Sure, being beautiful has its perks, but have you ever heard of the term “ugly privilege”?
women are Celebrating average looks onlinedefending their mediocre genes as a deterrent Unwanted male attention.
“When I say I have ‘ugly privilege,’ I don’t necessarily think of myself as an ugly person,” one creator who goes by the name Sarah explained in a now-viral video. video Posted this week.
“That means that men in general don’t find me attractive. Most men think I’m ugly and leave me alone, but for me that’s a privilege.”
She, along with other TikTok users in the video’s comments section, celebrated women’s ability to be “invisible” in order to feel “comfortable” and “safe” in a world where they are often stared at and commodified.
“I gained weight after my son and men started ignoring me. I don’t feel like losing weight because it makes me feel so good. I used to be constantly harassed and I couldn’t escape,” another interjected.
“I put on a lot of weight after my last two kids. Now that men aren’t chasing me in parking lots and heckling me, I’m not going to try and get in shape, because honestly, that’s not what I want.”
This so-called blessing is the polar opposite of the curse of “beauty privilege” suffered by some women who, despite the perks that good looks bring, feel objectified by men and rejected by other women.
But “ugly privilege” is said to have benefits beyond materialization.
In the workplace, “employees who don’t fit traditional beauty standards may be less susceptible to certain biases,” human resources expert Lukas Botzen said. Business Insider.
“With fewer interruptions and inappropriate behavior from others, you may be able to focus more on your work and contribute more appropriately in your role,” the Rivermate founder continued, adding that increased productivity could even lead to a pay raise.
According to the media report, women are judged more often than men on their appearance, which can be a deciding factor when applying for a job, for example.
Some people are turned down for roles because of their appearance, such as having tattoos, not wearing makeup, or not having dyed hair.
Alexa Chilcutt, an executive education professor and executive coach at the Johns Hopkins Carey School of Management, recalled meeting a male lawyer who told her she was “lucky not to have a large bust” because she was already conventionally beautiful.
“Then no one will think you’re smart,” she told Business Insider.
In that warped view, not meeting societal expectations of beauty might be considered an unfortunate stroke of luck.
“Women who are physically ‘off the radar’ don’t have to deal with the collateral distractions of others vying for attention, and can focus on and be valued for the quality of their relationships and work,” she said.
“Being perceived as less feminine or ‘pretty’ may be an advantage for women seeking higher levels of leadership.”
