There's a twist to the "beauty bias," the idea that physically attractive individuals are rewarded socially as well as biologically: Gorgeous women may be at a disadvantage when seeking jobs in which appearance is deemed irrelevant.
A study by Ken Podratz, of Rice University, found that while average-looking and attractive men were picked more often for jobs such as switchboard operator or tow-truck driver, beautiful women lost these same positions to less attractive females. In some jobs, an employer's gender was a factor: Men were eager to place female beauties in jobs that emphasize appearance or interpersonal contact, such as receptionist, dietitian or public relations officer. Female employers were less willing to do so. But for "male-oriented" jobs or jobs in which appearance wasn't considered important, both men and women opted for the less attractive women.
