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“Everyone Lusts Over You”: 39 Times “Pretty Privilege” Completely Backfired On People
Being pretty is a burden — does that seem like a ridiculous statement to you? If it does, you might want to rethink your biases. Many things might be easier for those who are deemed conventionally attractive, but that doesn’t mean that it’s all sunshine and rainbows for them every day, all day. For example, research finds that being pretty isn’t beneficial if you’re in the prison system: “attractive” inmates receive longer sentences by 22 months on average.
Attractive people also deal with other, more mundane yet annoying things, many of which were listed in a recent online thread. User @_annamarier asked other women on Threads, “What’s the downside of pretty privilege that nobody really talks about?” And the girlies didn’t hold back: from sexist assumptions, nasty reactions from women, and dealing with creepy men, being beautiful has a dark side, too.
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#1
Men assuming you’re stupid.
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#2
Everyone assuming that you want their man just bc you're generally friendly. Girl, I am not interested in your swamp goblin. You can have him.
Chaotic Good 1 month ago
Speaking for Swamp Goblins everywhere, we're actually pretty delightful. Though we generally prefer, "Marsh Imp"
#3
In the workplace any female management instantly hates you.
#4
People presuming I've had an easy life when it's been the opposite. People assuming I'm dumb without taking the time to speak to me or ask my thoughts. Friends projecting insecurities onto me and trying to make me feel bad about myself. Men attacking me and stalking me. Dating partners being jealous because of comments I receive online. And finally, receiving poor medical care because there's no way you can be in pain while looking that good!
Lee Gilliland 1 month ago
I think I managed twenty -some stalkers. It is an experience I don't recommend.
#5
Being single because everyone lusts over you, thinks you have a roster and is intimidated. People trying to humble you.
#6
People hate you before they ever know you.
#7
1. Some women befriend you just to see where to stick the knife in you.
2. Being lusted after more than genuinely valued.
3. Being excluded or not invited simply because it’s you.
4. People getting close just to mirror or take from your personality.
5. People believing negative things about you because it confirms what they already felt.
6. Older women choosing competition over mentorship. And then they wonder why we’re labeled “stuck up” or become more inaccessible. We just move accordingly.
#8
In this male-dominated world, you’ll meet powerful men during your career who recognize your skills, talent and expertise, but they treat the 'right doors' like a trade, offering access ONLY if you become their spouse, girlfriend or sleep with them. If you refuse to compromise your values, they often pivot from being a mentor to a roadblock, making your path intentionally harder. It’s a specialized kind of professional sabotage that forces some to choose between their goals and their integrity.
#9
° People being googlely-eyed with NOTHING else to offer.
° Can't go anywhere without someone staring at me or trying to talk to me
° Cat-calling or someone making a comment about my body
° Jealousy from women who don't love themselves, their face or body
° People think they have access to my body
° People assume pretty faces shouldn't have a voice, opinion, or intellect
° People assume you have a easy life because I don't look like what I've been through
° People are often intimidated
° Etc...
Lee Gilliland 1 month ago (edited)
Being beautiful and smart is much worse than being plain beautiful.
#10
Constantly being spoken to in public places when I’m just running my errands ie harassment everywhere. Not trusting anyone ever because I don’t know if someone is being nice because they are actually nice or because they think I’m attractive. Soooo many people being intimidated by me.
#12
Doctor here My age and competency is always in question and assumptions are made before I speak.
#14
People telling you it’s easier to age. Nothing about ageing as a woman is EASY, it’s just different. Otherwise Hollywood and LA would be filled with natural faces.
#15
Have yall ever had guys go OUT OF THEIR WAY to tell you “by the way I’m not attracted to you” or “I don’t want to sleep with you” like out of NOWHERE. Like you’ve never flirted with this person and then they just….say that. For no reason.
Lene 1 month ago
Ugh.... I once had a friend telling me all happy and joyful "I can imagine having s*x with you, so I am not in love with you!". I was shocked because I had not seen that coming at all. I thought we were just friends, hanging out every now and then. Nothing flirty or romantic. And he says that!?!? Yeah, that friendship sort of died out from then on.
#16
* People assume life is easy / successful for you
* You get objectified constantly / men (sadly married even) get creepy / disrespectful with you
* Creates jealous competitive women who turn out malicious / fake
* You have to work twice as hard in your career to be seen as competent
* Less friends / no friends
* People project stories onto you / constant false interpretations.
#17
Not being taken seriously by men you’re genuinely interested in. They’re usually insecure & think you have sooooo many options!
Lee Gilliland 1 month ago
It took me a LONG time to be accepted in my fandom. Probably 30 years?
#18
Not getting a promotion because “you’re too cutesy, and no one will take you seriously.”
… until you get married, and then suddenly it’s on the table again.
#20
As a slightly conventionally attractive autistic woman, my 20s were a nightmare. I could not tell who was going to hurt me and who actually wanted to be friends. I thought every dude was just super nice and interested in whatever I was obsessed with at the time. And I had been raised to make eye contact even though it sucks and physically pains me and men take that as a sign of flirting???
Lee Gilliland 1 month ago (edited)
Trust me, it's pretty bad sans being on the spectrum. I can't even imagine how much worse it is on it.
#21
Everyone swear you have a roaster lol my phone is dry like the dessert.
Lee Gilliland 1 month ago
The majority of models were not asked to their proms, did you know that?
#23
Well I just got harrased at the dollar store 5 minutes ago so now I’m scrolling on my phone to distract from how violated and useless I feel when all I needed was to buy q tips so there’s that.
Lee Gilliland 1 month ago
It's pervasive. You can't be friendly, get gas, buy groceries, or pick up a prescription without being hit upon.
#24
Putting my heart, soul & all my knowledge into the content I create just to repeatedly attract creepy followers & lustful comments that have zero interest in the educational content I worked so hard to create. Also, making friends is apparently really hard due to jealousy & girls making up narratives of who they think I am based on their projections (learned through experience unfortunately).
#26
People thinking you got a roster.
And constantly being lusted over.
Lee Gilliland 1 month ago
And you are never asked to just hang because of this assumption. It astonished me to discover even people in show business assume this, and that group should REALLY know better.
#27
From women:
Bullying.
From men:
Never being loved properly. There’s a need to “break you to make you stay”, or you’re just seen as the fantasy.
Nikki Sevven 1 month ago
From men: "Hey, I really like you." Also from men: "Now that we're in a relationship, you need to change these things about you to assuage my insecurities."
#29
Never getting the job when I am interviewed by a woman.
Bartlet for world domination 1 month ago
Getting the job when interviewed by a man but being thoroughly incapable and hated by all coworkers.
#31
I was at one tattoo convention. Started to talk to a random piercer about some piercings and tattoos. Just a small talk. After sometime his gf comes in between us, I say hi, how r u? She doesn't reply, he tries to introduce her to me, she doesn't acknowledge my presence, doesn't even look my way, takes his hand and drags him somewhere else... I was like... What?
#32
I wanna answer this but I fear someone’s gonna look at my pic and humble me.. and I don’t wanna find out I’m not pretty like I think
You ladies got this. Ily all.
#33
Chile being lusted, harassed, can’t walk away without the hassle ….. attracting woman who pretend to be your friend but really jealous. Oh and don’t get me started with woman who may have more than you being In competition with you (annoying), Because we get compliments they feel like they shouldn’t ….. I can’t make this up. Purposely leaving you out and not including you because your light shines bright and don’t have the audacity to be dope, have swag and personality.
Lee Gilliland 1 month ago
It's not like we chose our looks, people. We also get criticism for NOT exploiting our looks. Go figure.
#34
Literally every man thinks you’re hitting on them no matter what you do. Literally all the time.
#35
Your girl friends trying to kiss you when they drink too much. Girls being jealous and always having a contest. Girls thinking you wanna sleep with their bf bc they don’t wanna blame their dude for being a creep. Friends trying to sleep w your man to prove they’re better than you. Getting stared down while grocery shopping. Not feeling safe on walks. I mean forealllllllll.
Lee Gilliland 1 month ago
Every female assuming you are in competition when you're not. In my book married means - wait for it - MARRIED.
#36
The downside is pretty punishment: women sabotaging your livelihood, then judging you when workplace bullying makes you struggle. They isolate, nitpick, smear, then call you unstable for reacting to a cage they helped build. My therapist said her own sister developed PTSD from female bullying and became agoraphobic. We talk about male cruelty, as we should. But women can ruin another woman’s life with a smile, a whisper, and HR vocabulary.
#38
Attracting narcissists, ego maniacs and psychopaths.
#39
Losers think your career achievements are because of your pretty face.
What do you think ?
Arabiata Arabiata 1 month ago
I’d love to read an article on how society views short, not good looking guys, just so genetic lottery winners can finally shut up about their 'hard lives.
Герберт Майн 1 month ago
Nice. Now let's have an article about horrors of being rich. And about hardships of very healthy people.
ArcanaPanda 1 month ago
Amen to that! To those of us who aren't genetically gifted, this whole stupid article reads precisely like one where rich people complain about being rich in front of a poor person, i.e. it is tone deaf at best and delusional at worst.
Load More Replies...
Lee Gilliland 1 month ago
I am 74 and this article has been my life. And you guys got me outnumbered.
Arabiata Arabiata 1 month ago
I’d love to read an article on how society views short, not good looking guys, just so genetic lottery winners can finally shut up about their 'hard lives.
Герберт Майн 1 month ago
Nice. Now let's have an article about horrors of being rich. And about hardships of very healthy people.
ArcanaPanda 1 month ago
Amen to that! To those of us who aren't genetically gifted, this whole stupid article reads precisely like one where rich people complain about being rich in front of a poor person, i.e. it is tone deaf at best and delusional at worst.
Load More Replies... Lee Gilliland 1 month ago
I am 74 and this article has been my life. And you guys got me outnumbered.
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