Should You Change Your Appearance to Be Taken More Seriously?
The BBC News recently released an editorial piece about Eileen Carey, a successful tech CEO who chose to dye her blonde hair brown. Her reason: it would help her garner more respect from potential investors.
It’s depressing to admit that we live in a world that judges professional women’s looks before their intelligence, talent, or experience. But it’s true.
Some past studies show that attractive women are generally taken less seriously, but other research claims that women who are perceived as well-groomed earn more.
So which is it?
Here a just a few of the factors that determine how your appearance is perceived in the professional world:
Male-Dominated Industries
While it probably goes without saying, there seems to be a strong connection between sexist beliefs and discrimination over professional women’s appearances.
Industries that are typically male-dominated, such as tech and finance, are known for judging women on their physical appearance more so than others.
Authority Level
Discrimination can also vary depending on where you are in your career.
Conventionally attractive women in entry-level or mid-level positions are often favored over women who are viewed as less attractive.
This favoritism switches as soon as a woman tries to enter a managerial or leadership role. The attractiveness that once made her a likable employee is now a sign of vapidness and inability to lead.
Entrepreneurship
Women entrepreneurs are often reliant on their ability to make strong, lucrative connections with investors. Therefore, they might need to pay closer attention to their personal appearance in order to access necessary resources.
Sometimes we have to play the game in order to get what we want.
If you’d like to read more about the role of physical appearance in a male-dominated industry, check out our interview with Arisha Smith!