Comments on: If You’re Beautiful, So Are Your Grades

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:18:25 +0000

@Leslie Thanks for your inquisitive response. This is really interesting, especially from a cultural standpoint. I wonder if this is indicative of the U.S. to judge more by looks, because of our media culture?

Thanks for passing along the NY Times article. This topic and study has shown quite a rise across my blog and others I pass it along to. Thanks for stopping by, Leslie.

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:18:25 +0000

Thanks for passing along the NY Times article. This topic and study has shown quite a rise across my blog and others I pass it along to. Thanks for stopping by, Leslie.

By: Leslie Forman

Leslie Forman — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 05:31:07 +0000

I discussed this story with the Chinese patent attorneys that I tutor in English. They were all pretty appalled by it, and didn't think it would be true in China. They think that Chinese teachers like students who score well on exams, not the other way around. The educational system here is more test-oriented than America's. However, in the working world they are far more explicit about the role of appearance. I think that my looks have contributed quite a bit to the jobs I've gotten in China, and it would be much harder if I were either Asian-American or African-American. I recommended that a hospitable and helpful Chinese friend look for jobs at hotels, and she said she was too short to work at a hotel. Apparently they only hire tall girls.

The New York Times covered the same story in this thought-provoking little article (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/education/edl... )

Thanks for the great discussion!

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:22:27 +0000

@Sam In general, you're right. Looks and attractiveness affects many areas of life: socially, professionally and in the classroom. It doesn't mean it's fair and it doesn't mean that it happens EVERYTIME. Thanks for sharing

By: sameve

sameve — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:44:19 +0000

This is an unfortunate discovery, but not entirely surprising. Physical appearance shouldn't affect success, academically, professionally or socially, but it does. This may seem far fetched, but this makes me think of what happened when I went to certain bars in college. I could be standing at the bar for five minutes trying to get a drink, and the muscled, tan bartender would look straight at me a few times and still ignore me. When my blonde friend would go up with me, we'd get served right away.

I know bartenders are different than teachers, at least I hope so, and many people would say that's just a fact of life and something that happens at bars. But, that doesn't make it right. Brunettes and redheads are paying customers too.

You obviously put a lot of work into researching this post, and it's a great one. Thanks for sharing this info!

By: Friday Finds: Weekend reading (and watching) « internSHARE Blog

Friday Finds: Weekend reading (and watching) « internSHARE Blog — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:20:16 +0000

[...] (via Small Hands, Big Ideas) — “‘Being very well groomed is associated with a statistically significant GPA [...]

By: Friday Finds: Weekend reading (and watching) | TalentEgg Career Incubator

Friday Finds: Weekend reading (and watching) | TalentEgg Career Incubator — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:18:32 +0000

[...] (via Small Hands, Big Ideas) — “‘Being very well groomed is associated with a statistically significant GPA [...]

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:56:33 +0000

@KM Woah, I can't believe your teacher said that. I do think there's a stigma between the sports and social activities you choose plus how 'attractive' you may be with your grades. Thanks for bringing up this experience on the other side of the fence!

By: KM

KM — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:13:48 +0000

I was quite surprised by this study, it's disappointing to say the least. Oddly enough though, I've experienced the opposite to be true too. When I was in high school I received a bad grade in a physics class, and when I went in to talk to the teacher about why I'd received it and what I could to improve he said “pretty girls don't do well in physics.” I felt that being somehwat attractive prevented me from getting a better grade. Just my own personal experience, I know, but I think it goes both ways sometimes.

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 05:49:07 +0000

@Matt I think your point is true if you take a BIG step back. Everyone does their best when they feel the best about themselves–but the part that interferes is the person who is grading, judging or hiring. That outlier judges what their best looks are like. Someone could feel great about themselves and be really smart, but if they weren't outwardly “good looking,” their grade could be compromised. That's where I have a problem…