify that post….not you. That’s what they say to the pretty people ;) After I read it. It seems like it is directed at you.
Everyone has to admit that almost all good looking people work in better job or get bigger salary. I agree with you that this is because highly attractive people actually earn more money for a company than average looking people. Personally, I think that it is really unfair. All people should have the equal rights in our democratic world. In my opinion, it is unwise to get plastic surgery due to this. But we can do everything and it's our choice how to live. Thanks for the interesting article! I will be waiting for other great ones from you.
I think people need brain surgery to get out of this crisis. There are thousands people who have finished their college but haven’t got any job yet. The worse scenario if they get plastic surgery and apply for porn audition, it’s the industry that never get bankrupted and would give decent money easily. I prefer the first one though.
nice blog site.
Famous successful people who were amazingly good looking:
Mother Theresa
Ghandi
Eleanor Roosevelt
Abraham Lincoln
Charles DeGaulle
Winston Churchill
Ludwig von Beethoven
Jimmy Durante
You get the point.
Yes, it may become the “norm” to have plastic surgery in order to become more successful. Some people will do anything to be more successful — does that make it right?
Remember a guy called Faust?
Michael,
Your message below is interesting and accurate in facts. However, it is misleading and dangerous in reality, for far too many people attempting to enter the workplace as well as for those who are already in the workplace and hope to remain and/or advance in their respective careers. At the same time, your listing of individuals who are exceptions to the rule, do give people, including me, hope and maybe a shot of inspiration or encouragement that individuals can beat the odds.
Allow me to explain my above paragraph –
Your message is, in my opinion, very accurate (and encouraging) in facts concerning the individuals that you have cited. But reality is that "exceptions to the rule, do not disprove the rule." In nearly every area of science and life – ranging from medical treatments to car crashes to research study results in physics and chemistry fields to a zillion other areas – there are exceptions in which something occurs most frequently (or works for most individuals but not all, such as in many medical treatments or, in this case, in regard to good looks and not so good looks). And, yet, such exceptions do not disprove or otherwise void the rule and to believe or hope they do, is in reality dangerous and detrimental to one's well-being.
I would imagine that in the chiropractic field, that there also are some individual patients who do not respond near as positively to a well-established procedure or treatment that works extremely well for the majority of people receiving the same treatment. But, yet, those exceptions do not disprove or void the great benefit that the procedure/treatment brings to the many other people who receive the same procedure/treatment.
Before you conclude my perspective based on the above, allow me to please express that, to me as I often state publicly, "Beauty is Ugly, or, at the least, Beauty Can Be Ugly." I believe that society and individuals place entirely too much importance on a person's physical attractiveness with consequences, overall, positive for those higher in physical attractiveness and less positive and even negative for those lower in physical attractiveness. And, however discomforting that fact, that is the reality. By the way, we could add to your list, singer Susan Boyle, who because of her extraordinary singing ability has very successfully risen above initial judgments about her looks/physical attractiveness. My related concern is the vast majority of people without extraordinary ability in the workplace who are then not given chance and/or are in various ways held back because they also do not possess good looks.
Since your list begins with two prominent personalities aligned with India, allow me to add that in 2008, I was fortunate to be granted a U.S. Fulbright Scholar award to live six-months in India. During that time I organized/chaired a two-day international conference in Delhi, funded by both the U.S. government and the India government, that focused precisely on "physical attractiveness phenomenon." Speaker after speaker at the conference presented objective research data (combined sometimes with heartbreaking observational data and personal experiences). These speakers articulated strongly how differently (positively/favorably and negatively/unfavorably) that individuals in India have been treated and lived throughout history, during current modern times, and (sadly) likely into the future, in regard to a wide range of dimensions of life in alignment with their higher or lower physical attractiveness judged to be good looking or not good looking.
Best wishes, Gordon
Interesting read.
I just finished a research project related to this subject in Korea so have been hip deep in much of the literature related to this field of study.
Common “street sense” doesnt allow you to argue with the fact that beautiful people are treated better, however many of the studies that have been conducted that “proved” the beauty premium either have some serious flaws or researchers have taken the same data set and have “disproved” the BP theory so who know who is correct.
Our study, for example, did not prove the BP existed either.
Again, interesting read.
Brandon,
What you have written in your comment above looks to be “right-on-target” accurate to me concerning appearances and the like, at least relatively speaking. I would love to read a copy of the research project that you just finished as you state in regard to Korea.
I am not sure how this above exchange of text might occur such that we exchange email addresses and, if you would be willing, to then send it as an email attachment to me at: gpatzer@roosevelt.edu
By the way, I somewhat recently began a “Looks Info” newsletter that might interest you, and late this past week I distributed the June 2010 edition that is directly connected to a primary website of mine: http://www.LooksInfo.com
Best wishes, Gordon
In my experience, facial plastic surgery to hide wrinkles makes women look worse, not better. Because it doesn’t hide all the signs of aging, it makes her look insecure and high-maintenance rather than young. If a woman is fit, dresses nicely, and generally takes care of herself, wrinkles don’t matter.
By the way, the point about pubic hair probably only applies to a small fraction of careers – and in those, the “boss” tells you how and whether it should be cut.
Very helpful post.
People who wants to undergo plastic surgery procedures will find a lot from here. Great job!
It’s interesting to see how appearance makes such a big difference in the business world. Many people will be hesitant on undergoing plastic surgery just to gain an advantage in the workplace. Thanks for the post.
One thing is in my mind that the actresses get’s more offer from the producer or director after plastic surgery. Why? Because they looks more beautiful than ever before like Angelina. The facts’ you address in your post is tough and hard to beleive, but i think this is far most true. I’m saying this because i’m already having this type of experience with my ugly faces.
http://lindsayswan.livejournal.com/764.html
I just got my first blonde highlights in 2 years, actually bothered to go to Sephora and learn and listen and purchase and utilize, and got my first botox ever and I feel amazing and have a bigger smile everywhere I go… but I am pretty sure I look the same.
Plastic Surgery under local might be where I go next but I don’t think general anesthesia for me to feel better about typing away at my computer and working the PTA is worth the risk… but that’s just me and I don’t gamble well.
That being said… there is a hec of a lot they can do under local these days. :-)
If cosmetic surgery is the next must have tool then why the fuck are you so goddamned ugly?
Breast
Augmentation Miami changed my life! I was always self-conscious about
my breasts because I'm a tiny girl and my DD's kept me from wearing what I wanted
as well as doing activities that I wanted. I finally got the procedure I always
dreamed of and couldn't be more comfortable in my skin!
This is a PBS video ( http://video.pbs.org/video/2096873267 ) from the POV series. It’s title is ‘Flawed’
and it’s length is 12′ 27″. It’s about a woman who is uneasy about
beginning a relationship with a plastic surgeon. It’s very well done and
should make anybody think at least twice before any type of cosmetic
surgery is done.
This is a PBS video ( http://video.pbs.org/video/2096873267 ) from the POV series. It’s title is ‘Flawed’
and it’s length is 12′ 27″. It’s about a woman who is uneasy about
beginning a relationship with a plastic surgeon. It’s very well done and
should make anybody think at least twice before any type of cosmetic
surgery is done.
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It is a new concept
in wellness combining beauty and science for real aesthetic results. JW
MedSpa is a top Chicago Botox, Chicago medspa and Chicago Liposuction where
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Some really good reads and wonderful ideas. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about surgery. James Makker Neurosurgery
“The better the looks of United States Congresspersons, the more television coverage they receive, shows a new study from the University of Haifa recently published in the journal Political Communication.” is the first sentence of this link – http://newmedia-eng.haifa.ac.il/?p=5622 .
I am not agree with this, I am sorry but really think that not every one can win the affection of the others, or get into business or succeed because of their look. I have met more people not so beatiful or good looking, that are more interesting, inteligent and easy going than “beatiful people”, they in every ocassion have had shown to be ugly in their interior. not all but in most of them
I think that not only surgery is the solution, it would be depending method to look pretty or handsome.. surgery can give you another opportunity to “be happy” but its a completly a lie Because the people will love for your body and not for who you are..!!
Sometimes it is true that cute and beautiful people get more chances at most of the things, but does this necessarily means that they are better than others? More intelligent? More responsible? I really do not have an actual good answer for this one, but I can assure that even if you get a plastic surgery in order to look good, i dont think it will work the way you want, because it will never be a natural view of you. Plastic surgery is not necessary to look good, what you need to look good is just to take care of yourself, before letting another person to tell you, and even worse, making things just to make you “look good”. Exercise yourself, eat good.
This is so behind the curve. Full body transplants are the next big thing.
Yes physical apparence is important. And yes it is even more important for the first encounter.
But if you pay attention, outside of the movie/TV market, you see lot of people with an average or poor physical appearence taking the first place in their company, at the elections or in most key places.
In fact, most key positions are in fact taken by old people, that don’t look so good.
It seems that experience, charism, persuasion, social relations, are far more important for one career than his physical appearance.
You bring up a very good point! I am clearly biased because I am a plastic surgeon however I remember the phrase “Look good, feel good.” I have had several patients come to my office for various procedures because they want to look good for a job interview or for a presentation. However, I believe people need to consider getting plastic surgery for the THEMSELVES not because other people want them to. You can get plastic surgery and still look natural, just because you get a procedure doesn’t mean you will look plastic or fake.