Being Pretty Is a Privilege. So, What Happens If I'm Not?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUnderstanding Pretty PrivilegeThe Psychology Behind Pretty PrivilegeThe Impact of Pretty PrivilegePretty Privilege in ContextOvercoming Pretty Privilege

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Understanding Pretty Privilege

The Psychology Behind Pretty Privilege

The Impact of Pretty Privilege

Pretty Privilege in Context

Overcoming Pretty Privilege

I learned early on that I did not fall into the traditional description of “pretty.” It wasn’t the go-to adjective people used to describe me. I wasn’t that popular girl in class who effortlessly turned heads and won favors nor the winner of Miss This or Most That.

Kids and adults alike would casually remark, often unwittingly, about my features, my stubborn acne, or my body. Unsurprisingly, like many teens, I struggled with my appearance well past high school.

It took years to unlearn the messages society had force-fed me since childhood—that because I existed outside the beauty standard, I was “ugly.” And as I unlearned theselies, I realized, wait, who gets to set the bar? And, why do we evenneeda bar?

I soon recognized that my experiences weren’t unique, but a manifestation of a broader phenomenon known as “pretty privilege.”

Pretty privilege is a form ofcognitive biasthat gives unearned advantages and preferential treatment to those perceived as attractive, according to societal norms.

While this privilege can lead to positive outcomes for those who benefit from it, it raises issues of fairness and equity for people who do not meet conventional beauty standards, saysDr. Saba Afzal, a board-certified psychiatrist and professor at Hackensack University School of Medicine.

According to counselor and certified self-talk trainerAnne Poirier, constant exposure to this stereotyping and discrimination can make those excluded feel like they need to change or “fix” themselves, whether that’s through dieting, medication, treatments, or surgeries, to feel good about themselves. This perpetuates the cycle of pretty privilege, making it harder for us to recognize diverse beauty and personal worth beyond physical appearance.

The positive assumptions behind pretty privilege are rooted in thehalo effect principle, which refers to how our initial positive impression about one attribute of a person, such as their physical appearance, influences our perception of their other unrelated traits.

For example, research shows we are more likely to view those with symmetrical faces as attractive but also healthy, intelligent, friendly, and self-confident.On the other hand, people with asymmetric faces are perceived as being more “anxious.”

The danger of pretty privilege arises when these biases lead to the obvious elevation and degradation of certain groups.—DR. SABA AFZAL, BOARD-CERTIFIED PSYCHIATRIST AND PROFESSOR AT HACKENSACK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

The danger of pretty privilege arises when these biases lead to the obvious elevation and degradation of certain groups.

—DR. SABA AFZAL, BOARD-CERTIFIED PSYCHIATRIST AND PROFESSOR AT HACKENSACK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

For instance, the “ugly laws” enforced between the 1860s and 1970s across various U.S. cities literally banned people with visible disabilities, diseases, and deformities from appearing in public.“People ended up being forcibly institutionalized because of those laws,” notes Dr. Afzal.

A more recent example is “how people in bigger bodies are unfairly judged to be lazy or less motivated and may be given more menial tasks or roles that are behind the scenes,” saysT.J. Mocci, an Oakland-based therapist and certified eating disorder specialist. People with pretty privilege, however, may get more client-facing roles, she adds. We see this discrimination across industries, from hospitality and retail to media and marketing.

The ripple effects of pretty privilege, aka “beauty bias,” can cascade across multiple aspects of our lives, influencing social, economic, and even legal outcomes. Let’s take a closer look:

Since conventionally attractive people are perceived to have better personalities, “they may find it easier to make friends, receive invitations to social events, and be included in various activities,” says Dr. Afzal. In contrast, according to a 2022 study, those deemed less attractive and “less intelligent-looking” are perceived as “less human.”

“This disparity can reinforce societal hierarchies based on appearance and perpetuate stereotypes about attractiveness and worth,” says Dr. Afzal.

How People’s Prejudices Develop

Emotional Impact

Attractive people tend to get frequent positive reinforcement and compliments, which can boost their self-esteem and confidence, says Dr. Afzal. However, “they may also experience pressure to maintain their appearance, leading to anxiety or stress about aging or physical changes,” she adds.

On the other hand, people who don’t benefit from pretty privilege “may struggle with feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem, as they may receive less positive feedback and validation from others,” says Dr. Afzal.

According to Poirier, they are also more likely to constantly compare themselves to others, from celebrities to colleagues to strangers, which can further damage their self-image and self-esteem.Low self-esteemis associated with a number of mental and physical health concerns, including eating disorders, social isolation, anxiety, and depression.

Psychological Impact

For those who benefit from pretty privilege, the overemphasis on appearance can lead to superficial relationships based on looks rather than deeper connections, says Dr. Afzal.

They may also find that their successes and talents are often chalked up to their appearance rather than their effort, intelligence, or abilities. “When achievements are constantly undermined, individuals may start to doubt their abilities and question their worth beyond their appearance. This can lead toimposter syndrome,” Dr. Afzal explains.

Conversely, those considered less attractive may constantly feel judged, overlooked, or undervalued based on their looks, which can contribute to body dissatisfaction, anxiety, and depression.

The Best Way to Combat Imposter Syndrome

Professional Impact

Studies show conventionally good-looking people are more likely to receive callbacks for job interviews, get hired and promoted sooner, and earn higher wages than their less attractive coworkers. They are also perceived as more effective leaders.All of which can positively influence their career trajectory.

“Those who do not have these advantages may feel as though they are in a race they cannot win,” saysCorey Woodhouse, LPC, QIDP. “As their counterparts navigate with relative ease, they are presented with obstacle after obstacle along the way and have to work much harder.”

Legal Consequences

The legal system is the last place you want to be judged on your looks, but even there, appearances matter. Research suggests good-looking suspects are less likely to be arrested and convicted than their less attractive counterparts.Even if they do get convicted, attractive offenders are more likely to receive lenient sentences.

Pretty privilege, though different, shares some common threads with other forms of biases that need to be tackled to create a more equitable society. To better understand this dynamic, let’s explore some of these parallels:

Influence On Perception

Pretty privilege is a form ofimplicit biaslike male or white privilege. Implicit biases are subconscious perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes that influence our interactions and decisions. They tend to be subtle and operate outside of our awareness. For example, a manager might unconsciously perceive a working mom as less committed to her job than a working dad due to gender and maternal bias. Or, as stated previously, conventionally attractive people may be viewed as more intelligent and capable due to the halo effect. In contrast, explicit biases are overt and intentional prejudices toward certain individuals or groups (e.g.; hate speech or body-shaming).

Signs of Different Types of Biases and How to Overcome Each of Them

Emphasis On Arbitrary Characteristics

Similar to other appearance-based biases like colorism, ageism, heightism, and weight bias, pretty privilege grants unearned advantages to one group over the others based solely on arbitrary traits (be it looks, body size, age, or skin color) rather than intrinsic qualities like merit, skill, and character.

Impact On Treatment

Social privilege, whether they are based on appearance, race, gender, wealth, disability status, or something else, can significantly impact life outcomes. People who benefit from these privileges might not notice it because they are so normalized. However, those left out often face discrimination, social exclusion, and systemic barriers, affecting almost all areas of their lives.

How to Navigate Your Own Privilege

Intersectionality

Pretty privilege often intersects with other privileges, which can compound advantages or heightened discrimination, depending on a person’s social location. For example, white, able-bodied, straight men get higher salaries and better treatment than their non-white, non-male peers in the same STEM fields.On the flip side, for example, disability benefits in some countries are lower for disabled women than for disabled men.

Ethical Implications

Beauty bias not only skews the playing field but also poses serious ethical concerns. For instance, in classrooms, physical attractiveness has been shown to influence students' grades and teachers' evaluations.More disturbingly, appearance-based biases also affect healthcare settings. Research reveals that attractive patients are more likely to receive higher-quality treatment and care than their less conventionally attractive counterparts.

Pretty privilege is all about what society defines as beauty, and each of us has the power to shape the meaning of beauty for the better.—T.J. MOCCI, LMFT, CEDS-S

Pretty privilege is all about what society defines as beauty, and each of us has the power to shape the meaning of beauty for the better.

—T.J. MOCCI, LMFT, CEDS-S

Consider implementing these six strategies to redirect your approach:

Keep in MindPretty privilege or beauty bias is real. But it doesn’t have to define your worth or dictate your path. By embracing unconditional self-acceptance and challenging societal norms, you can navigate a world fixated on appearances with confidence and grace. So go ahead, take up space, and shine in your own authentic way. You’ve got this.

Keep in Mind

Pretty privilege or beauty bias is real. But it doesn’t have to define your worth or dictate your path. By embracing unconditional self-acceptance and challenging societal norms, you can navigate a world fixated on appearances with confidence and grace. So go ahead, take up space, and shine in your own authentic way. You’ve got this.

15 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Fink B, Neave N, Manning JT, Grammer K.Facial symmetry and judgements of attractiveness, health and personality. Personality and Individual Differences. 2006;41(3):491-499. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2006.01.017Schweik SM.The Ugly Laws: Disability in Public. Vol 3. New York, NY: NYU Press; The History of Disability; 2009.Alaei R, Deska JC, Hugenberg K, Rule NO.People attribute humanness to men and women differently based on their facial appearance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2022;123(2):400-422. doi: 10.1037/pspi0000364Maestripieri D, Henry A, Nickels N.Explaining financial and prosocial biases in favor of attractive people: Interdisciplinary perspectives from economics, social psychology, and evolutionary psychology. Behav Brain Sci. 2017;40:e19. doi:10.1017/S0140525X16000340Busetta G, Fiorillo F, Visalli E.Searching for a job is a beauty contest. Munich Personal RePEc Archive. MPRA. 2013; Paper No. 49392.Budesheim TL, DePaola SJ. Beauty or the beast?The effects of appearance, personality, and issue information on evaluations of political candidates. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 1994;20(4):339-348. doi:10.1177/0146167294204001Scholz JK, Sicinski K.Facial attractiveness and lifetime earnings: evidence from a cohort study. Review of Economics and Statistics. 2015;97(1):14-28. doi:10.1162/REST_a_00435Beaver KM, Boccio C, Smith S, Ferguson CJ.Physical attractiveness and criminal justice processing: results from a longitudinal sample of youth and young adults. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. 2019;26(4):669-681. doi:10.1080%2F13218719.2019.1618750Stewart JE.Defendant’s attractiveness as a factor in the outcome of criminal trials: an observational study1. J Applied Social Pyschol. 1980;10(4):348-361. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.1980.tb00715.xCech EA.The intersectional privilege of white able-bodied heterosexual men in STEM. Sci Adv. 2022;8(24):eabo1558. doi:10.1126/sciadv.abo1558Mailhot Amborski A, Bussières EL, Vaillancourt-Morel MP, Joyal CC.Sexual violence against persons with disabilities: a meta-analysis.Trauma Violence Abuse. 2022;23(4):1330-1343. doi:10.1177/1524838021995975Marici M, Runcan R, Iosim I, Haisan A.The effect of attire attractiveness on students’ perception of their teachers. Front Psychol. 2023;13:1059631. doi:10.3389%2Ffpsyg.2022.1059631Mehic A.Student beauty and grades under in-person and remote teaching. Economics Letters. 2022;219:110782. doi:10.1016/j.econlet.2022.110782Westfall R.The effects of physical attractiveness in the health care industry. UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. Published online May 15, 2018. doi:10.34917/13568778Niimi R, Goto M.Good conduct makes your face attractive: The effect of personality perception on facial attractiveness judgments. De Pascalis V, ed. PLoS ONE. 2023;18(2):e0281758. doi:10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0281758Additional Reading

15 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Fink B, Neave N, Manning JT, Grammer K.Facial symmetry and judgements of attractiveness, health and personality. Personality and Individual Differences. 2006;41(3):491-499. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2006.01.017Schweik SM.The Ugly Laws: Disability in Public. Vol 3. New York, NY: NYU Press; The History of Disability; 2009.Alaei R, Deska JC, Hugenberg K, Rule NO.People attribute humanness to men and women differently based on their facial appearance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2022;123(2):400-422. doi: 10.1037/pspi0000364Maestripieri D, Henry A, Nickels N.Explaining financial and prosocial biases in favor of attractive people: Interdisciplinary perspectives from economics, social psychology, and evolutionary psychology. Behav Brain Sci. 2017;40:e19. doi:10.1017/S0140525X16000340Busetta G, Fiorillo F, Visalli E.Searching for a job is a beauty contest. Munich Personal RePEc Archive. MPRA. 2013; Paper No. 49392.Budesheim TL, DePaola SJ. Beauty or the beast?The effects of appearance, personality, and issue information on evaluations of political candidates. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 1994;20(4):339-348. doi:10.1177/0146167294204001Scholz JK, Sicinski K.Facial attractiveness and lifetime earnings: evidence from a cohort study. Review of Economics and Statistics. 2015;97(1):14-28. doi:10.1162/REST_a_00435Beaver KM, Boccio C, Smith S, Ferguson CJ.Physical attractiveness and criminal justice processing: results from a longitudinal sample of youth and young adults. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. 2019;26(4):669-681. doi:10.1080%2F13218719.2019.1618750Stewart JE.Defendant’s attractiveness as a factor in the outcome of criminal trials: an observational study1. J Applied Social Pyschol. 1980;10(4):348-361. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.1980.tb00715.xCech EA.The intersectional privilege of white able-bodied heterosexual men in STEM. Sci Adv. 2022;8(24):eabo1558. doi:10.1126/sciadv.abo1558Mailhot Amborski A, Bussières EL, Vaillancourt-Morel MP, Joyal CC.Sexual violence against persons with disabilities: a meta-analysis.Trauma Violence Abuse. 2022;23(4):1330-1343. doi:10.1177/1524838021995975Marici M, Runcan R, Iosim I, Haisan A.The effect of attire attractiveness on students’ perception of their teachers. Front Psychol. 2023;13:1059631. doi:10.3389%2Ffpsyg.2022.1059631Mehic A.Student beauty and grades under in-person and remote teaching. Economics Letters. 2022;219:110782. doi:10.1016/j.econlet.2022.110782Westfall R.The effects of physical attractiveness in the health care industry. UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. Published online May 15, 2018. doi:10.34917/13568778Niimi R, Goto M.Good conduct makes your face attractive: The effect of personality perception on facial attractiveness judgments. De Pascalis V, ed. PLoS ONE. 2023;18(2):e0281758. doi:10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0281758Additional Reading

Fink B, Neave N, Manning JT, Grammer K.Facial symmetry and judgements of attractiveness, health and personality. Personality and Individual Differences. 2006;41(3):491-499. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2006.01.017Schweik SM.The Ugly Laws: Disability in Public. Vol 3. New York, NY: NYU Press; The History of Disability; 2009.Alaei R, Deska JC, Hugenberg K, Rule NO.People attribute humanness to men and women differently based on their facial appearance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2022;123(2):400-422. doi: 10.1037/pspi0000364Maestripieri D, Henry A, Nickels N.Explaining financial and prosocial biases in favor of attractive people: Interdisciplinary perspectives from economics, social psychology, and evolutionary psychology. Behav Brain Sci. 2017;40:e19. doi:10.1017/S0140525X16000340Busetta G, Fiorillo F, Visalli E.Searching for a job is a beauty contest. Munich Personal RePEc Archive. MPRA. 2013; Paper No. 49392.Budesheim TL, DePaola SJ. Beauty or the beast?The effects of appearance, personality, and issue information on evaluations of political candidates. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 1994;20(4):339-348. doi:10.1177/0146167294204001Scholz JK, Sicinski K.Facial attractiveness and lifetime earnings: evidence from a cohort study. Review of Economics and Statistics. 2015;97(1):14-28. doi:10.1162/REST_a_00435Beaver KM, Boccio C, Smith S, Ferguson CJ.Physical attractiveness and criminal justice processing: results from a longitudinal sample of youth and young adults. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. 2019;26(4):669-681. doi:10.1080%2F13218719.2019.1618750Stewart JE.Defendant’s attractiveness as a factor in the outcome of criminal trials: an observational study1. J Applied Social Pyschol. 1980;10(4):348-361. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.1980.tb00715.xCech EA.The intersectional privilege of white able-bodied heterosexual men in STEM. Sci Adv. 2022;8(24):eabo1558. doi:10.1126/sciadv.abo1558Mailhot Amborski A, Bussières EL, Vaillancourt-Morel MP, Joyal CC.Sexual violence against persons with disabilities: a meta-analysis.Trauma Violence Abuse. 2022;23(4):1330-1343. doi:10.1177/1524838021995975Marici M, Runcan R, Iosim I, Haisan A.The effect of attire attractiveness on students’ perception of their teachers. Front Psychol. 2023;13:1059631. doi:10.3389%2Ffpsyg.2022.1059631Mehic A.Student beauty and grades under in-person and remote teaching. Economics Letters. 2022;219:110782. doi:10.1016/j.econlet.2022.110782Westfall R.The effects of physical attractiveness in the health care industry. UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. Published online May 15, 2018. doi:10.34917/13568778Niimi R, Goto M.Good conduct makes your face attractive: The effect of personality perception on facial attractiveness judgments. De Pascalis V, ed. PLoS ONE. 2023;18(2):e0281758. doi:10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0281758

Schweik SM.The Ugly Laws: Disability in Public. Vol 3. New York, NY: NYU Press; The History of Disability; 2009.

Maestripieri D, Henry A, Nickels N.Explaining financial and prosocial biases in favor of attractive people: Interdisciplinary perspectives from economics, social psychology, and evolutionary psychology. Behav Brain Sci. 2017;40:e19. doi:10.1017/S0140525X16000340

Busetta G, Fiorillo F, Visalli E.Searching for a job is a beauty contest. Munich Personal RePEc Archive. MPRA. 2013; Paper No. 49392.

Budesheim TL, DePaola SJ. Beauty or the beast?The effects of appearance, personality, and issue information on evaluations of political candidates. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 1994;20(4):339-348. doi:10.1177/0146167294204001

Scholz JK, Sicinski K.Facial attractiveness and lifetime earnings: evidence from a cohort study. Review of Economics and Statistics. 2015;97(1):14-28. doi:10.1162/REST_a_00435

Beaver KM, Boccio C, Smith S, Ferguson CJ.Physical attractiveness and criminal justice processing: results from a longitudinal sample of youth and young adults. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. 2019;26(4):669-681. doi:10.1080%2F13218719.2019.1618750

Stewart JE.Defendant’s attractiveness as a factor in the outcome of criminal trials: an observational study1. J Applied Social Pyschol. 1980;10(4):348-361. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.1980.tb00715.x

Cech EA.The intersectional privilege of white able-bodied heterosexual men in STEM. Sci Adv. 2022;8(24):eabo1558. doi:10.1126/sciadv.abo1558

Mailhot Amborski A, Bussières EL, Vaillancourt-Morel MP, Joyal CC.Sexual violence against persons with disabilities: a meta-analysis.Trauma Violence Abuse. 2022;23(4):1330-1343. doi:10.1177/1524838021995975

Marici M, Runcan R, Iosim I, Haisan A.The effect of attire attractiveness on students’ perception of their teachers. Front Psychol. 2023;13:1059631. doi:10.3389%2Ffpsyg.2022.1059631

Mehic A.Student beauty and grades under in-person and remote teaching. Economics Letters. 2022;219:110782. doi:10.1016/j.econlet.2022.110782

Westfall R.The effects of physical attractiveness in the health care industry. UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. Published online May 15, 2018. doi:10.34917/13568778

Niimi R, Goto M.Good conduct makes your face attractive: The effect of personality perception on facial attractiveness judgments. De Pascalis V, ed. PLoS ONE. 2023;18(2):e0281758. doi:10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0281758

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Social Impact#

Emotional Impact#

Psychological Impact#

Professional Impact#

Legal Consequences#

Influence On Perception#

Emphasis On Arbitrary Characteristics#

Impact On Treatment#

Intersectionality#

Ethical Implications#

Keep in Mind#

Social Impact