ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É

It's harder for good looking men to get ahead in their careers, at least according to a study done in the US and UK.

According to the study, handsome men are more likely to be seen as a threat by their male bosses, and, as a result, are less likely to move up the corporate ladder.

The study involved researchers at University College London's School of Management and the University of Maryland in the US.

They carried out four separate experiments in four different offices, and found that when men were hiring other men to work with them, their decision was negatively affected by the attractiveness of the candidate.

Dr Orville Taylor, sociologist, told THE STAR that this idea is not far-fetched.

"It may very well be true because, on the surface of it, you could talk about the more powerful men in organisations feeling threatened by somebody else who appears to be more physically attractive," he said.

Culturally biased

But Taylor was quick to point out that attraction is relative.

"Attraction is very culturally biased. There are a number of factors that are associated with being called 'good looking'. What would make a man more attractive to a woman is not simply the fact that he may have a handsome face, or a sculpted body. One might find that a man comes across as more attractive to a woman because he is more compassionate," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Leahcim Semaj, psychologist, asserted that this prejudice is normally sparked by the insecurity of the boss.

"In general, men and women who are better looking are also evaluated as more competent," he said. However, he pointed out that this claim does make it easier for less attractive people to get by.

"There's no benefit to being 'ugly'; that is more definitely used against you," he said.

In the meantime, Taylor said male bosses should focus on what makes them attractive, instead of being insecure about a good looking, potentially great employee.

"Sometimes the very men themselves might be missing the point. So when you waste your time being threatened by a younger man, a more attractive man, you might have missed the boat. Because the average woman might not be truly attracted to this so-called good looking man, and you're wasting your time not hiring him," he said.