Pretty People in Our Society

[midwood_trail]

Why do pretty people have it easier than the rest of us who are not too physically attractive?

Blind studies have shown over and over that all of us prefer attractive people. Two equally qualified job applicants? The more attractive gets hired. Two trials for the same crime? The handsome man's sentence may be lighter--if he's even convicted.

Anthropologists theorize it's part of humanity's survival technique. The unhealthy are usually unattractive, and we are wired to breed with the healthiest who will have us.

It's not a bias we can help, but we can all choose to do what we can to avoid decisions based on the inborn bias.

Life is unfair, right?

Your thoughts?

[SiobhanMarie]

It's difficult, isn't it? I really dislike stereotypes and people's assumptions. This is a hard topic and even as I speak, there is a google ad sitting right above my message reply that says this:

What Really Attracts Men?
Learn proven tips to become more attractive to any man you want... www.catchhimandkeephim.com

Now I realize there are pressures for men and women, however that's really sad!

This is such a big topic, so much to say. I'm interested, what has inspired this thread?

[nancy sv]

No explanation here, but I know it happens. It's hard to see beneath the skin sometimes.

[Straight A's McGee]

Oh yeah, it's definitely unfair.
I've struggled with so much insecurity from pressures put onto me by society. With school, looks, clothes. And people unfortunately do not all come from the same starting point, some are just way more fortunate and attractive than others, and beauty is not the only issue, but so is poverty, mental illness, or just plain bad luck!

Whenever confronted with something I cannot change I tend to ask : "why me?"

But really, why not me?
This is my life and I have to deal with what it gives me. If it gives me lemons, I make lemonade. Nothing wrong with that.

I'm not saying people who are wronged shouldn't have hard feelings about it, but I think we can learn to take the next right action.

:itsok:

[SiobhanMarie]

I love that lemonade quote, I truly do. I think this is a topic that affects everybody and it's something that can be tackled by simple daily tasks; especially with children/teens.

Positive reinforcement -> embracing of opportunities and feelings -> allowing the opportunity to express feelings and thoughts -> going the extra effort to show you're a real person as much as anyone (we're all real people) and I believe that although this is just a start, baby steps are good and will impact on the lives of students... or others depending on where you are focusing for this issue.

[Aziz]

This is when I consider myself lucky. I was blind for much of my childhood and am still legally blind, so I don't notice how people look. I don't notice when someone gains fifty pounds or gets a haircut.

However, there are definitely some voices I find pleasant and others I don't! So I think we just judge what we first perceive in a person and since most of us are visually dominant, that translates to looks. If we are chatting with someone online, the first thing we will notice is the way they type. If we meet someone because we just got into a car accident with them, the first thing we'll notice is the way they drive, etc. I think it is part of our thin-slicing skills, which we often need when we don't have the chance to really get to know someone.

-Aziz

[kmurphey]

I heard the same theories regarding human survival technique. It also explains why it is more common to see an older man with a younger woman, given that a younger woman is more likely to bear children, and an older man is more likely to be a better provider.

Not sure what people can do about this inherent bias other than to be conscious of it and try to avoid making decisions based upon it.



Anthropologists theorize it's part of humanity's survival technique. The unhealthy are usually unattractive, and we are wired to breed with the healthiest who will have us.

Your thoughts?

[Helix]

It's difficult, isn't it? I really dislike stereotypes and people's assumptions. This is a hard topic and even as I speak, there is a google ad sitting right above my message reply that says this:

What Really Attracts Men?
Learn proven tips to become more attractive to any man you want... www.catchhimandkeephim.com



With all due respect, I subscribe to her email newsletter and it's nothing about looks or attractiveness, but just being yourself and not letting the opposite sex treat you like a doormat...whether you're ugly or a supermodel, your self respect is the most attractive thing to anyone.

[silvana]

Well that may be for some people but you would have to get up really early to prove to me that men put something other than physical attractivness first ...... call me sentimental....

[kingrichie]

It's a sad but unfortunately true fact. If we understand that we're all beautiful in our own way, then life is truly beautiful.