Does being "good looking" mean more success in life?

Question

I've got into a heated argument with someone about this topic, i said that usually, (but not neccesarily), being "good looking" will bring a higher chance of success in life.

She argued and said, it is very 50/50 and that some women are hindered by being good looking, by some men afraid to hire attractive staff in fear of distractions at work, and how sometimes prettier women are taken less serious..

I say thats just bad luck if one encounters such a scenario of prejudice. She argues that being good looking, brings more trouble than it does a "less attractive" person.

Her points include "unwanted sexual tension with colleagues causes stress, and jealous females backstabbing"

I say that just comes with the territory of being more in the limelight.

Which is desired by some, but despised by some as well..

So I think i won the arguement, when i asked, if you could restart your life, and the only factors you can decide on was the choice of being "Very Pretty" or "Very Average"....

Which one would she pick..

Is it because being better looking means a better life?

Or is it just human nature to want to be better looking?

Which "decision" will you pick?

And what do you think?

Answer 1

Being pretty means that you will have a better chance of being picked for a job, it doesn´t mean that you will be more successful.  I don´t think women are jealous of pretty women unless they are pretty and bitchy and expect to swan around the office doing nothing.  I once worked with a stunning girl who was hired for her looks but was useless at her job.  Funny thing was we all covered for her and she was very popular with everyone because she was such a nice, friendly happy girl.

Being open, honest, friendly is what makes a person popular.

You could assume that being pretty would give you confidence but there are many pretty girls out their who don´t think they are pretty and are full of self doubt.  

Look at all the models and film stars, can you name anyone whom you think is happy, despite being slim, s**y and pretty.  Do they appear happier than the rest of us. Yes they get more work but are not necessarily happier.

Some men are initimidated by pretty girls and will not approach them.

Answer 2

I believe just being attractive is not enough.. but if the woman is attractive and brainy and also approachable and a teamworker then those problems won't happen. Only if she makes a show of her good looks then it will create those problems.. but if she is down to earth and a colleague who does not believe her good looks make her superior to her colleagues then she will get along fine. A woman who is not really ugly but plainer looking can be as successful if she has the same good attitude and self confidence and is intelligent and ambitious but fair and a good team worker and efficient x*x

Answer 3

Alot of it depends upon the perspective of the person making the point. To ugly or not-as-attractive people, good-looking people can seem to have an edge in life, especially when it comes to dating and whatnot, but being attractive has just as many drawbacks as ugliness.

In high profile careers (model, actor, athlete, etc) attractiveness does provide more opportunities by providing more attention, but attention is a dual-edged sword. Yes, attractive people are more attractive, but they also attract alot more share of the idiots and @$$holes in the world.

Its a double standard really, because attractive males have more power (and usually less problems) in the world than attractive females. That is because attractive females become an object of conquest rather than a conqueror. An attractive male is culturally directed to enjoy a stronger position of power, and instructed in how to use his advantage to the best of his ability. An attractive female, on the other hand, becomes an object of jealousy and envy among her friends because they are more group-oriented, and an individual who stands out becomes a threat to them. Not only that, but an attractive female then becomes an object of desire for both attractive and unattractive men, and even the most unattractive of men often find other ways of gaining power (becoming rich, for one) in an attempt at influencing an attractive woman's choice (think Rudy Guiliani's escort service.) Alot of attention seems like a good idea, if everyone is ignoring you, but it isn't so good when alot of bad people are hanging around: a big pot of honey always attracts a big crowd of flies.

So attractiveness (above average) is actually a bonus for men and a detriment for women, usually. And exteme attractiveness is just as bad, for alot of people become so absorbed, in a good or bad way, with your looks that they pretty much ignore the person underneath.

Answer 4

Of course I would pick very pretty. And also, she's wrong about the 50/50, statistics show that better looking people have higher chances of getting a job than an average looking person, and a less attractive person usually has less confidence. That's not always true, but it is a lot. Haven't you heard people talk about a b*tchy girl at school or a celeb and be like, "She's not even pretty enough to act that way!"? Well, I've heard it a million times, and it's just how the world works. About the unwanted sexual tension... can't they ignore them? I mean, guys courting you... that's not a bad thing... or else why would so many people try to be popular?? And yeah, jealous females will be backstabbing, but that's only if you're REALLY REALLY pretty, and even if your average and you have a nice personality and you're "lucky" enough to catch the attention of the supposedly "hottest guy" at school, then the same thing is going to happen. Plus, if you're the "hottest" girl in school and you're with the "hottest" guy in school, you seriously think people are going to say something? Being the "hottest" means you basically have leadership or ruling personality, so nobody will have the nerve to say it to your face or seriously do anything to you.

Answer 5

Basically every other animal in nature besides humans base their sexual decisions solely on the appeal of the physical means presented by the opposite s*x - humans are the odd species out in the fact that anything besides pure physical prowess is involved in the 'mating process'. Even though our mental capacity is what separates us from other species, we evolved from animals, so of course we are drawn to more perfect examples of our species. So, yes -- it is human nature to desire physical beauty.

But, whether or not this basic desire creates a better life for the desired is a complicated question, and in a lot of ways has nothing to do with how attractive someone may be at all. Being good looking will no doubt create attention from others, but what becomes of that attention is dependent on how the said individual decides to respond. Life is determined by reactions to the position the world provides, and these reactions have no correlation to ones physical beauty.  

Answer 6

Being Good looking means that you'll be more successful in you're job, you're world, and you're life.