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Ugly? You May Have a Case
NY Times ^ | August 27, 2011 | DANIEL S. HAMERMESH

Posted on 08/29/2011 10:45:33 AM PDT by neverdem

Daniel S. Hamermesh, a professor of economics at the University of Texas, Austin, is the author of "Beauty Pays," published this month. 

BEING good-looking is useful in so many ways.

In addition to whatever personal pleasure it gives you, being attractive also helps you earn more money, find a higher-earning spouse (and one who looks better, too!) and get better deals on mortgages. Each of these facts has been demonstrated over the past 20 years by many economists and other researchers. The effects are not small: one study showed that an American worker who was among the bottom one-seventh in looks, as assessed by randomly chosen observers, earned 10 to 15 percent less per year than a similar worker whose looks were assessed in the top one-third — a lifetime difference, in a typical case, of about $230,000.

Beauty is as much an issue for men as for women. While extensive research shows that women’s looks have bigger impacts in the market for mates, another large group of studies demonstrates that men’s looks have bigger impacts on the job.

Why this disparate treatment of looks in so many areas of life? It’s a matter of simple prejudice. Most of us, regardless of our professed attitudes, prefer as customers to buy from better-looking salespeople, as jurors to listen to better-looking attorneys, as voters to be led by better-looking politicians, as students to learn from better-looking professors. This is not a matter of evil employers’ refusing to hire the ugly: in our roles as workers, customers and potential lovers we are all responsible for these effects.

How could we remedy this injustice?...

--snip--

But many attorneys would be willing to organize classes of plaintiffs to overcome these costs, just as they now do in racial-discrimination and other lawsuits...

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: affirmativeaction; bias; discrimination; napl; sliming4lawyers; ugliness; ugly
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To: Lady Lucky

It’s petty when you are not one of the ones impacted. Good for you, Lady. Too bad people are so superficial that anyone who is short, bald, or not attractive or thin should ever have to even think about such things. These only matter if the job requires looks (e.g., a model). Of course, human nature being what it is, sales, marketing and so many other jobs will always want to hire beautiful people.


41 posted on 08/29/2011 6:52:35 PM PDT by Paved Paradise
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To: Paved Paradise
Too bad people are so superficial

I agree, it's deplorable. Too bad they're so aggressive, too. Served a purpose once, not so much lately, hmm?

Incidentally -- beside the point -- Carlo Ponti was short, bald, not attractive or thin. When he died, widow Sophia Loren said it would be unthinkable ever to love anyone else.

42 posted on 08/29/2011 7:36:21 PM PDT by Lady Lucky (Heavy the head that wears the tiara.)
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To: central_va
Helen Thomas in 1932

I'll lay odds YOU won't look as good at her age as you do now either!

43 posted on 08/29/2011 8:01:26 PM PDT by Don W (You can forget what you do for a living when your knees are in the breeze.)
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To: neverdem
See the beauties mit out makeup!


44 posted on 08/29/2011 8:06:50 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
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To: neverdem
The Beatles without makeup:


45 posted on 08/29/2011 8:08:20 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
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To: Don W

She was a bug eyed anti-semitic commie hag then and now.


46 posted on 08/30/2011 1:29:46 AM PDT by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Lady Lucky

Get your jollies by making subtle insults, I see? This is why so many people are spending more time on facebook and less on these anonymous forums.


47 posted on 08/30/2011 6:18:01 AM PDT by Paved Paradise
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To: dsrtsage

I saw that show. And the woman who did not get the help was not fat nor ugly. She just wore frumpy clothes and no makeup. The one who got the help wore a short jean skirt and heels.

What’s fascinating to me is that people often fall for the beautiful “monster” or “poison.” Handsome Ted Bundy was able to lure many women due to his good looks. There are numerous tales of beautiful women who have ruined many lives of men caught up in their beauty.


48 posted on 08/30/2011 6:21:24 AM PDT by Paved Paradise
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To: Don W

Is this really the nasty journalist Helen Thomas? Oh my! I find it hard to believe. But, then again, maybe she was like the Picture of Dorian Gray, only her wickedness showed up on her actual face?


49 posted on 08/30/2011 6:22:52 AM PDT by Paved Paradise
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To: Paved Paradise

Get help, PP. There’s no insult in my post, subtle or otherwise.


50 posted on 08/30/2011 6:35:33 AM PDT by Lady Lucky (Heavy the head that wears the tiara.)
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To: Don W

Not doubting you, but can you prove that was her in 1932? Any link?

The nostrils couldn’t have grown that much larger.


51 posted on 08/30/2011 7:28:19 AM PDT by panaxanax (0bama >>WORST PRESIDENT EVER.)
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To: Lady Lucky

It appeared so to me. Maybe I misunderstood. But, you continue to insult; now you are suddenly a “doctor” and telling me “I” need help. Wow. You are good. A couple of posts back and forth and you have already diagnosed me with a “problem.” Next you’ll want my $90.


52 posted on 08/30/2011 11:46:36 AM PDT by Paved Paradise
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To: panaxanax; Paved Paradise

If you right-click and select properties, you’ll see the source as follows:

http://www.familyoldphotos.com/pa/mercer2/images3/january/helenthomas-1932.jpg

Do an image search for “Helen Thomas”. You’ll be surprised at how she looked in her youth. Pity she turned so nasty in later life.


53 posted on 08/30/2011 8:41:44 PM PDT by Don W (You can forget what you do for a living when your knees are in the breeze.)
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To: Don W

‘And let that be a lesson to you! That’s what happens when you drink and smoke your whole life away.’


54 posted on 08/30/2011 8:49:11 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Some, believing they can't be deceived, it's nigh impossible to convince them when they're deceived.)
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To: neverdem; 3D-JOY; abner; Abundy; AGreatPer; Albion Wilde; AliVeritas; alisasny; ...

Unbelievable...

PING!


55 posted on 08/30/2011 9:12:52 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (It's the Tea Party's fault!)
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To: al baby; Allegra; EveningStar; JRios1968; martin_fierro; pax_et_bonum; Slings and Arrows

Have as much fun with this professor turkey as possible...


56 posted on 08/30/2011 9:14:23 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (It's the Tea Party's fault!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; Darksheare; OSHA; ...
This just in: Life is not fair. Film at 11.


57 posted on 08/30/2011 9:46:09 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: Slings and Arrows
This just in: Life is not fair. Film at 11.

In other news, the sun rose and the wind blew.

58 posted on 08/30/2011 9:54:55 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (It's the Tea Party's fault!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
In other news, the sun rose and the wind blew.

...and the Palestinians are outraged.

59 posted on 08/30/2011 9:57:09 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: rellimpank

IIRC, he was talking about Uglo-Americans back in the early 90’s.


60 posted on 08/30/2011 9:59:02 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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