Is Tall, Dark, and Handsome Still Essential? I Hope Not!
“For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. ”
I remember a morning news organization that several years ago interviewed a sociologist who determined that Americans are more likely to vote for the taller Presidential candidate than the shorter one. It didn’t matter which one had more experience, had more emotional strength, or had a deeper ethical commitment. What mattered was the look of being taller. The speaker did not discuss whether this judgment applies only to men, or whether a female President would need to be over six feet tall. Either way, it is appearance over substance yet again.
In her article “We Need to Acknowledge Pretty Privilege,” Brooklyn Thomas challenges us not to ignore the privilege that comes with a handsome or pretty appearance. Thomas points out,
“Pulchronomics is the study of the economy of physical attractiveness and so far research has shown that being attractive can make getting a job easier, make you more popular (both in real life and on social media) which increases your opportunities and access to more money and on average attractive people earn more money. They are also less likely to be convicted-and more likely to get lighter sentences if they are.”
It takes an extremely self-aware person not to fall into the trap of beauty privilege. More than likely, even those who try to look beyond the privilege fall into its traps. We cannot help its temptation; it seems hardwired into our DNA. As Thomas writes, we must acknowledge its reality if we are “to dismantle these systems and hierarchies.”
We are so fortunate that while the world will probably never stop over-valuing attractiveness, God is the one whom its wiles will never entice. God judges, values, and blesses based on grace rather than attractiveness. Valuing attractiveness is even more insidious than “works righteousness.” At least with “works righteousness,” the individual still has to produce something positive. Attractiveness is often beyond our control. Offer God your faith, hope, and love and watch a greater attraction occur. The attraction of faith and integrity does not wrinkle or fade. Let God make you eternally appealing.
