Pretty People Get Paid More. But Is It Because They're So Smart?

Moe — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 13:30:14 EST

You know how pretty people always seem to get ahead for no other reason than the fact that they are pretty? New research shows that pretty people — judged for their symmetry and such — regularly outearn uglies. Well, as Charlie Wilson used to say, "You can teach 'em to type, but you can't teach 'em to grow tits," right? But there's more to it than that, says the Economist in a story that claims that there are all sorts of new scary studies proving that beauty and intelligence go together. See, historically, smart men used to breed with pretty women, and beauty has always been unfairly rewarded, so pretty people just make shitloads more money because as the story points out, life ain't fair and "there is a feedback loop between biology and the social environment that gives to those who have, and takes from those who have not." But here's the interesting part! Some countries are different from others. The "beauty premium" commanded by the pretty wage earners in the U.K. is a mere 1%. (Can we thank Posh & Becks for this?) In China, it is highest, at 10%. (Can we thank "socialism with Chinese characteristics" for this?)

Fascinatingly, in the U.S., where historically we've equated beauty with mental retardation, the "beauty premium" is less for women than it is for men.

So how do uglies fight back? (The uglies get a worse discount in most countries than the pretties ever get a premium, which sucks.) But they thought of that! In China, researchers discussed the effects of the skillful application of makeup and the like. They found it was generally impossible to recoup your investment in makeup and whatever else on salary alone.

He estimates that the beauty premium generated by such primping is worth only 15% of the money expended. Of course, beauty pays off in spheres of life other than the workplace. But that, best beloved, would be the subject of a rather different article.

Or, like, a book!

Beauty And Success: To Those That Have, Shall Be Given [Economist]

Can You Be Both Smart And Hot? Maria Bartiromo Makes The Case For "No"

Moe — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 12:45:45 EDT

Few types of women inspire as much antipathy — from jealous haters like us, anyway — as the insanely hot woman who is also being marketed to us as "smart." I am talking about Padma Lakshmi and Scarlett Johansson, and today more specifically CNBC "Money Honey" Maria Bartiromo, who has endured much hateration since she left all those bankers to fend for themselves on commercial out of Beijing so she and that banker dude could have the private jet to themselves, and then came home only to alienate all her co-workers by trademarking the phrase "Money Honey" and going soft on Condoleeza Rice. Now, Maria Bartiromo has the potential to be smart, but when you are as hot as Maria Bartiromo you are almost not allowed to be smart, because everyone is so amazed that someone as hot as you can even speak in full sentences. In the same way Penelope Cruz still can't really speak English because her hotness has given her a pass, Maria Bartiromo's hotness has bought her a smart pass, and this is bad for all women. Because it sets the smartness bar really low, as her recently-YouTubed dumb-as-rocks appearance on Celebrity Jeopardy conveys:

Category: The Capital, for $100 A: In 1989 hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators were killed by the military at Tiananmen Square in this capital. Q: Maria buzzes in and makes a face for five seconds. A five second face, to her dismay, is incorrect. Armed with a functioning buzzer, Maria prepares to actually verbalize a question next time.

MARIA! We sure hope that last time around you weren't too horny for banker sex to notice what city you were in! It's only the capital of the world's most populous country! Anyway, the rest of the appearance is almost as pathetic. And yeah this is who gets to interview our Secretary of State. We are so doomed.

Great Moments In Financial History: The Money Honey On Celebrity Jeopardy [DealBreaker]

Jezebel: beauty kills brain cells

Pretty People Get Paid More. But Is It Because They're So Smart?

Can You Be Both Smart And Hot? Maria Bartiromo Makes The Case For "No"