From breezing into nightclubs for free to establishing entire careers, it’s obvious that a pretty face can grant you entry into certain rooms. A common social media topic, many of us have heard about this so-called pretty privilege. It refers to the idea that typically attractive people receive preferential treatment.

However, often it is forgotten that pretty privilege extends past bottle service and Birkin bags, ‘attractive’ people have tangible career advantages alongside better social outcomes. Not only are ‘attractive’ people more likely to be interviewed and hired for jobs, according to one study, they often “advance rapidly in their careers through frequent promotions and they earn higher wages than unattractive individuals”. Even before you graduate into the workplace, another study suggests “physical attractiveness is positively associated with educational achievement”. 

People are even more likely “to believe sexual harassment claims by women who are young, ‘conventionally attractive’, and appear and act feminine”. A University of Washington study found that women who do not fit that prototype are “presumed to be unharmed by [sexually] harassing behaviour”. There’s substantial evidence to indicate that being ‘unattractive’ can have harrowing impacts on your quality of life, career prospects and your access to justice.