The term "lookism" grew in popularity in the 1970s within the fat acceptance movement. Skeptics, Stoics, Cynics, Epicureans and Scholastics elaborated various reasons to avoid or subordinate the role of appearances. Judging by appearances was prohibited by monotheistic religions ("no graven images") and criticized in ancient and medieval philosophies.
From ancient times until relatively recently, there was widespread worry about lookism, because the appearance of others may deceive, especially in romance, or it may be personally or politically imprudent to judge or act on appearances. To judge by appearances is to get entangled in the Veil of Maya. Though the term "lookism" is of recent coinage, cultures and traditions worldwide have often warned against placing undue value on physical appearance: Furthermore, research shows that on average, attractive individuals have more friends, better social skills, and more active sex lives.
Research on the "what is beautiful is good" stereotype shows that, overall, those who are physically attractive benefit from their good looks: physically attractive individuals are perceived more positively and physical attractiveness has a strong influence on judgement of a person's competence. Many people make judgments of others based on their physical appearance which influence how they respond to these people.
Physical attractiveness is associated with positive qualities in contrast, physical unattractiveness is associated with negative qualities. The same concept from the opposite angle is sometimes named pretty privilege. Lookism has received less cultural attention than other forms of discrimination (such as racism and sexism) and typically does not have the legal protections that other forms often have, but it is still widespread and significantly affects people's opportunities in terms of romantic relationships, job opportunities, and other realms of life. It occurs in a variety of settings, including dating, social environments, and workplaces. Lookism is the discriminatory treatment of people who are considered physically unattractive.
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