A psychologist has revealed the science behind so-called “pretty privilege” after a woman claimed she was turned down for a job she was “perfect” for because she went to the interview without wearing makeup.
Kamalyn Kaur, an accredited psychotherapist based in Glasgow, Scotland, said pretty privilege is a concept in which people who are perceived as attractive by social standards experience advantages due to their appearance.
These may include preferential treatment, opportunities and benefits in certain areas of your life, such as relationships, employment or social networks.
Melissa Weaver, 30, from New York, recently spoke out about losing a job because she didn’t wear makeup to the interview and the hiring manager felt she “didn’t put enough effort” into her appearance.
She went on to explain that she was even more amazed by the decision because she had been told that “her background was exactly what they were looking for,” that she had the right level of experience, and that her personal goals were aligned with those of the company.
A psychologist has revealed the science behind “pretty privilege” and how the snap judgments we make about other people based on appearance can affect our long-term treatment.
This led to a large number of outraged people expressing how unfair the situation was, with some even sharing similar stories.
Speaking of Melissa’s experience, Mrs. Kaur He told FEMAIL that snap judgments based on people’s appearance have the potential to “affect their career path, their relationships and other important elements of their life.”
She said: “Some research indicates that it takes the brain a tenth of a second to form an impression of a stranger based on their face.”
«From that moment on, it takes the brain seven seconds to form a solid impression of a person, which is not very long either.
“In these short periods of time, we don’t really have much to talk about in terms of personality or characteristics, which means the brain bases its judgments just on the person’s looks and appearance.”
Kaur said the beauty industry and social media are to blame for pretty privilege, adding that they support and advertise that being beautiful opens doors.
“Beauty industries place emphasis on certain physical characteristics as markers of attractiveness,” he said.
‘This will be further emphasized through advertisements, marketing and media showing people who look a certain way or have certain physical attributes, again indicating that there is a preference for people who look a certain way.
‘Social media has conditioned us to believe that attractiveness is directly related to success and desirability.
“As a result of all of these factors, society values ​​people who look a certain way more and reinforces that attractiveness is related to personal worth, success, and social status.”
But while having beauty has its advantages, it also has its disadvantages. Kaur believes that important skills and qualities are often overlooked if you are considered just another pretty face.
Kamalyn Kaur, an accredited psychotherapist, said social media and the beauty industry are to blame for the existence of “nice privilege.”
Melissa Weaver (pictured), 30, claimed she was turned down from a job she was a perfect fit for because she didn’t wear makeup to the interview.
He said it can also work the other way around, adding: ‘[It] ‘leads to the wrong people being in certain roles: people may look right but don’t have the skills or experience to do the job.’
In terms of relationships, pretty privilege can cause people to be with other people for the wrong reasons, as well as overlooking toxic traits because they find their partner attractive.
“We’ve all heard of people being attracted to certain people because of their looks even though they know they’re not good for them,” Ms Kaur added.
‘[Pretty privilege] It creates a world where everyone is obsessed with their appearance. We are already seeing an increase in cosmetic surgeries and the number of people undergoing fillers, Botox and hair implants.
‘The sad thing is that the confidence experienced as a result of these treatments is usually short-lived and only lasts until the next insecurity arises.
“It’s unfair to people who don’t receive ‘a nice privilege’, leading to anger, frustration, sadness, and ultimately low self-esteem and confidence.”
However, Ms Kaur said attractiveness will only get you so far, adding that people will eventually let go of good looks.
‘Even though you may have an advantage, that doesn’t guarantee that you will reach the finish line.
‘Appearances may get you through the door of a certain job, but they won’t be enough to keep you there. At the end of the day, you will need to have skills, qualities and experience to progress and succeed in life.
“It’s also important to note that as humans, we gravitate more toward people we like and trust, which, again, doesn’t come from appearance, but from who you are as a person and how you treat others. the rest”.