The “Aphrodite effect”: Labor market discrimination based on attractiveness
The “Aphrodite effect”: Labor market discrimination based on attractiveness

Summary/Abstract: The goal of the current research is to reveal the role of physical attractiveness in labormarket discrimination, with a focus on medium attractive individuals. We describe the “AphroditeEffect”, namely the discrimination of those highly attractive compared to medium attractive people,in the labor market and in other areas of personal and professional development. Based on asecondary analysis on Eurobarometer no 265/2008 and no 393/2012, the current study shows people’sperceptions over the influence of the “Aphrodite Effect” in job recruitment. The data show thatdiscrimination based on people’s beauty is perceived as the fifth most important factor in accessinga job, even more important than people’s gender (feminine/masculine). The same is valid forRomanian people interviewed in the sample. Furthermore, managers hold the same opinion overthe importance of the “Aphrodite Effect” in job selection and their opinions are even stronger thanthe one of the general audience in this respect. At the end, we suggest some policies to reducediscrimination based on physical attractiveness in a working environment.

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