Are Attractive People More Successful?

I’m sure we can all think of a few examples where it pays to be attractive, but he says it’s not just the obvious careers. 

As an academic himself, he points to the teaching profession where he believes a teacher’s attractiveness will earn them better reviews from their students, therefore leading to more career advancement opportunities. 

Hamermesh says it's men who face the bigger looks-based pay gap over women. 

Here, he points to ‘homely’ looking athletes who earn less than their handsome teammates. Other examples in the book look at the husbands of average-looking women who earn 10% less than their not-so-average-looking counterparts and unattractive people who have a harder time getting a loan.

So is it all plain sailing if you’ve been lucky enough to land yourself a winning ticket in the genetic lottery?

Hamermesh says No! An attractive woman who seeks a top-level position and a high-flying career will be stymied by the ‘bimbo effect’ – meaning they will have to prove their competence. 

So what does Professor Hamermesh suggest to combat the genetic hurdles?

He believes the aesthetic underdogs are victims of the so-called ‘beauty conundrum’ and he addresses this point in the last chapter of the book – “What can you do if you’re bad-looking?” His solution – the aesthetically challenged should be compensated by the government!