SOC 0851 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Basic Norm
• Men and Body Image
o Male bodies are used as markers of gender, status, and group
membership
o Men face their own set of issues in relation to bodies
o Those who are considered to be more physically attractive are
believed to possess more socially desirable personality traits and are
expected to lead happier lives
▪ Cute babies are cuddled more than less attractive babies
▪ Attractive toddlers are punished with less frequency
▪ Teachers pay more attention to better-looking students
▪ Jurors are more sympathetic to attractive victims in the
courtroom
o For those who are fortunate enough to be considered attractive,
gliding through a world in which people generally show you more
affection, expect more of you, and endow you with many positive
qualities creates a self-fulfilling prophecy; the end result is that
people who are considered to be attractive do, in fact, tend to be
more socially competent and accomplished
• The importance of being tall
o Height is important in modern, Anglo-European cultures like the
United States in the sense that tallness in men is perceived as more
attractive than being short
o Taller men are more likely to be trusted and tall men enjoy an
advantage in hiring and promotions relative to their shorter
counterparts
o Height is seen as a sign of leadership potential, including its
importance in places like West Point to promotion through military
ranks
o Height is a consistent marker of status and rank across many
differet ultures ad it is oe aspet of a perso’s od e assess i
our first encounter with a new person
o Height in heterosexual coupling
▪ Doing-gender perspective – strong cultural norm among
heterosexual couples dictating that the man should be taller
than the woman makes sense
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