Is a Full Face of Makeup the Secret to a Raise?
We are women and we work. It seems like an obvious statement, but even in 2016 the female workforce faces a number of setbacks: the gender wage gap, insufficient maternity leave policies… the list goes on. It certainly doesn’t help that the Internet is filling ladies’ minds with questionable career advice. Case in point: a recent essay published on LinkedIn on why you should hide your engagement ring during a job interview (PS: you shouldn’t). And now, for the newest edition of societal setbacks, we present you this study that found wearing more makeup makes you more likely to receive a raise.
The study titled “Gender and the Returns to Attractiveness” was conducted by sociologists Jaclyn Wong and Andrew Penner. Their goal: to uncover whether makeup has a direct correlation to income. Spoiler alert: It does.
The pair conducted interviews with over 14,000 people and found that almost 100 percent of the time, perceived attractiveness of a woman is based on grooming (think: makeup, a blowout, a manicure, etc.). On the other hand, only half of the men in the study were deemed good-looking due to their grooming habits (think: gelled hair or an Instaworthy beard).
And unfortunately, your investment in your beauty routine could be directly related to your bank account. Attractive individuals are said to earn roughly 20 percent more than people of average attractiveness. And so, what’s an easy way to close that gap? Makeup. Ladies who often sport a full face of makeup are reported to earn about $4,000 more than a less put-together coworker. Yikes.
Now, don’t get us wrong, we’re major beauty buffs over here. But enjoying playing with makeup and knowing your salary depends on the use of it are two very different things. Our vote: Don’t adapt to the cycle; help change it. Need some inspiration to shake up the cosmetic social standards? Let’s all look to Alicia Keys, who just last week walked the red carpet without a lick of makeup on and totally slayed.
Have you noticed a correlation between beauty and your salary? Share your story with us on Twitter @BritandCo.
(Photo via Anthony Harvey/Getty)