Research Study: "Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful!"

Have you guys seen this article? Published in the Toronto Star, a recent study titled "Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful" found that attractive, good-looking people have lower job and scholarship prospects than others who aren't as attractive, particularly if they're assessed by someone of the same gender. Wow. Whatever happened to assessing someone based on competence and actual ability?

To read the full article, click here.

The first thing that came to mind as a reason behind such results is, obviously, potential jealousy. Although we're often unaware of this habit, people (particularly women) have the tendency to whip out an appraising, judgemental eye whenever we see an attractive person walk by. I'm guilty of it too. We check out their hair, their makeup, their shoes, their purse, or omg, is she dressed better than I am?!?! The article even notes that some women have admitted to disliking the idea of working with someone more attractive than themselves. Because for many in the workforce & in the academic setting, beauty can be perceived as a social threat.

But judging someone at face value is a terrible habit, and its a habit we need to stop excercising if something as important as scholarships & jobs are involved. This is money for someone's education, this is a job a person needs to pay off their mortgage... and you'll pass them over because of their flawless skin tone?!? Perhaps we should stop judging and start exfoliating instead.

We need to get past our initial reaction to someone's attractiveness and remember that judging someone by how they look really isn't fair. Beauty and intelligence are not mutually exclusive. And while we may envy their Chanel flats, Burberry rainboat, and gorgeous MJ purse, we have to go beyond how a person looks and remember that one day, their looks will fade too. But their mind, their intelligence, and their brilliance will always be there. Reward them for that.

"All things splendid have been achieved by those who dared to believe that something inside them was superior to their circumstance."
- Bruce Barton