Erotic Capital Excerpt

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In her new book, Erotic Capital: The Power of Attraction in the Boardroom and the Bedroom, Catherine Hakim presents the controversial new theory that sexual power is essential to our success and that we should deploy it without shame. This sexual power, or erotic capital, is a combination of six qualities, including beauty, sex appeal, social grace, liveliness, social presentation, and sexual competence, and we should learn to exploit it.The following is an excerpt from chapter 4 of Erotic Capital, "The Lifetime Benefits of Erotic Capital." Let us know what you think in the comments.Get the full book at amazon.com.How does erotic capital work its magic? What are the underlying social processes that make people with erotic capital more successful than others? Most commentators and social scientists assume illegitimate discrimination is at work here, or they worry that discrimination cannot be completely ruled out. In the Western world, a frequent assumption is that any benefits that accrue to attractive people must be undeserved and unfair. But if so, why don’t people simply ignore beauty and charm? Why You Arent Getting Paid What You Deserve Two Sisters

Isabelle and Pamela are sisters, although you would never believe it to see them. With only two years between them, they are effectively the same age, went to the same private schools, had the same friends at school, enjoyed the same expensive weekend activities and clubs until they went their separate ways at university. They both acquired master’s degrees in technical and scientific subjects, Isabelle finishing very quickly while Pamela took many years to finish. Today, Isabelle is professionally successful, runs her own business, is affluent, speaks several languages, owns a large and elegant house, travels extensively on business and for vacations in exotic places, eats out in top restaurants, and has a succession of boyfriends. Pamela has had no career as such but rather a succession of jobs, typically in supportive roles to other professionals, often on short-term projects. Her husband is the main breadwinner and a star in his field of science. These details only emerge once you get to know them well. What is most striking when you meet the sisters for the first time in their forties is how different they are in personality and style—one confident and self-assured, socially at ease and outgoing, the other socially and emotionally insecure, clumsy, quick to take offense, liable to break down into tears when things do not go her way.The easy explanation for the different outcomes is the sisters’ intellectual competence and opportunities. Isabelle was always clever, good at school, often top of her class, passed exams easily at school and at university, completed her courses promptly, chose to live in a capital city with numerous career opportunities, found jobs quickly and easily, and rapidly gained wide experience and promotion into management before setting up her own company. In contrast, Pamela always struggled at school, often had to repeat years, was upset at being kept back a grade and sticking out among younger girls, resented teachers’ comments expressing surprise at the contrast with her older sister’s success at school, had fewer and fewer close friends, found university a struggle, had to take exams several times before passing, and only built up the course credits needed to get a master’s degree because her parents supported her until she did finish, believing that both children should be given the same chances in life if at all possible. After she married, she lived in a suburban area with her husband and children, so job opportunities were scarce, giving Pamela little choice.If we look at things from a different perspective, the dramatically different outcomes could also be explained by the sisters’ differences in erotic capital. Isabelle was astonishingly pretty as a child, with golden curls, blue eyes, and very white skin. In contrast, Pamela had completely straight, dark brown hair, dark eyes, and high cheekbones that made her very photogenic. She looked striking rather than pretty, and this became more marked as she grew older. When they were out together, attention was almost invariably focused on Isabelle, and with her lively mind, she learned fast. Although the girls’ parents insisted that they loved both children equally and treated them exactly the same, it seemed clear that Isabelle was her father’s favorite. By the time they were teenagers, the girls were already totally different in appearance, personality, and style. Isabelle devoted time to taking care of her hair and her general appearance, dressed immaculately in clothes carefully chosen to set off her petite frame, and was careful to ensure she remained slim and never gained weight. She was socially confident, had a large circle of friends, and already had the inner certitude and strength of someone who is sure of her place in the world, knows how to achieve her goals, and can brush off any disappointments and contretemps however bitter. She flirted with everyone, including her doting father, and sometimes played the baby to get her way.How did Isabelle turn out versus her less-confident sister? Next... Continue Reading

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