Two Ways Women Can Make More Money -- Wear Skirts and Make-up

Ok, I know I could get some flack for this post, but the concept was so compelling that I wanted to look into it. The issues started when I recently had this comment left on my post titled Is Your Image at Work Killing Your Career?:

I've also seen studies that, if you're a woman, wearing a skirt will make you 85% more successful. I know that's hard to do in the dead of winter, but I've used it to my advantage on days that I knew would be tough. Also, women who do their hair and makeup well make 20% more than women who don't. I noticed after I started wearing makeup every day that my raises got bigger. I figure the extra minute it takes to put on lipstick and mascara are well worth the extra percentage or two I'm making over my peers.

Hmmmm. Makes sense that this could be the case. But is it true?

So I went a-Googling, and couldn't find anything on the skirt/success stat. (If any of you find anything, post it in the comments below.) But I did find several articles on the makeup/career connection. I'll share two of them with you. Here's a summary of the first:

It is a fact that women who wear make-up in business generally get better jobs, get promoted more quickly and get paid more. Whether we like it or not, we live in a very visual world and we get judged on appearances.

In fact, in a survey, 64 percent of directors said that women who wore make-up look more professional and 18 percent of directors said that women who do not wear make-up “look like they can’t be bothered to make an effort”. 

Overall, remember the way that you dress is the packaging of your personal brand; whether you like it or not, you will be judged on your appearance.

Here's the second one:

“Research shows that about 55% of your credibility comes from how you look,” writes Frankel in Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers. “How you sound accounts for an additional 38%. Only 7% of your credibility is based on what you say.”

Wear the appropriate amount of makeup. “I once asked the boss of a woman scientist for feedback about what she could do to overcome existing barriers to promotion,” writes Frankel in Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office. “He explained for her staff.” When Frankel pressed him - he looked like he had something else to say - he sheepishly said, “Maybe she could start wearing makeup.”

Remember that short hair looks more professional. Knowing what to wear to work includes choosing a hairstyle that complements your image. “Typically, your hair should get increasingly shorter as you get older and go higher on the corporate ladder,” writes Frankel. “Not only is shorter hair more professional, but longer hair tends to emphasize facial features of which we may be less proud as we age.”

I think that though most of us don't like it, it's generally accepted that the way people look impacts their career (the better looking, taller, etc. you are, the better.) And if something like wearing a skirt and/or makeup makes someone "look better", then it follows that doing so will positively influence their career (and thus their pay). I'm not saying it's right -- I'm just saying that's the way it is. You can go with the flow or against it, it's up to you, but as the commenter said, seems like an easy way to earn a good amount more than co-workers.

P.S. After I wrote this piece (about a week ago), I found this piece from MSNBC:

Women running for top offices need to appear competent and attractive, according to a new study. For male candidates, seeming competent may be enough.

It's a finding that could help justify heavy spending on makeup and wardrobe for Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, while at the same time raising questions about the need for a man like John Edwards to invest in a costly haircut.

Seems like there's a trend here, huh?

Comments

[Kaitlyn]

Every girl knows that the prettier you are, the better you do. In my profession (chemist), we are actually not allowed to dress up, but if I know that clients are coming, I always put on extra make-up. This can backfire when, say, the owner's son decides he wants to date you, despite him knowing you are involved with someone.

[suze]

To a degree, I agree. Don't overdo the makeup, though!

I haven't seen a woman in a skirt at our office in a long, long time, but managers do tend to wear (the dreaded) professional pants suit.

I think you need to look pulled-together and appropriate for your industry, whatever that may be.

[ekrabs]

This reminds me of a documentary I once saw. It was on the Japanese culture, and how the modern day Japanese women often times wore glasses as a part of their business attire at work, even if they don't need it. It's a part of their image to look serious about their work, and supposedly, they hope it will help them do better.

This is just my personal opinion, but if women really do who have look attractive in order to climb the corporate ladder, something is very, very wrong with our business here. I agree about looking clean for hygiene reasons, but beyond that? For work?

[Rich]

This comment isn't about women, but men at my office. My office changed from business professional (buttoned shirts and ties everyday) to business casual about 1.5 years ago and today most guys in our office wear button shirts and slacks/khakis, which is decent looking, but some guys always seem to wear polos. I don't have a big problem with this, but I think wearing a polo everyday is a little unprofessional. I'll admit that I've worn a polo a few times to work, but on those days I either had a dentist appointment or it was wicked hot and humid outside. I always try to think that a person should be evaluated by their work and not how they dress, but if you can't put in a little effort and wear a nice shirt once in a while then I think that's a little lazy.

[Moneymonk]

it depends on the job, I doubt if this makes a difference with facebook or google employees.

Some just want brains and talent, that's it.

My profession which is IT most women are not flamboyant, just neatly dress little makeup

[tinky]

For women, looking neat and professional includes wearing makeup - at least in our society it does. I also notice that overweight women are not promoted as quickly as normal weight women. Weight and makeup have no bearing on ability, I realize this. However, this is my observation as a woman working in the corporate world for the past 20+ years. If you are overweight, and "au natural" with a shiny, blotchy complexion with large pores, etc - you are perceived as fat and frumpy and a slob - even if you are clean.

[Jo]

I'm in youth ministry so I could get away with wearing jeans everyday if I wanted. But I noticed that after I started to dress up most days that I was treated with more respect. Plus, I feel more professional and carry myself with more confidence. I have to toe a fine-line though of appearing professional to adults and cool/relatable with teens. I always suggest to new ministers to dress a little more professionally and put together when in the office and dealing with adults.

I don't usually wear make-up, but maybe I should...

[Madame X]

I think Suze and moneymonk hit the key point: "appropriate for your industry." If you work in a field where makeup and skirts are considered important, then (sadly) wearing them may get you a raise. It could also depend on your boss' personal aesthetics. The definition will vary from place to place as to what is considered attractive, fashionable, etc. In some companies, dressing up too much will mark you as a stiff who is totally out of it.

[Kevin @ The Money Hawk]

Sad, but true.

But we all knew this didn't we?

[Lo]

Ugh..
Though if you're a woman in IT you don't want to look "too feminine" or weak, especially in highly technical roles. I've always worn the "dreaded" pant suit (wtf is wrong with a suit that's not a skirt suit anyway?) for interviews, but again, if you appear too feminine for a highly technical job, it may hinder your chances.

Men don't have to put up with this much BS

[Jim]

Unfortunately society judges people based on appearances. Dress and makeup are a personal choice that is easily changed. But I think the worse problem is how peoples physical appearances are treated. Overweight people, balding men, short men, tall women and small chested women all probably face some unfair discrimination on the way their bodies are made.

Jim

[Mary@SimplyForties]

I worked in the IT industry for years before I went freelance. I wore makeup, khakis and a button-down shirt and my long hair in a french braid every day. A professional look for the industry in which I was working. In the same way a male executive's ability to do his job isn't affected by whether he's in a suit or jeans, projecting a professional image is part of the job. Now that I work from home I can wear what I want (pjs if that's what I feel like!) but I still dress professionally when I meet a new client. That's just how it is.

[mamasweet]

Sadly, it matters.
My friend is in hospital admin and it matters a lot - the bigwigs are men and they talk about the ladies' fashion choices more than women ever could. They pick who goes and gives talks based on looks above knowledge.

[guinness416]

You've got to be careful of this one in some cases - I'm a woman working in the construction industry, and though we're mostly in the office occasionally are out on site at short notice. The skirts and too much makeup are a definite handicap at that point, although the tradesmen are extremely helpful :) It can also be somewhat impractical if you're running from meeting to meeting on subways all day.

I'd disagree with Lo above - the guy in the pressed shirt and tie will stand out in a room full of wrinkled trousers and polo shirts. Definitely cheaper to dress well for work if you're a man though.

[labjock]

When we evaluate a person's work this is a concious activity. When we evaluate physical appearance it is a subconcious activity. This idea is imprinted in us at very early age. Studies have been done with children in school that consistently show that the "better" teachers are the pretty ones.
When we think about someone's performance there is a natural subconcious activity that determines whether this person makes me feel good. When evaluating females, looks are pleasing to men, thus when evaluating a women's value to the organization she might get just a little more $$ if she is pleasing to the eye.

[Shaun Connell]

I think it's completely understandable. There's a reason I wear a polo to work instead of camo and "work boots." ::shrug:: You try to look your best; for women, that includes makeup.

[Tarah]

The information on the skirts is from Mary Kay's seminar two years ago. I don't remember what outside source they got it from.

[Miss M]

Guess I'm not getting a very good raise this year! I rarely wear skirts, mainly cause you then have to wear hose and I dread pantyhose. They are itchy and uncomfortable and tear in 2 seconds. I usually wear slacks and a dressy shirt or sweater. I work in the design office of a large construction project, occasionally I'll be called to the site. Skirts and heels don't go with back hoes and shovels. But I know that a woman's power lies partly in her beauty, so I try to present a decent package even in a hard hat!

[Poor Boomer]

Sadly, our society is classist and lookist.

[Mark]

Boob jobs have been popular with the good-looking women in our office. I can't say they make more money or get more promotions, but it's clear from their recent behavior that they're up to something (in the career area, of course).

[Catherine]

Duh!

Whatever the sport, you wear the team uniform. For women in the corporate world, that means business attire, including well groomed hair, nails & face.

Badly applied or overdone make-up can be worse than none. For many women, some eyeliner, mascara and a little lip color are enough.

[Al]

Best career advice I ever received was when I worked for a City Councilman years ago and his secretary marched me down to J.C. Penney's and ordered me to buy dress shirts, ties and a suit. (I'm a guy and the dress code was polo shirts.) She said first impressions count for everything and I needed to dress better than my boss. I consider myself an "average Joe" in talent but her advice has gotten me many, many promotions and a current very nice governmental post. Though I'm not "the boss," my wearing a pressed dress shirt and tie every day to work has gotten me very nice compliments from my supervisors and their supervisors and I'm tipped to new job promotions by them.

[Matt]

Who does a skirt and makeup appeal to? Men. Why? Because it makes women sexier.

You people hadn't questioned the fundamental causes behind the advantage of wearing a skirt or makeup, namely that women are making themselves more sexually appealing to men and therefore the men in power will give them promotions. It's not different than in the past it seems. Actually, if you sleep with the boss you can also get promoted but that's passe now - now, you only need to imply sex to get the promotion. You've come a long way baby.

[Rosie]

Dress for the occasion. It is expected for a woman to dress professional as well as men wearing suits and ties. I have worked in two of the biggest company's in the Delaware County area in Pennsylvania and I looked forward to going to work every day wearing a dress or a skirt along with heels. It helped me set the mood for
presenting myself as the professional that I was.

[Julia]

I did a double take looking at the URL. "Two ways women can make more money---wear shirts and make up."

Don't know if it's fixable several years after the fact, but I'm pretty sure it suggests another topic entirely.