Beauty still matters: The role of attractiveness in labour market outcomes

Abstract

The main objective of the study is threefold: first, to examine the role of attractiveness in the Czech labour market; second, to assess gender differences in returns of attractiveness; and third, to show that the positive association between attractiveness and earnings does not disappear even when cognitive skills, social background, occupational status and individual characteristics are controlled for. The study uses data from the first large-scale sociological survey focusing on attractiveness carried out in the Czech Republic. The results provide strong evidence for the hypothesis that, in general, more attractive people have a better chance of higher socioeconomic occupational status as well as higher incomes than less attractive individuals even when controlling for cognitive skills, social background, occupational status and personality. However, the analysis also shows that the relationships are different for men and women. The study finds that the income premium for attractiveness is markedly higher among prime-aged women than men. The authors conclude that there have been profound changes in the last 30–40 years in the Western world and that the importance of physical attractiveness and erotic capital has been increasing, especially for women.

Generating Aesthetic Capital: Prospects from Autobiographical Narratives

“…Physical appearance has a major role in shaping societal dynamics in many ways. Studies report its consequences on economic and social rewards, such as higher income (e.g., Anýžová & Matěj ů, 2018;Biddle & Hamermesh, 1998;Cawley, 2004;Johnston, 2010;Kanazawa & Still, 2018), better hiring opportunities and career advancements (e.g., Baert & Decuypere, 2014;Hamermesh, 2011;Hamermesh & Abrevaya, 2013;Hosoda et al, 2003;Ruffle & Shtudiner, 2014;Wolbring & Riordan, 2016), electoral success (e.g., Berggren et al, 2010;Jäckle & Metz, 2017), partner selection (e.g., Mathes & Kozak, 2008;McClintock, 2014) and socioeconomic status (Jaeger, 2011). Hence, it has been argued that physical appearance should be conceptualised as a form of capital (Anderson et al, 2010;Holla & Kuipers, 2015;Mears, 2015;Shilling, 2004;cf.…”

Educational Pathways and their Role in Occupational and Class Attainment in Czech Society

“…Incorporating data on cognitive ability collected in the PIAAC survey, Smith, Matějů and Anýžová [2018] found that respondent education remains the strongest determinant of occupational status (ISEI), with standardised coefficients roughly three times the size of the effect of both cognitive ability and family background. Anýžová and Matějů [2018] supplemented that model by incorporating data on respondents' physical attractiveness-which impacts the income and occupational status of middle-aged Czech women, but not men-but also found that stability in the effect of education on occupational status across age, cohorts, and genders.…”

Individual differences in vocal size exaggeration

“…In social interactions, vocal size exaggeration contributes to the impression of higher-order social traits such as authority 8 , social dominance 9 – 11 , and masculinity/femininity 4 , 5 , 8 , 12 – 14 . Favourable evaluations along these traits can impact social and professional outcomes across the lifespan 15 – 18 .…”