Pulchritude Privilege

 

Have you ever noticed that when you’re making your way down the aisle on your way to your seat in coach, the passengers in first class seem to be more attractive than you are?  (On a recent trip to Paris, I took the photo below of the guy sitting next to me, fairly typical of the people in coach.)

What’s the deal?  What are all of these attractive people doing in first class?  Perhaps it’s a vanity thing.  Maybe attractive people like to watch, and be envied by, the plebes who wrestle with their bags on their way to the back of the plane.

Nah, that’s not it.  After doing a bit of research, here’s what I found:  Attractive people make more money than the rest of us, so they apparently spend some of their discretionary income to ride in first class.

Pulchritude privilege!

A researcher for Smithsonian Magazine found that handsome men earn 13% more than unattractive ones.  In fact, the income gap between attractive and unattractive people, according to Smithsonian, is comparable to the gap between genders or ethnicities.

Pulchritude privilege!

Even a cursory search on Google reveals a plethora of studies that show that attractive people have a distinct and unfair advantage over unattractive people.  They are happier, more self-confident, and have more friends.

Pulchritude privilege!

They’re even smarter. According to a study done in the United Kingdom, attractive people have IQ’s, on average, that are 12.4 points higher than unattractive people. (That’s kinda weird, isn’t it?)

Pulchritude, etc.

I’ve long thought that physical attractiveness is the most powerful advantage one can have.  White privilege?  That’s so last month.  This month, if you’re going to remain au courant, you need to accuse handsome people of flaunting their pulchritude privilege.  Tell them — now where have I heard this? — to check their privilege at the door.

So how does one decide who is attractive and who is not?  The easiest way is to show photos of random people to a wide range of viewers.  Let these viewers sort them out by asking them who is attractive.

Some aestheticians argue that attractive people project the appearance of health.  That is, they have symmetrical features, clear skin, lucid eyes, and straight teeth.

Finally, according to the golden ratio (1.62), an ancient measurement of beauty, the ideal face is roughly 1 1/2 times longer than it is wide.  And that ideal face also evidences equal distances from the forehead hairline to a spot between the eyes, from there to the bottom of the nose, and from there to the bottom of the chin.  These golden ratios apparently cross-racial categories. (If you’re dissatisfied with this paragraph on the golden ratio, you have every right to be.  I didn’t receive a math privilege like you uppity STEM majors out there who passed algebra in high school.)

Of course, there are other privileges that come with us when we are born.  There is, for instance, the fast-twitch-muscle-fibers privilege (think Usain Bolt), the perfect-musical-pitch privilege (think Mozart), the body-spatial-awareness privilege  (think Simone Biles), and so on.

I’ve always thought that the pleasant-face privilege would be very nice to have.  This is the privilege of people who have a face that isn’t particularly handsome but has a pleasant and inviting appearance, i.e., has bright open eyes, perhaps a perky nose, and a mouth that curls slightly upward at its ends.  People just naturally take a shine to those with the pleasant-face privilege.

In case you’re wondering, I was pretty much left out of everything except white privilege when they handed out privileges. I’m slow of foot, not particularly well-coordinated, one eyelid is lower than the other, and I have the flushed complexion of my Irish/Scottish forebears. (All of this when I was a younger man.  Now I’m just old.)

I only possess one privilege for certain. I can sing Yankee Doodle Dandy while patting my belly and rubbing a circle on the top of my head. Do you scoff? Try it yourself.

Postscript:  If you’re attractive, I’d rather not hear about it.  But if you’re as ugly as sin, come sit right here next to me and tell me about it.

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  1. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Reward miles are a great leveler. With the right amount of points, every schlub in the world, myself included, can fly first class. I have an AC/DC band shirt specifically devoted to first-class travel so I can impress everyone with my sense of style.

    Hoyacon, I’m too cheap to fly first class and I don’t fly enough to accumulate enough points.

    But about ten years ago, Marie and I were bumped up to first class. Man, did we feel like swells. The stewardesses treated us like kings. Ever since then, I have envied the first class passengers as I walk by on my way to coach.

     

    When I traveled with some frequency about 20 – 10 years ago, sometimes the weird pricing of airline tickets made a first class ticket a not-very-expensive choice (after factoring in that a first class ticket included checked baggage and meals not included with a coach ticket, and first class provided space to do actual work on the plane).

    It was perversely fun during loading to sit there enjoying my included pre-flight glass of orange juice or of wine (depending on time of day) while the coach passengers shuffled by. 

    • #31
  2. RushBabe49 Thatcher
    RushBabe49
    @RushBabe49

    There’s a good reason my avatar picture is from when I was 1.5 years old.  It’s the best I’ve ever looked.  However, I did marry a guy who is much better-looking than I am.  I call him my “trophy husband”.

    Since 2014, we have flown first class whenever we fly.  The premium is not that much for domestic flights, and the perks make it worth every penny.  Boarding first, free checked bag, food, drinks, attentive service, bigger seats and more overhead storage space.  And if you want to get up, you only have to climb over one person.

    In grad school, I worked with the psychology researchers who did the seminal research on interpersonal attraction.  Kent is right on the money describing the characteristics of attractiveness.  Attractive people tend to have better genes; all the better to pass them on to offspring.

    • #32
  3. Jim Beck Inactive
    Jim Beck
    @JimBeck

    To add a few details to the “good genes model”. The components of this model include:  1. Symmetry – indicating developmental health and stability, and suggesting heterozygosity.  2.  Averageness – describing perhaps the optimum shape, size, proportion, away from genetic extremes.  3.  Appearance of health suggesting good condition and pathogen and parasite resistance.  4.  Appearance of youth – indicating current or future fertility.

    As Kent has observed attractiveness has life long advantages in social terms.  Attractive babies receive more attention from their mothers in all measurable ways.  Attractive people are thought to be friendlier, more honest, and more trustworthy, they on average have more sex partners, receive higher pay and advancement in the private world and in the armed services. However the premise that there are health benefits to attractiveness does not prove to occur.  It is true that peacocks with beautiful plumage survive longer that their less well groomed brothers, however in humans, large population samples from the Institue of Human Development do not show any correlation between attractive parents and fertility, health, or longevity of themselves or their children. These studies included populations of persons who were born, and lived and raised children before antibiotics were discovered.  In evolutionary terms human longevity has minimal benefit; it is sufficient that you live until your children are of age to raise their own children, grandma maybe of some benefit, but 50 year old men have little use on the battlefield.  So the idea that attractive folks have better genes is complicated if not in question, however on the other end folks who show deformity, in face or limbs, or who show hair or skin which in in poor condition often have genetic problems.  Lastly, the thought that there is some ratio which is descriptive of beauty is not likely.  That there is a proportion such as the “golden mean”, often seen in art work,  is not a good marker for facial aesthetics or bodily proportions.

    • #33
  4. mildlyo Member
    mildlyo
    @mildlyo

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    I’ve always thought “pulchritude” should win some kind of prize as the ugliest way to say “pretty.”

    And there I always thought pulchritude was a synonym for “stacked”. Didn’t think it applied to men.

    • #34
  5. Charlotte Member
    Charlotte
    @Charlotte

    KentForrester: I’ve always thought that the pleasant-face privilege would be very nice to have.  This is the privilege of people who have a face that isn’t particularly handsome but has a pleasant and inviting appearance, i.e., has bright open eyes, perhaps a perky nose, and a mouth that curls slightly upward at its ends.  People just naturally take a shine to those with the pleasant-face privilege.

    This also happens to be an accurate description of Bob.

    • #35
  6. KentForrester Coolidge
    KentForrester
    @KentForrester

    Charlotte (View Comment):

    KentForrester: I’ve always thought that the pleasant-face privilege would be very nice to have. This is the privilege of people who have a face that isn’t particularly handsome but has a pleasant and inviting appearance, i.e., has bright open eyes, perhaps a perky nose, and a mouth that curls slightly upward at its ends. People just naturally take a shine to those with the pleasant-face privilege.

    This also happens to be an accurate description of Bob.

    Charlotte, I’ll tell Bob what you said. He laps up compliments like he laps up his water after a walk.

    • #36
  7. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    KentForrester: (On a recent trip to Paris, I took the photo below of the guy sitting next to me, fairly typical of the people in coach.)

    His face rings a bell.

    • #37
  8. Django Member
    Django
    @Django

     I remember hearing that if you are blessed with extraordinarily good looks when you are young, you should document that condition with photographs, otherwise when you are old no one will believe you.

    • #38
  9. KentForrester Coolidge
    KentForrester
    @KentForrester

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    KentForrester: (On a recent trip to Paris, I took the photo below of the guy sitting next to me, fairly typical of the people in coach.)

    His face rings a bell.

    Very clever, Basil. 

    • #39
  10. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    KentForrester:

    Even a cursory search on Google reveals a plethora of studies that show that attractive people have a distinct and unfair advantage over unattractive people.  They are happier, more self-confident, and have more friends.

    Pulchritude privilege!

    But why is it unfair?

    • #40
  11. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    KentForrester: So how does one decide who is attractive and who is not?  The easiest way is to show photos of random people to a wide range of viewers.  Let these viewers sort them out by asking them who is attractive.

    One of the oldest aphorisms in the world “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

    • #41
  12. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    KentForrester: These golden ratios apparently cross-racial categories. (If you’re dissatisfied with this paragraph on the golden ratio, you have every right to be.  I didn’t receive a math privilege like you uppity STEM majors out there who passed algebra in high school.)

    I thought the golden ratio had something to do with rectangles.

    • #42
  13. Dotorimuk Coolidge
    Dotorimuk
    @Dotorimuk

    First class VS everyone else:

    • #43
  14. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    cdor (View Comment):

    All attractive people need to be surgically altered to make them way less attractive. It’s called appearance equity. For more detailed information, search: Critical Looks Theory. Here’s wishing the worst of luck to everyone…it’s only equitable.

    Harrison Bergeron.

    • #44
  15. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    Chris Oler (View Comment):

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    cdor (View Comment):
    All attractive people need to be surgically altered to make them way less attractive.

    Harrison Bergeron

    Speaking of sounds of words, I always thought Diana Moon Glampers was the perfect name for a Handicapper General.

    Yeah.  Vonnegut was on that day.

    • #45
  16. Henry Castaigne Member
    Henry Castaigne
    @HenryCastaigne

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    cdor (View Comment):

    All attractive people need to be surgically altered to make them way less attractive. It’s called appearance equity. For more detailed information, search: Critical Looks Theory. Here’s wishing the worst of luck to everyone…it’s only equitable.

    Harrison Bergeron.

    It will be interesting to hear leftists argue to make people uglier when genetic engineering becomes standardized. 

    • #46
  17. KentForrester Coolidge
    KentForrester
    @KentForrester

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    KentForrester:

    Even a cursory search on Google reveals a plethora of studies that show that attractive people have a distinct and unfair advantage over unattractive people. They are happier, more self-confident, and have more friends.

    Pulchritude privilege!

    But why is it unfair?

    Because they had nothing to do with their beauty, yet they have a lifelong advantage over the rest of us.

    • #47
  18. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    KentForrester:

    Even a cursory search on Google reveals a plethora of studies that show that attractive people have a distinct and unfair advantage over unattractive people. They are happier, more self-confident, and have more friends.

    Pulchritude privilege!

    But why is it unfair?

    Because they had nothing to do with their beauty, yet they have a lifelong advantage over the rest of us.

    Einstein was a zillion times smarter than me.  Was that unfair?

    • #48
  19. KentForrester Coolidge
    KentForrester
    @KentForrester

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    KentForrester:

    Even a cursory search on Google reveals a plethora of studies that show that attractive people have a distinct and unfair advantage over unattractive people. They are happier, more self-confident, and have more friends.

    Pulchritude privilege!

    But why is it unfair?

    Because they had nothing to do with their beauty, yet they have a lifelong advantage over the rest of us.

    Einstein was a zillion times smarter than me. Was that unfair?

    In a sense, yes Einstein had an unfair advantage, though he did develop that intelligence through schooling.

    • #49
  20. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):
     Boarding first,

    I’d rather board last.  Under the best of circumstances, airplanes aren’t that comfortable.

    • #50
  21. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    KentForrester:

    Even a cursory search on Google reveals a plethora of studies that show that attractive people have a distinct and unfair advantage over unattractive people. They are happier, more self-confident, and have more friends.

    Pulchritude privilege!

    But why is it unfair?

    Because they had nothing to do with their beauty, yet they have a lifelong advantage over the rest of us.

    Einstein was a zillion times smarter than I. Was that unfair?

     

    • #51
  22. Rightfromthestart Coolidge
    Rightfromthestart
    @Rightfromthestart

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    KentForrester: (On a recent trip to Paris, I took the photo below of the guy sitting next to me, fairly typical of the people in coach.)

    His face rings a bell.

    Looks like he rang it a lot! 

    • #52
  23. Rightfromthestart Coolidge
    Rightfromthestart
    @Rightfromthestart

    Rush called them the Uglo- American community. And added ‘they know who they are’

    Traveling with my daughter’s family I had TSA-pre to get through security. When my grandson, 7 at the time,  asked why I was in a different line I told him this was the line for  attractive people.

    • #53
  24. OmegaPaladin Moderator
    OmegaPaladin
    @OmegaPaladin

    I take trains rather than planes.  Less like a sardine can, and first class is just a shorter walk to the dining car, with nicer seats.

    • #54
  25. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    KentForrester:

    Even a cursory search on Google reveals a plethora of studies that show that attractive people have a distinct and unfair advantage over unattractive people. They are happier, more self-confident, and have more friends.

    Pulchritude privilege!

    But why is it unfair?

    Because they had nothing to do with their beauty, yet they have a lifelong advantage over the rest of us.

    Same is true of intelligence.  Is it unfair that smarter people do better in life than dumber people?

     

    • #55
  26. KentForrester Coolidge
    KentForrester
    @KentForrester

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    KentForrester:

    Even a cursory search on Google reveals a plethora of studies that show that attractive people have a distinct and unfair advantage over unattractive people. They are happier, more self-confident, and have more friends.

    Pulchritude privilege!

    But why is it unfair?

    Because they had nothing to do with their beauty, yet they have a lifelong advantage over the rest of us.

    Same is true of intelligence. Is it unfair that smarter people do better in life than dumber people?

     

    Miffed, yes it is unfair. In fact, it’s the very essence of unfairness when one is given an advantage that he did nothing to deserve. 

    • #56
  27. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    KentForrester:

    Even a cursory search on Google reveals a plethora of studies that show that attractive people have a distinct and unfair advantage over unattractive people. They are happier, more self-confident, and have more friends.

    Pulchritude privilege!

    But why is it unfair?

    Because they had nothing to do with their beauty, yet they have a lifelong advantage over the rest of us.

    Same is true of intelligence. Is it unfair that smarter people do better in life than dumber people?

     

    Miffed, yes it is unfair. In fact, it’s the very essence of unfairness when one is given an advantage that he did nothing to deserve.

    Let me tell you about these little things called “Life” and “Reality”.

     

    • #57
  28. KentForrester Coolidge
    KentForrester
    @KentForrester

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    KentForrester:

    Even a cursory search on Google reveals a plethora of studies that show that attractive people have a distinct and unfair advantage over unattractive people. They are happier, more self-confident, and have more friends.

    Pulchritude privilege!

    But why is it unfair?

    Because they had nothing to do with their beauty, yet they have a lifelong advantage over the rest of us.

    Same is true of intelligence. Is it unfair that smarter people do better in life than dumber people?

     

    Miffed, yes it is unfair. In fact, it’s the very essence of unfairness when one is given an advantage that he did nothing to deserve.

    Let me tell you about these little things called “Life” and “Reality”.

     

    I don’t understand what you’re getting at, Miffed.  Perhaps if you tell me more about “these little things called ‘Life” and “Reality” I’ll understand better. I’m serious.  Tell me what y9u think.  

    • #58
  29. Django Member
    Django
    @Django

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    KentForrester:

    Even a cursory search on Google reveals a plethora of studies that show that attractive people have a distinct and unfair advantage over unattractive people. They are happier, more self-confident, and have more friends.

    Pulchritude privilege!

    But why is it unfair?

    Because they had nothing to do with their beauty, yet they have a lifelong advantage over the rest of us.

    Same is true of intelligence. Is it unfair that smarter people do better in life than dumber people?

     

    Miffed, yes it is unfair. In fact, it’s the very essence of unfairness when one is given an advantage that he did nothing to deserve.

    In the cases of intelligence and beauty, who was the “giver”? 

    • #59
  30. KentForrester Coolidge
    KentForrester
    @KentForrester

    Django (View Comment):

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    KentForrester:

    Even a cursory search on Google reveals a plethora of studies that show that attractive people have a distinct and unfair advantage over unattractive people. They are happier, more self-confident, and have more friends.

    Pulchritude privilege!

    But why is it unfair?

    Because they had nothing to do with their beauty, yet they have a lifelong advantage over the rest of us.

    Same is true of intelligence. Is it unfair that smarter people do better in life than dumber people?

     

    Miffed, yes it is unfair. In fact, it’s the very essence of unfairness when one is given an advantage that he did nothing to deserve.

    In the cases of intelligence and beauty, who was the “giver”?

    Your genes. 

    • #60
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