"Beauty privilege" is a term the internet has coined to describe the benefits that come with conforming to society's ideals of beauty. We live in a somewhat superficial and appearance-obsessed society, with a serious problem when it comes to the qualities that are considered most important.
We've all seen the trends on TikTok. We need to have a symmetrical face, full lips, big eyes, long eyelashes, long and beautiful hair and body shape (but be careful, only in the right places) while the stomach should be flat. And for those who meet some of these "ideals" feel the benefits of the so-called "beauty privilege", studies say.
These perks often go unnoticed, whether it's the occasional free drink, transportation, access to clubs, or just a door being opened for them. Beautiful people (by societal standards) are perceived as smarter, funnier, more sociable, healthier and more successful. This puts them at an advantage in employment, making friendships and being treated with basic human respect.
How does the "privilege of beauty" affect faith?
Beauty is not, as is often thought, "in the eye of the beholder", but follows certain and predictable rules. Symmetry and proportions play an important role, and although culture and norms shape our perception of beauty, there is constant agreement among people about what is considered beautiful.
The beauty market has been growing steadily, reaching $430 billion in revenue by 2023, according to a recent report from McKinsey (global consulting company). This trend for a perfect look is fueled by the influence of perfect faces displayed on social networks and enhanced by image processing and filters.
In today's tough job market, the economic advantages of beauty are indisputable. Numerous studies have shown that attractive individuals benefit from a beauty bonus and earn higher wages on average.
Some high-paying professions are built around beauty (such as show business). Beautiful individuals are expected to appear more intelligent and are thought to be better leaders, which affects their careers.
People perceived as beautiful are more likely to benefit from people's trust, which makes it easier for them to get promoted or get business deals. The idea is that better looking individuals are thought to be healthier and/or have had more positive social interactions in their past and this may affect their trustworthiness.
But is this theory true?
In a recent study, researchers conducted an experiment to find out if beautiful people are actually more trustworthy. The study involved 357 volunteers and started in Paris in October 2019. Participants were divided into groups and played a game where some had to trust others to win real money.
Finally, the participants' photos were shown to another group of people in Lyon, who were asked to predict their trustworthiness based on their appearance. A third group rated how beautiful they thought these people were. The results showed that beautiful people were considered more trustworthy, but in reality, beauty had nothing to do with their trustworthiness.
"Beauty privilege" is present and affects the way society perceives and treats individuals, but we must not forget that values ??and personality are what determine the true quality of a person.
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