The way women are perceived often influences how they're treated at work, but new research suggests that certain sexual attitudes may also be contributing factors. In fact, when it comes to judging people based on their appearances and personalities, both men and women tend to think that those who have more attractive features will make better employees than those who don't. And while this effect is well known among employers themselves, it can also influence the general public's perceptions of competence, reliability, and professional respect for workers in various fields.
As explained by researchers from Stanford University, "Women who dress sexy have an advantage because they appear more confident and capable, even though they aren't actually any more qualified." This means that women who wear revealing clothing or display other signs of sexuality are sometimes seen as being more knowledgeable or trustworthy than their peers—even if they lack the necessary skills or experience for the job.
This isn't just true in the realm of dating, either; it applies across industries. According to one study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, participants were less likely to hire a female candidate with high qualifications if she wore tight-fitting clothes compared to someone wearing baggy ones. Another experiment found that subjects rated male applicants with low attractiveness levels higher than their sexier counterparts. What's more, another group of researchers discovered that female students who wore revealing outfits performed worse on math tests than those who dressed more conservatively.
In addition to influencing initial impressions of others, these attitudes may also affect how long people stay employed and how much money they earn over time. A meta-analysis of nearly 40 studies showed that women who dress provocatively tend to receive lower salaries than those who don't. Meanwhile, studies suggest that men who exhibit sexual characteristics like height and muscularity enjoy an advantage when seeking employment opportunities.
So why does this happen? The answer has to do with our brains: When we see something attractive, we automatically associate it with positive traits like health and fertility. As explained by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, "When you see an animal that is beautiful, you think it must be strong." She adds that beauty signals vitality because it suggests good genes. And while most people wouldn't directly correlate attractiveness with intelligence or competence, some subconsciously do so anyway—leading them to undervalue workers whose appearance doesn't match their perceptions of ability.
But there are ways for companies to combat this effect. One study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that firms could reduce bias against female employees by promoting policies that prohibited discrimination based on appearance. Another strategy involves highlighting qualifications rather than appearances during hiring processes (e.g., focusing on job experience instead of physical attributes).
Of course, none of this means that sexiness should always be avoided at work. But understanding how certain behaviors influence perceptions can help both genders better navigate office environments—and ultimately achieve greater professional success as a result.
How do sexualized perceptions influence perceptions of competence, reliability, and professional respect?
Sexualized perceptions can impact how individuals perceive an individual's level of competence, reliability, and professional respect due to the biases and stereotypes associated with gender roles and sexuality. Research suggests that individuals who are perceived as sexually attractive may be more likely to be seen as less competent or reliable than those who are not (Dion & Berscheid, 1988).