Skin Deep

A report published in the New York Times claims parents treat “pretty” children better and “ugly” children worse:

Researchers at the University of Alberta carefully observed how parents treated their children during trips to the supermarket. They found that physical attractiveness made a big difference.

The researchers noted if the parents belted their youngsters into the grocery cart seat, how often the parents’ attention lapsed and the number of times the children were allowed to engage in potentially dangerous activities like standing up in the shopping cart. They also rated each child’s physical attractiveness on a 10-point scale.

The findings, not yet published, were presented at the Warren E. Kalbach Population Conference in Edmonton, Alberta.

I remember watching “Shrek” for the first time as the film was drawing to a close. The Princess had to decide whether or not to marry the midget Duke and maintain her physical beauty and break the enchantment she was “cursed” with. Shrek, meanwhile, was busy sorting out his feelings on the Princess and if someone like her could ever like someone as hideous as he was.

The climax of the film saw Shrek racing to stop the wedding. The kingdom learned the Princess was cursed to be an ogress when the sun went down. When the two finally kissed, the spell was broken and the Princess remained in her ogress form.

The Princess, confused and saddened, asked out loud why she wasn’t beautiful. Where upon Shrek replied that she was beautiful.
Thus, the movie became an exceptional film because of the choice to marginalize the importance of physical beauty.

This scientific report only confirms facts we already knew to be in evidence; people who are blessed with physical attributes go farther and get more out of life naturally without having to earn it the hard way as other people have to. It’s been this way since the dawn of modern civilization.
The real challenge is recognizing this dark fact of human nature and resolving ourselves, as individuals, to look past the flesh.

To that end, a good way to start would be to ignore the magazines that line grocery store check-out lines.

June 5th, 2005 in Commentary |