Discrimination Against Ugly People
April 7, 2005 · By Tom Cerber
A recent study tries to demonstrate a correlation between beauty (or what North Americans take as beauty) plays a role in how much money you make:
Research analyst Kristie Engemann and economist Michael Owyang looked at the possible link between appearance and wages by evaluating previous surveys and research. Their conclusion: It helps to be tall, slender and attractive.
Less clear was whether the less attractive are victims of bias, or if good-looking people tend to develop self-confidence and social skills that simply enhance their marketability.
“It doesn’t’ seem like anti-discrimination laws, even if you enforce them strictly, would be a magic bullet,” Owyang said.
The researchers cited one study that found a “plainness penalty” of 9 percent in wages â€??? meaning a person with below-average looks tended to earn 9 percent less than those with average looks â€??? and a “beauty premium” of 5 percent.
I’m reminded of Aristophanes’ play, The Assemblywomen, where the women take over Athens and legislate that all must be equal. True equality must go beyond redistributing wealth – Marx is too conservative. Rather, equality begins by ensuring biological equality. They legislated that ugly people would have to mate with beautiful people. You know, give everyone a chance. So ugly old men would mate with beautiful young women (if they still could) and old hags could find themselves a gorgeous pool boy.
All for equality.
I don’t make enough money. From now on, I will advocate that ugly people like me deserve Charter Canadian status. C’mon give me some money. I’m waiting.
[...] we need to do is redefine “normal.” However, if you’ve kept up with my Aristophanic criticism of egalitarianism, being considered “normal” [...]
ur gay and u touch urself at night!!!!!
As a unattractive woman of below average looks, I have seen the disparity attributed to those who do not meet the physical aesthetics of todays looks based society. I make below the acceptable wage for a person with three years of advanced educational merits. I feel ostracized by those around me in social situations and have little to no contact with others in forging positive relationships. Even family members have treated me poorly do to my homely appearance and take no initiative in my personal aspirations and goals leaving me feeling isolated and useless. Is their any positive advance for a self acclaimed wall flower alone in an unacceptable world? Would love some feedback!
Ms. Fagen,
Go nerd. Seriously. I’m not saying this out of cruelty, such as “lower your standards”, but “nerds”, “geeks” and other social outcase will be more liekly to apprecaite your intelligence and talents. Being on the outside of the whole social thing themselves, they are also more likely to understand what you are going through. And best of all, in a while when looks fade, you’ll still have your smarts and personality, with the added bonus of a caring companion who sees more to you that your outward appearance.
Sorry for the mispelled words; I’m a lousy typist.
Ugly discrimination is real. Check out http://www.looksaware.com, the world’s first ugly rights, research and discrimination site.
Dear Anonymous
Though I appreciate your keen insight into finding a rational solution to my personal dilemma, what you are plainly advocating is an “ugly people alliance club.” The “nerds”, “geeks” and other so-called socially unacceptable “misfits” banding together to unite as one pathetic one. This ideology is not only perpetrating a negative stereotype but it emboldens the stigma that face those who are discriminated against based solely on physicality and image. What we need to espouse is a slogan that treats every individual fairly and equal. Why should the beautiful receive all the aplomb!
Dear Anonymous
Though I appreciate your keen insight into finding a rational solution to my dilemma, the sentiment I interpreted by your response was that the “geeks, “nerds” and “misfits” should all band together since no one else will accept them! We as a society can do better than rewarding the so called beautiful and stigmatizing the less than comely.
[...] because employers didn’t like the look of them then I would call that unfair discrimination too. Discrimination Against Ugly People | ThePolitic.com BBC NEWS | UK | When being tall is a ‘disability’ Sure you call it discrimination, and down this [...]
Hey all. I feel a bit sad reading what has been written here. Why do people always feel like there’s no hope if they think that ’society’ has declared them are ugly? It is only by others imaginations that you are judged and more, by your own thoughts. If anyone really thinks that they are ugly and discriminated towards, why don’t they do something about it?
Start looking after yourself better. Its true that confidence comes from the inside. If you feel good about yourself, then others around you will feel good too.
My advice (as someone who used to be ”ugly” only because i believed myself to be that) :
Start doing excersise on a regular basis. Stop stuffing your face with junkfood. But the most important thing is to become more interested in other people and stop self obsessing about how others see you.
Hope that helps :)
being attractive is very difficult. For the most part we are treated like loose women with little to say, and worst of all with no feelings. We are dehumanized by those who envy, fear, and / or want to possess us. Navigating the jealousy mine field is also dangerous. I know of young women who are intensely bullied or even murdered by their less attractive peers. A beautiful woman will be considered everything from a slut to a bitch – just because of her appearance. Being left out by the “ugly ducklings” is also painful, especially in the formative years.
Parental thwarting of a child’s beauty so that the siblings will not be jealous is also common. In my teens, I babysat for a family who condoned the abuse of one of their daughters because they had it in their mind that her beauty made her a corrupt person in comparison to her siblings. It was awful to see, and I often wonder what became of sweet little Janelle. She is in my prayers.
I do admit that attractive women in some cases may land jobs or gain the “interest” of the boss because of their looks. However, this type of hiring does not have a happy outcome for the attractive person. It usually ends up that they are approached by the supervisor for sexual favours – Disgusting!! Beautiful women (and sometimes men) are treated like they are good for nothing except sex. It is sick, and no one should ever have to suffer like that.
Throughout my life I have had to make concessions for less attractive people and I am tired of it. I am not a bitch, or a slut, or stupid, or mean, or materialistic…. In fact these traits have little to do with appearance. I deserve a decent job, husband, family and social life as much as the next person. A wise man once told me that if someone is jealous or envious of you then you should have nothing to do with them – even if it is a relative. After acting on his advice my life has become much better with more real successes, un-thwarted by those who think I owe it to them to sacrifice something because they are less pretty, less healthy and/or less intelligent. It is also interesting to note that as I become older and less attractive the rude and hurtful treatment is diminishing. Most of the pain in my life can be traced directly back to jealous, fearful and/or perverted people. People enslaved by their envy should not be given responsibilities that affect the lives of others.
I admire beautiful women from modest families who become successful in non-sex professions – they have likely worked twice as hard as their less-attractive counterparts to prove that they are capable and competent. Most beautiful people have endured great mental, physical, spiritual and emotional sufferings and should be revered for their strength and resilience. I pray for those who are working in sex related trades because they feel there is no other option for them. Jealousy is the root of all evil.
“Beautiful women –> they have likely worked twice as hard as their less-attractive counterparts to prove that they are capable and competent. Most beautiful people have endured great mental, physical, spiritual and emotional sufferings and should be revered for their strength and resilience”
all I can say is WOW! I should go drink some water just so I can spit it out all over my desk and say “what the hell???”
There are no greater victims than the beautiful intelligent people of the world….