A Superficial Take on Success
9:16 AM
A
recent article in Time magazine revealed that good-looking people will earn
more over their lifetime compared to those who are aesthetically
challenged. University of Texas Economist Daniel Hamermesh reported in
his book “Beauty Pays: Why Attractive People Are More Successful” that
“ugly people earn less than average looking people, and average-looking people
earn less than the beautiful.”
I
learned this from reading Alvin Tabanag’s blog discussing about this research.
First, I find this quite amusing but when I look around I saw a tinge of truth
in the findings of the study. However, it cannot be denied that there are a lot
of average looking and plain looking male and female enjoying quite an
immeasurable success in our society.
No
I am not defending the average and the plain looking to go that way will make
my point impish, What I am after is that who conducted and funded the study.
Oftentimes, a lot of studies are not about finding new realities but, some of
them, about re-creating realities.
This
is what I am afraid of. Companies that have overflowing cash using their
resources to serve their interest and propagate a lie.
Imagine
if the study is funded by a company engaged in health and beauty products, and
for those that think superficially they can be easily swayed to
think that only those with great looks deserve success in life.
There
now lies a vicious cycle.
My
take on this study published by TIME Magazine? Yes there are a lot of people
that gets away because of their good looks. But it is not a determining factor
whether we will be successful or not.
Humans
are meant to survive and adapt. Human Spirit is meant to triumph. The study
negates this by selecting a group based on superficial attributes.
I
still go with Charles Darwin’s research findings even though it was a finding
that was discovered a long, long time ago that is "In the struggle for survival, the fittest
win out at the expense of their rivals because they succeed in adapting
themselves best to their environment."
This
is the strongest argument of who succeeds in life and who does not. After
saying this piece I guess what is left from the pages that the particular study
occupied in Time Magazine is in my arse because the tissue in my toilet has run
out. A best replacement methinks as I end this piece and prepares to rush to my holy throne.
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