Dinner with friends almost always result in that one intriguing conversation piece that stands out... and tonight, the topic of the night was... does looks affects one's success in life.
The theory and one which most people would agree to, is that good looking people get away with more things in life and that they are more inclined towards success as most would be more easy-going or helpful towards the good looking person.
Then the conversation steered towards whether good looks help with males more than females when it comes to the work environment.... we then arrived at this theory - and of course, please feel free to interject your own thoughts into the comments column. :) Open debate and discussion are very welcome.
Good looks for males are helpful and helps you out in life, but not as much as females. And males and females who are in the 6-8 point scale, it helps them the most in working life. Males who are in the 9-10 have to fight harder to be recognised at the workplace. Females who are in the 9-10 scales end up living in a bubble as their good looks do help them out a little too much in life, and they end up in positions where they may be out of their depth. Why so? Read on...
FOR MALES:
When you are a male and your looks are at a 9 to perfect 10:
You get a lot more stick from other males as due to your good looks and you may even be brushed off as just another himbo - pretty face without a brain by your fellow males. You are even be seen as competition if there are in partner hunting mode. They risk of you outshining them is just too high and your presence is not as tolerated.
For females, there is definitely going to be a slight advantage with your good looks. However, female colleagues are generally not the ones in power (now that is another topic for debate, the management ceiling that females face, while I am not expressing an agreement to this stand, it is unfortunately a fact now, but a slowly changing position!). So the help may be limited...
Essentally, there is always this biased (or not!) opinion that you have an easier lot in life due to your good looks and others may not want to cut you some slack just because they may feel that you have had it easy all your life.
When you are a male and your looks are at a at 7-8:
Pleasant looking and above average, you can actually breathe easier when it comes to work. Good and pleasant looking males tend not to be seen so much as competition, and you can be the buddy or wingman of your fellow colleagues. And you will be cut a little more slack at work as your looks haven't always gotten you what you want or need in school or life, and you have had to work a little more on having a positive attitude and character to get what you want.
For females, you are at cruising speed, as overly good looking man may be seen as being too unapproachable. So when you are just above average and pleasant on the eye, it would be more comfortable for them as a colleague or team partner.
FOR FEMALES:
When you are a female and your looks are at a 9 to perfect 10:
You get random moments of bitchiness as you look too good. But what disadvantage you get from the fellow female is more than made up by the male population. Males tend to be very easy and particularly helpful to pretty females and the fact that you are a 9/10, only makes it even easier for you. And I swear, although there is the possiblity that this is sour grapes talking, but I hope not!
There was this lady I knew when I stayed in the university hostel (pretty enough that she works in the media and has won pageants, been on tv shows, etc)... and there was this once, she couldn't finish her assignment. She was just going around being stressed (aren't we all at that age?) and one smart guy, like the really smart type, said, "don't stress... I will help you." and that dude pretty much did her whole assigment for her, an essay, almost 20 pages long. I kid you not. I remember thinking, "Like that also can ah..." but yah, that was when realities in life hit me in the face. Nah, I am lying, realities in life had hit me a long time ago before that. For me, at that age, it was just... yah, that's life. Deal with it, no point whing about it. And nope, she wasn't such "good friends" with this guy after the assignment was handed in.
Having said that, there was this theory that we had... which is overly pretty females, move up the career ladder fast and they start living in this bubble that they are very competent and effective, which may or may not be the truth. The result is when they are promoted to their "Level of Incompetence"
Sidenote and I digress - This was a very interesting theory to me when I first heard about it from a friend - "Managers rise to their level of incompetence" - have a read, it's interesting.
The Peter principle is a concept in management theory formulated by Laurence J. Peter and published in 1969 in which the selection of a candidate for a position is based on the candidate's performance in their current role, rather than on abilities relevant to the intended role. Thus, employees only stop being promoted once they can no longer perform effectively, and "managers rise to the level of their incompetence."
So back to this... these ladies are then promoted to the level where they start to experience insecurities and are unable to perform to what is required. And then politics and power grappling start as a means to cover up for incompetence.
When you are a female and your looks are at a at 7-8:
Now, as with the males, 7-8s are cruise speed. Pleasant looking, you get more favours than not, but you have to work hard to move up the ladder, as with all other people, with a slight edge. Your work performance tends to be more solid (as you had to work for it) and while you can get away with some stuff in life, you don't get to take it for granted.
And so... your work life is a lot more balanced and you succeed in a healthier manner.
In Summary
Of course, there are smart and beautiful women, as there are smart and handsome men. This was just a dinner conversation and sharing of anecdotes in life, leading to conclusions that beautiful female bosses somehow come across as more insecure, and handsome male bosses somehow get more slack from the older management... and those who are just above average good looking male/females are the ones that really have an easier path and succeed in life.
Comment if you want to! :) Join in the conversation... :D
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