Do you think people really have prejudices against attractive people? When you see an attractive person, do you automatically assume that person cannot be brilliant?
My girlfriend is very smart (a philosophy major) but feels the need to play down her looks in order for her mind to be taken seriously. She's very beautiful and she told me recently that she doesn't want her classmates (and her prof - who,
incidentally, is a woman) to assume she's just a beauty with no brains. (She didn't word it quite like that.)
So she dresses really shabbily and makes a point of wearing no makeup to class (even though she likes it) so that she doesn't stand out.
When she told me this, I started thinking ... is this just a personal hang-up of hers? Or do people (especially academics) feel threatened in the presence of really attractive people? Or is it simply a stereotype that attractive people can't also be bright?
What are your thoughts?
2007-08-02 18:58:28 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
First its the looks that catch attention. But its a big plus if the person is beauty and brainy. Or sometimes, others are intimidated. But not if you are pleasant to everyone.
If i were her, I'd be myself. I love to put make up, so I will put make up on. Who cares if they think I am only all beauty without brains? There'll be times when they find out when they are wrong. I'll just make sure that my feet are always planted on the ground so I'll make more friends.
2007-08-02 19:05:07 · answer #1 · answered by smith 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One of my best friends in college was a woman who was stop-traffic gorgeous and a snappy dresser. She was also very smart (and a philosophy major). Some people (by no means all) seemed to have trouble taking her seriously at an intellectual level. When she tried to strike up conversations with acquaintances around school (we're talking people who were themselves pretty nerdy) about, say, philosophy, they would often turn the topic to something like where she got her blouse, and that obviously was frustrating for her. In addition, while we were in college she had an affair with a professor -- that involved some bad decisions on her part, and i actually think he did respect her mind a lot, but it was a huge distraction from her studies to have that going on.
Anyway. Friend eventually went on to graduate school, where she gained some weight, bought a baggier wardrobe, and scaled back her makeup. Since then she's won teaching awards and, while I'm not there to observe, seems to be thriving both personally and academically.
So based on this one person's story, I think there is some truth to what your gf is saying, whether it's actually a problem for her personally or not.
2007-08-03 08:30:24 · answer #2 · answered by Amanda 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think she has some issues. There probably are some people who make these assumptions, just as there are people who assume that people who are not attractive are failures. But for the most part, people will take her on her own merits. I do find, though, that some people present themselves in ways that make people uncomfortable. For example, a number of years ago I had a young woman in class who was a lingerie model, so obviously she was a very attractive person. But she showed up to class wearing Daisy Dukes unbuttoned and tiny bra tops - the guys in class were so embarrassed they didn't know which way to look. Then she complained because she said people wouldn't take her seriously!
2007-08-03 02:38:18 · answer #3 · answered by neniaf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ideally youd want to balance the attractiveness personality and intelligence or appearance beomes the first or most prominent thing abt you. this isnt necessarily a stereotype or hangup but distracting in professional/academic environments where other assets are more valued(so in these instances-why not emphasize intelligence/personality- then looks in that order?)
most beautiful women dont have to emphasize their true beauty and dont try to draw excessive attention from just anyone. makeup is an artificial vice intended to draw physical attention-i look good for my boyfriend not to be leered at by random losers all day-its just distracting for everyone
2007-08-03 13:07:04 · answer #4 · answered by karen33 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well,
In our society today, looks alters every single decision you make, whether or not we choose to accept it or not. The thing about your girlfriend is that she shouldn't feel the need to play down her looks. There is a such thing called beauty and brains and it is common. Why care about her classmates and professor opinions? The scores will show who has a brain =]. Then again, this is my opinon, hope it helps somewhat.
2007-08-03 02:06:02 · answer #5 · answered by Hoa T 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's very hard to please all people around. Today they say: you are very beautiful, so we think that you are stupid. Tomorrow they can say: you are very clever and successful at work, but we think your family life is bad etc., etc. I'm a journalist and every week met with different people, and I know that each of them can have his own opinion. Sometimes men think that if I'm pretty, I should be not so clever like, for example, my colleagues-men. But when we start to discuss so difficult topics like MBA, business, HR etc., they see that I'm very clever. I like my work and don't be offended by their first opinion. We can achieve respect of different people, but we should not concentrate on some preconceived opinions, we should do our work (or other duties) in the best possible way.
2007-08-03 03:14:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well.. i think. most of the good looking people only care about their looks because they can rule everything with their appearance. so probably they think that brain is no need. and then they get stupid and dumb. but if the good looking ones put brain and behavior in their first priority i think they're not going to be dumb and stupid. because basically all humans in the entire world have their own skills and ability so everyone is smart but it's just the matter of views; whether they want to be success or not...
that's my thought
sorry if I'm confusing you..
2007-08-03 10:50:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The thing is why would she care about what other people say. I don't think its an issue about looks or brains but rather about how you look at yourself as a whole. Your girlfriend should get past her insecurities and love her God-given gifts never, ever compromise yourself for the sake of anyone's opinion.
2007-08-03 02:07:10 · answer #8 · answered by fgump 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Had 2 roommates in college who were very pretty. One of them never dressed up, did much with her hair or wore makeup, because people would stare at her. The other was fed up with men because she was a blonde and they all thought she was clueless. She was a pre-optometry major and one of the most dedicated students I ever met.
2007-08-03 02:02:05 · answer #9 · answered by piratefancarrie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think being a smart and what if there is a no brain were not come a smart and intelligence and no our talents.
2007-08-03 02:05:11 · answer #10 · answered by Clarisse 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋