The Ugly in Pretty Privilege

By Kryshia Gayle Solon
HAPI Scholar

Each of us has experienced privilege in one way or another. Privilege is simply an advantage that some individuals have over others due to factors such as social class, race, or gender. We often think of privilege as a negative thing because it unfairly benefits certain people at the expense of others. Well, pretty privilege is exactly that, but with a twist. While it may still be unfair to those who are discriminated against in society, it is something that a lot of us take for granted in our day-to-day lives. 

So what exactly is Pretty Privilege? Pretty privilege is a term used to describe some forms of class-based advantage women (and men) often have over other groups of people. These advantages include things like a higher level of financial stability and greater access to healthcare and education. In a more common occurrence, people who are fortunate in terms of physical appearance are generally considered to have greater social acceptance and therefore have higher self-esteem and better mental health. This type of privilege can have a negative impact on those who are less fortunate in both of these areas because in some cases it can even lead to self-hate and bullying. It can also lead to a sense of entitlement that makes people believe that they are superior to other people based on their appearance alone.

The concept of pretty privilege has become a bit of a buzzword recently in the feminist movement, so it can be hard to know how to go about identifying it. Pretty privilege is not inherently a bad thing—it just comes with its own set of issues that need to be recognized and addressed to counteract its negative effects. Self-love is important when it comes to accepting yourself for whom you are because maintaining this love while understanding that you are still disadvantaged because of your looks can be tricky. Unfortunately, pretty privilege is not something that can be easily eliminated from society because there are things that we cannot control about ourselves such as our genetics and our ethnicity. But it’s important to remember that just because something is an immutable fact of life doesn’t mean it can’t be changed. As individuals, we can make a conscious effort to fight it by living by our core values and treating everyone with respect regardless of their background or physical attributes. And as a society, we need to fight against pretty privilege by developing more inclusive attitudes and policies that promote equality and acceptance among all people.

As young women living in a world that seems to equate beauty with worth, it can be hard to feel comfortable in our skin. This can lead us to feelings of jealousy or insecurity when we are surrounded by people who have achieved a level of success in life that we have not yet reached. It can also make it difficult to truly feel accepted or respected by others because our appearance does not conform to the conventional standards of beauty that most people have in their minds.

In a world that seems to equate beauty with worth, it can be hard to feel comfortable in our skin.

Beauty is a highly prized commodity in society and the women who possess it are often rewarded with fame, fortune, and power. When a woman becomes famous for her beauty, she is often heralded as the “ideal woman” and has a profound influence on society. At the same time, a woman who is not deemed beautiful by society often feels inferior and unworthy of love or acceptance. As a result, some women resort to drastic measures in an attempt to improve their appearance to conform to societal standards of beauty. Others simply accept their lot in life and remain content with the way they look despite the hatred they attract from others because of their physical appearance. 

Beauty is subjective and it is up to us to decide how we view the world around us. We should use our understanding of our privilege to help others less fortunate than us instead of constantly seeking to become the next cover girl on the cover of Vogue magazine. Beauty can be a powerful tool when used for good. It can help to promote unity and compassion among members of a community and can even help to bring people closer together. On the other hand, it can also promote feelings of jealousy and envy and can isolate those who feel that they will never be as beautiful or successful as those around them. We need to stop putting too much emphasis on outward appearances and start focusing more on the qualities within each of us as individuals rather than on what we look like on the outside. After all, it is what’s on the inside that counts.