Attractiveness and Occupational Status

Summary

Physical attractiveness and other characteristics were investigated as a function of the stimulus person's occupational status and rater's sex. The raters were 44 female and 41 male college students who were shown slides of a moderately attractive male and a moderately attractive female. High occupational status significantly influenced the rating of physical attractiveness and work competence of the male but not of the female stimulus person. In contrast, when raters veiwed the female stimulus person, only the sex of the rater produced any significant results, with females evaluating the female stimulus person as more likeable, more socially poised, and more competent than did the male raters. These results are viewed as consistent with the hypothesis of a bidirectional relationship between attractiveness and other desirable characteristics, but also suggests the need to consider that desirable characteristics must be defined relative to gender stereotypes of goodness.