To think "pretty privilege" can start really early?

[donniedarko89]

"Pretty privilege" is the term used to describe the unfair advantages that people who conform to society's beauty standards receive.

AIBU to think that it can start as early as the first years of primary school? I am noticing these dynamics in DD's school, with "popular cliques" already forming in Year 1. Is this just in my head?

To me it's not privilege, it's genetics. It's not granted to a chosen few by some beauty overload and neither is it restricted by anyone.

But "privilege" refers to the ways in which society rewards these genetic features. E.g. (on average) better grades as students, more likely to be hired, better pay. Of course, there's a significant biological component to why attractive people (as a group) are afforded these benefits.

I don't mind the word privilege being used to explain the benefits that one group have over another but it does seem to irk a lot of people.

@CraftyPlumViewer the definition of privilege is "a special right, advantage, or immunityy_ granted or available only to a particular person or group." To me, that's not what genetics is.

If society as a whole bestows preferential treatment on those deemed to be beautiful (which I question because there isn't an agreed universal form of human beauty, and beauty doesn't guarantee anything in life), that is not the fault of the person who did nothing but inherit a set of genes.

People who inherit wealth can choose to use that wealth to benefit society. People who inherit "beautiful" genes are stuck with them- they can't donate their beauty to someone less "privileged."

So presumably you don't think that men, as a group, have advantages over women in various different societies (since sex is also determined by genetics)?

And nobody is saying that it is the fault of attractive people that they are, as a class and in general, given societal benefits over non-attractive people. I don't know why you're talking about fault, or an inability to donate - it isn't relevant.

But society absolutely does reward attractiveness, as countless studies accross the world over several decades have conclusively shown.

Thank you, I appreciated your comment!

My primary school kid is pretty normal looking and they get books form the year above for her. I think it’s pretty random tbh. One of the smartest guys I know is about 5ft 4. the female oxbridge grads in my family are all perfectly normal looking too and would have not been considered very pretty in primary school.

I think it’s random. I went to a grammar, it wasn’t packed full of beautiful people (there were definitely some). Maybe it’s different in private, more money for nice teeth and glossy hair.

I think it’s a thing.
i was a real ugly ducking kid- shit hair, shit teeth, lots of illness so mostly looked underweight and very pale. I was however a nice kid, kind and funny. I loved playing outside and was often dirty.
My sister was plain really but had blonde hair, blue eyes and kept herself neat. My family members really favoured her- she’d get lots of compliments and they’d take (and display) far more photos of her. It often happened that she’d get the nice gift too like crystal barbie and I’d get the cheaper version. Or she would get a ‘good’character toy like she-ra and I’d get the baddie from the series etc. I think it was probably mostly unconscious in fairness.
Shrs struggled far more with the aging process than I have though and has had minor surgery on her face so it obviously impacted on her sense of identity too. Luckily I grew up not that ugly in the end 🤣

I really don't think kids with nice teeth and glossy hair are buying them! All kids can have glossy hair and nice teeth- dental care is free and shampoo is cheap!

Thick, glossy hair def is inherited, fine, tangly hair etc takes hours & Mums often just chopped lot off kids in past.

This is true. Charisma is not always linked to looks. My youngest DD not pretty (she looks like me lol), has been highly popular since nursery. Girls and boys wanted to be her friend and play with her. Grandparents were introduced to her in supermarkets as the famous xxxx xxxxxxxx. It was weird. At uni she had a tight circle of friends within days. Still close with them. Contrast her very pretty older sister who is lovely but a bit socially awkward with her peers. She was never in with the in crowd. Big brother is very funny which accounts for his popularity! Funny trumps looks in boys and men?

That programme with Dr Robert Winston showed that adults and other children all favoured more attractive children.

I remember reading about a study of babies looking at their carers faces, years ago. Even babies were more drawn to attractive faces, looking at them for longer, smiling more at them etc. So the preference for attractive faces is inbuilt it seems.