Blog Post #2 – Project Plan

My inquiry question for this semester is Does pretty privilege exist, if so how does it affect life opportunities and eventual outcomes?

I am looking forward to dissecting the multiple aspects of the term “Pretty Privilege,” and what it means to society today.

Research Step 1 – How is pretty privilege showcased on the media? Does this play a role in the influence of certain celebrities?

Kick starting my research by taking a deep dive into social media platforms and how they continue to morph reality into a certain seemingly unshakable standard will further introduce the concept of pretty privilege to someone unfamiliar with the term. As many can relate to the comparison trap that is social media, recognizing that many incredibly popular influencers feed into the idea of pretty privilege, possibly cause for the drastic over-consumptive and anti-communicative generation of today, is important in pinpointing the real issue associated with certain platforms.

Research Step 2 – What opportunities are more prominent in those considered “conventionally attractive”?

As far as the textbook definition of pretty privilege goes, those considered “conventionally attractive” are believed to be at an advantage in terms of treatment from their respective day-to-day counterparts by way of opportunities that may not be given for any other reason. Giving context to this narrative is a crucial step to identifying common mistreatment of individuals; whether that pertains to sexual orientation, gender identity, race, or perhaps religion.

Research Step 3 – How does race play a role in pretty privilege? Are racial stereotypes part of the reason it exists?

Racial stereotypes have arguably been an issue all across the board for decades. However, many variations of this type of behaviour are seen daily on platforms such as TikTok where it has become normal to fetish size certain feminine features alluding to certain racial stereotypes. This apparent issue indirectly relates to pretty privilege as it has inherent, toxic affects on perceptions of the real life individuals concerning appearance and other fantasized-about characteristics. By going in depth on this topic, as well as white privilege and its role in the big picture, diversifying knowledge on the overarching topic of this inquiry will be finalized.