Human Sexuality: Does Pretty Privilege Exist?

Name:
Professor’s name:
Course:
Date:
Does Pretty Privilege Exist?
Humanity is characteristic of diverse social constructs across the social, political, and economic dimensions through which individuals and groups identify themselves in society. The common social constructs with which human beings identify themselves include their racial, ethnic, political, economic, and sexual orientations. These social constructs often play a significant role in influencing the interactions and integration of individuals and groups in society. Human interaction and integration across the outlined social constructs are known for their advantages and disadvantages as posed by the racial and ethnic imbalances within the global society's social, political, and economic domains. Attached to these social constructs are the often misleading stereotypical beliefs that strengthen the sense of belonging and entitlement among individuals and groups to their perceived social identities. The strong sense of belonging and entitlement emphasized by the stereotypical attachments to the social identity constructs further reinforce the social imbalances witnessed today.
An often overlooked social construct and its contribution to diverse imbalances in society is a conspicuous quality of human sexuality, the physical attractiveness of an individual. Pretty, beautiful, or attractive individuals across genders are stereotypically associated with positive attributes such as intelligence, eloquence, success, and other qualities in the different social domains. The less attractive or the perceived unattractive individuals are often denied such assumptions or associations despite actually possessing such qualities. The physically attractive individuals often end up getting more opportunities than their less attractive counterparts. A single look at the current era of social media influencers and you will see the manifestation of pretty privileges accorded to the perceived attractive individuals in comparison to the fair-looking or perceived unattractive influencers. It is no secret that pretty privileges exist and are more pronounced in today’s society than one would ever accept. Provided herein is a justification of the existence of pretty privilege informed by comprehensive research highlighting its manifestation and subsequent effects on individuals and society.
The Manifestation of Pretty Privilege
An individual’s attractiveness evokes positive assumptions about their underlying personalities and overall expectations for their life outcomes. A stereotypical correlation of physical attractiveness to all that is good ensues from such assumptions and thus reinforces the privileges associated with beautyCITATION Mar162 \p 59 \l 1033 (Marson 59). Physical attractiveness is a form of erotic capital that influences human interactions and integration beyond the sexual relationships to affect the social processes featuring in the social, political, and economic domainsCITATION Mar162 \p 59 \l 1033 (Marson 59). Its influences on the social processes of human interaction reinforce the existence of pretty privilege witnessed in society as it provides biased advantages to those with attractive physical appearances. The less attractive individuals often end up at the wrong end of the bargain in the social processes despite possessing the merits befitting the available opportunities.
Evident in today’s society are the endless cases of pretty privilege, where physically attractive individuals benefit from people’s obsession with beauty and its association with positive attributes. For instance, access to glamorous events such as the grand premiers of great films or movies often favors the equally glamourous individuals whose appearances earn them the opportunity to mingle with the high and mighty in the industry. The obsession with physical attractiveness also plays out in learning institutions, with attractive individuals often attracting the attention of other students. Such attractive students often get invited to almost all the student events as their presence is closely associated with attracting equally influential students to the occasion. The cheering squad in most learning and sporting institutions epitomizes the existence of pretty privilege as the physically attractive individuals get the opportunity to represent the organizations. The service industry is also characterized by widespread preferential discrimination, rewarding physically attractive individuals with opportunities at the expense of their less attractive counterparts. There are infinite examples proving the existence and manifestation of pretty privilege that one can effortlessly witness in today’s society.
The Scope and Effects of Pretty Privilege
Past and current research finds that physically attractive ...