In a world obsessed with finding and eliminating inequalities, one seems to hide right under our noses—and even includes our noses. We are surrounded by complaints of injustices based on race, gender, and sexual orientation. But where are the protests for unattractive people? Why is no one talking about beautiful-privilege?
Attractive people get the first choice of mates. They are given the best hand of cards when it comes to fulfilling their number one biological goal—reproducing. Although things like personality and income matter to us, physical appearance seems to be the dominating factor in choosing who to date. So at the extreme we have people who have almost infinite mate choice—the Henry Cavills and Margot Robbies of the world. On the other side we have people who are unable to accomplish that primary biological goal.
Physical appearance goes beyond mate selection and can be found in employee selection. A study was done in 2000 that showed that the more attractive the job applicant was, the more likely he or she would be hired. But being attractive doesn’t only aid you in getting the job, it also makes you less likely to be fired. Beauty matters.
Being good-looking opens up doors for people—sometimes literally—but there doesn’t seem to be any dialogue on this issue. Maybe people don’t talk about it because it’s a touchy subject. Maybe it’s an inequality that we are all okay with. Maybe it’s just too complicated. But unlike things like race and gender, you can change it slightly—well, I guess you can change gender too.
The best place to start is with your body. If you are overweight, then lose weight. If you are skinny, then put on muscle and size. Your clothes will fit better, you will look more athletic, your posture will improve, and you will gain confidence.
One of the most overlooked aspects of physical attractiveness is style. It’s a tragedy to see so many people dress like shit. Mobs of men in graphic t-shirts and ill-fitting jeans or cargo shorts. Women constantly wearing athleisure and over-sized graphic hoodies or shirts. The most important thing is fit, make sure it fits well—being in good physical shape will help. Next, get rid of graphic shirts, and girls, please try something other than leggings every once in a while. Try to mimic powerful and attractive people’s outfits.
Body language is another facet of attractiveness that can be improved. Stand up straight with your shoulders back. Walk and move with an air of power and competence. Don’t fidget. Don’t slouch. Don’t cower. Watch how great leaders move, how they sit, how they talk. Don’t be a mouth breather.
Grooming can’t be understated either, especially for men—I think more women have this one down. Get a nice haircut, grow facial hair that works with your face, clip your nails, brush your teeth, use cologne, take a shower. Do the basic things and really just don’t be a slob.
We are all given a different hand of cards when it comes to beauty. It’s a cosmic injustice that influences our lives more than we want to admit. But we do have a little bit of control over our physical appearance, and as Denis Waitley said “There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them”.
References
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dating-and-mating/201701/why-physical-attraction-matters-and-when-it-might-not
- https://www.hofstra.edu/pdf/orsp_shahani-denning_spring03.pdf
- https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers.aspx?referenceid=2627833
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2012.00970.x
Book List
https://thesisyphusblog.wordpress.com/2020/07/05/sisyphus-reading-list-the-8-most-important-books-i-have-ever-read/
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