Sexuality | Exploiting Erotic Capital

Found this quite interesting, given that I have a thing for both high heels and the idea of how human sexuality plays out in our society. It's from Macleans Magazine here in Canada...

"The British sociologist Catherine Hakim is no academic wallflower. More than a decade ago, her “preference” theory positing that personal choices, not gender discrimination, governed women’s involvement and advancement in the labour market, won praise, sneers and influenced social policy. Now she’s back tweaking nipples with her new book, Honey Money: The Power of Erotic Capital, which argues that “erotic capital” can be as professionally useful as a university degree, that women have been conditioned not to exploit their attractiveness for economic benefit."

I have long believed that both sexes can use the idea of "erotic capital" to advance their careers; and not just something like the infamous Hollywood "casting couch." I think we all see in our work environments' that there exists a certain element of "lookism;" where attractiveness results in an unbalanced level of pay. It's been researched and reviewed that tall men are often the highest paid, whereas overweight women paid the least.

Hakim suggests that erotic capital matters beyond the sexual field, and beyond private relationships. She has shown that erotic capital is important in the media, politics, advertising, sports, the arts, and in everyday social interaction, and includes:

• Beauty
• Sexual attractiveness
• Social attractiveness
• Vivaciousness
• Presentation
• Sexuality
• Fertility

Hakim's theory of erotic capital argues that erotic capital is a valuable fourth personal asset, alongside economic capital, cultural/human capital and social capital; that erotic capital is increasingly important in affluent modern societies; and that women generally have more erotic capital than men because they work harder at it.

Now, I happen to work in an environment where such concepts have been all but eliminated due to a rather aggressive union and influx of diversity programs meant to enforce a level of equality...but let's not go there.

One key in what the author is saying is that "erotic capital" does not equate to "acting like a bimbo." Rather, the idea is based on women using their assets, so to speak, to advance their careers in ways men have been doing for some time. And while Hollywood is the most obvious of examples, politics and business are equal partners where the idea of a "beauty premium" exists. 

Don't agree? The highest paid members of Sarah Palin's campaign staff included her make-up artist.

As the researchers have pointed out, we live in a society today where "capital" is the most desired element...and sex sells.

Which brings me to another point...

Enjoy Miniskirt Monday!

Andee     xoxo