Does pretty privilege exist in Singapore?

“It was just another evening at a hotel bar. Dressed in a hoodie and sweatpants, I stood at the counter waiting to be served. Minutes passed. Then half an hour. I was invisible. The next evening, I went back - but this time, I was dressed to the nines, makeup flawless, hair styled. The result? Immediate service, warm smiles, and unsolicited attention. Nothing about me had changed - except my appearance,” 29-year-old Janice recalled, her voice laced with both amusement and frustration. It was a stark reminder that in a world obsessed with appearances, beauty isn’t just admired - it’s rewarded.

This is the reality of pretty privilege: a phenomenon where society extends unearned advantages to those who fit conventional beauty standards. It dictates how we are treated, the opportunities we receive, and even how we perceive our own worth.

What is Pretty Privilege?

Pretty privilege refers to the social, professional, and personal advantages afforded to individuals considered attractive by conventional standards of beauty. From symmetrical features to an hourglass figure, these ideals, often rooted in Eurocentric beauty norms, can dictate one’s access to everything from career advancements to better treatment in daily interactions.

However, the concept isn’t exclusive to women. The difference? Women are often judged more harshly on their looks, while men’s value is frequently tied to their status, wealth, and charisma.

Part of this privilege stem from the halo effect – a cognitive bias where a positive perception of one aspect of a person, such as their physical appearance, influences our overall judgment of them. Essentially, if you’re good-looking, people will naturally assume you to be more competent, sociable, and trustworthy. This bias can open doors even in areas unrelated to appearance, such as job performance or personality.

A Harvard study found that attractive individuals are more likely to be hired and earn higher salaries than their less attractive counterparts. In the airline industry, for instance, cabin crew members are frequently selected based on conventional beauty standards, reinforcing the idea that attractiveness equates to professionalism and approachability. While this is more evident in service industries, it happens in other fields too. 

But the privilege isn’t without its downsides. Some employers perceive attractive candidates as entitled or lacking in intelligence. The stereotype of the “dumb blonde” or the “good-looking but incompetent” employee, therefore, persists, creating another layer of bias in the professional sphere. For instance, an attractive employee who struggles to grasp basic tasks or frequently asks repetitive questions may quickly be labelled as unintelligent, even if their challenges stem from poor training or a lack of support rather than a lack of capability.

The Racial Bias of Beauty Standards

Pretty privilege isn’t universal; it is deeply intertwined with race.

This racial hierarchy can be seen in media representation and even in real-life social interactions. Take the popular Korean dating show Single’s Inferno, for example. Viewers quickly noticed that fair-skinned women were more sought after by male contestants, while tanner-skinned women often received less attention. The show unintentionally exposed the lingering colourism embedded in beauty preferences, where lighter skin is still perceived as more desirable.

Similarly, societal beauty standards within Singapore reveal racial biases in how people are treated. “I do feel the difference in how certain Singaporean men have treated me compared to what they deem as ‘a pretty Chinese Singaporean’, which one could say is the beauty standard in Singapore. Let alone being called ‘fat’ or ‘black’ simply because I am not ‘skinny’ nor ‘fair’,” shared 24-year-old Divya, who has faced the repercussions of racial preference as a brown girl. This reflects the broader issue of how beauty standards often marginalise and reinforce harmful stereotypes and inequalities.

The Dark Side: Sexual Harassment and Objectification

Being conventionally attractive doesn’t always translate to safety or comfort. Many individuals who fit society’s beauty ideals report experiencing higher instances of sexual harassment, unwanted advances, and the assumption that their appearance grants others access to them.

Women in customer-facing industries, such as retail, hospitality, and aviation, frequently face inappropriate comments from customers or colleagues. Flight attendants, for example, have shared experiences of being propositioned mid-flight, with some male passengers assuming their friendly service is an invitation for flirtation. While making her way through a full cabin, 27-year-old flight attendant Tasha felt something that no one should feel at work: someone tapping her hips to get her attention. “I turned around thinking maybe it was an accident,” she said, “but nope, he did it again.” Such incidents highlight the physical and emotional boundaries that are often violated in these roles.

In social settings, pretty privilege can also take a darker turn. All women, regardless of appearance, are vulnerable to harassment, from being followed and catcalled to experiencing unwanted physical contact in public spaces. However, conventionally attractive women often receive more attention and support when they speak out about these experiences, while those who don’t fit traditional beauty standards are more likely to be dismissed or disbelieved. A 2021 study by the American Psychological Association found that women who do not conform to conventional standards of beauty are less likely to be taken seriously as victims of sexual harassment. In nightclubs, attractive women may face entitled behaviour from strangers who equate beauty with availability. On social media, algorithms continue to favour conventionally attractive women, exacerbating harmful hierarchies and shaping skewed perceptions of whose voices and experiences deserve validation.

Conversely, individuals who have benefited from pretty privilege sometimes grapple with the idea that their achievements are not based on merit. Even in professional environments, attractive individuals can struggle to be taken seriously, with their looks sometimes overshadowing their skills, whether it’s a female executive being dismissed as just a “pretty face” or an actor facing casting scenarios where his appearance is valued over his talent. The moment their beauty fades or they no longer receive preferential treatment, they may experience a sharp decline in self-esteem.

Moving Beyond Beauty Bias

Acknowledging pretty privilege doesn’t mean demonising attractiveness but instead questioning a system that equates physical appeal with value. 

Until then, the next time someone is treated favourably based solely on their looks, remember: beauty might open doors, but the measure of a person extends far beyond the surface.