Pretty privilege is a term used to describe the advantages and benefits that individuals with conventionally attractive features receive in society. This can include opportunities in the workplace, higher self-esteem, and more favorable treatment from others.

Pretty privilege is a form of unconscious bias that stems from societal beauty standards. These standards dictate that certain physical traits, such as being thin and conventionally attractive, are more desirable than others. As a result, individuals who possess these traits are often treated differently than those who do not.

For example, research has shown that attractive individuals are more likely to be hired for jobs, receive higher salaries, and be perceived as more competent and trustworthy than their less attractive counterparts. This can create a feedback loop, where attractive individuals are given more opportunities, which in turn reinforces the notion that they are superior.

When I was in high school I never did much to make myself attractive, I wore sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt to school everyday and thought nothing of it. Looking back I must have closed myself off of certain opportunities via the first impression I made on people when they saw me, a lanky white man with no drip. Came college I decided to make myself more conventionally attractive and change up my personality a bit. I immediately noticed a sudden shift in the way people were interacting with me, and started taking advantage of the new opportunities that presented themselves to me. While the concept seems totally unfair, feeling like a loser in high school encouraged me to change myself into a person who is more likely to succeed.

Pretty privilege can have a significant impact on an individual’s self-esteem and mental health. Those who do not possess conventionally attractive features may feel like they are not good enough or worthy of the same opportunities and treatment as those who do. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

It’s important to recognize and challenge the notion of pretty privilege. By acknowledging and addressing the ways in which beauty privilege affects individuals and society, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable world. This can include challenging societal beauty standards and promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace and beyond.

When I was a young child I was extremely hyper and way too impressionable, at one point I wanted to be like my family dog so I started to eat cicadas and cicada shells after seeing him do it. I also modeled myself after one of my close family friends, Michael, who had a learning disability. We have apparently known each other since birth and he was one of my first friends. Of course, at time I had no idea that he was any different from other children. When I was about twelve I realized that he had a disability, and started noticing how unfairly those not close to him would treat him. Everyone around Michael would expect him to never act out and they would become visibly angry when he did something they did not agree with. I noticed that Michael started to become extremely reserved in public with anyone outside his close circle of people he knew would only support him.

One of his biggest supporters was my mother; Michael was often over, and my mom would set realistic goals for him to meet as well as teach him to be more confident. Whenever Michael reached these goals both he and my mother became ecstatic. Over the years Michael has become one of the most self-disciplined people I know; everyday he runs outside and goes to the gym, he plays ice hockey for a rec team, and only continues to grow as a person.

Michael learned how to read social cues and understands what is considered appropriate behavior, but the impressions he’s made on others when he was still learning has stuck. Many of those who knew him choose to pretend he doesn’t exist and are unwilling to compromise on their belief that he could not have changed. It’s always upsetting to see that all of Michael’s hard work is sometimes moot just because people can’t believe that someone with a serious learning disability could actually learn and be a productive member of society.