Hello and welcome to my semester 1 inquiry wrap-up reflection post for my question – Does Pretty Privilege Exist and If It Does, How Does It Affect Life Outcomes and Possible Opportunities?
This question taught me a ton about Pretty Privilege as a whole, how it pertains to celebrities and media, the “conventionally attractive” beauty ideals working as a prerequisite for the term, and racial influence.
a. What challenges did you overcome throughout this inquiry project? How did you go about
overcoming these challenges?
Within this inquiry, I was critically challenged when faced with the multi-faceted definitions surrounding the topic of pretty privilege. From celebrities and marketing, to beauty ideals, to racial influence, stereotypes, and standards, this inquiry question required me to thoroughly delve deeper into multiple articles, several testimonies, and biological/historical findings pertaining to human behaviour and activity surrounding this subject matter. However, this thorough research ultimately lead me to several conclusions, and a more definitive answer as to what pretty privilege truly is.
b. How did this inquiry change the way you think?
This inquiry changed the way I think about certain privileges given to people solely based on their appearance. It even brought to life how this privilege looks vastly different in all aspects of life including school, the societal workplace, and general public environment. An unfortunate, bigger picture idea that somewhat pertains to the idea of pretty privilege is race; something I never would have thought resided with the societal influence of being considered “pretty” in the day and age where racial equality is the prime focus in awareness regarding media. All of this makes me look at major corporations and companies revolving around aesthetics in a different light, since much of their advertising has certainly shifted gears in the past couple of years to represent people of all bodies and aesthetic appearance, but what does this have to say about the genuine nature of these actions?
c. How did this investigation impact your future decisions?
This project has prompted me to look deeper upon the presence of pretty privilege within my own life, and whether or not some of the decisions, or opportunities given to me were solely present on the basis of appearance. It has given me insights on how a lot of the time, these judgments are made subconsciously and without ill-intent, but could contain consequences more extreme than expected. In regard to future decisions, this project has allowed me to actively seek out an unbiased approach to treating others and making decisions pertaining to ethics more so than desire for aesthetic relief.
d. What impact will this investigation have on others locally and/or globally?
The impact of this investigation applies both locally and globally. Locally, this information can educate people of all ages about their potential biases towards certain people pertaining to looks, helping them make informed decisions for an inclusive environment with positive interactions. Globally, this information speaks volumes to how beauty standards and the complex marketing world are able to establish a set of criteria that is internationally seen as “beautiful,” while those of alternate characteristics are left to deal with a less reliant world. My ultimate goal in answering this question was to create a place where people could easily establish what the term “pretty privilege” truly meant in the grand scheme of things. But moreover that each an every individual possesses unique beauty that cannot be defined as “conventionally attractive” or “beautiful by societal expectations;” a special kind that is never to be denied by the constant distractions of today’s chaotic world.
