Issue of the week: Is allure a working woman’s best asset?
A new book by a London School of Economics research fellow says that women should not be afraid to use their looks and feminine charm to get ahead in the working world.
It’s not every day you hear a self-described feminist telling women to use their sex appeal to get ahead at work, said Jessica Bennett in TheDailyBeast​.com. But that’s the provocative thesis of Erotic Capital, a new book by London School of Economics research fellow Catherine Hakim. (The book was published in the U.K. with the title Honey Money.) Women, Hakim says, have had it drilled into their heads by feminism that they must repress their feminine charms for fear of looking like the office bimbo. But a woman’s “erotic capital,” as Hakim calls it, is a potent asset—just as important as intelligence or professional skills. A little charisma, good dress sense, dieting, and even plastic surgery are simply “necessary evils” women can use to help them reach the corner office.
“I’m sorry. Did I fall asleep and wake up in the 1950s?” said Elizabeth Day in the London Observer. If Hakim had her way, I’d spend my day thinking about slimming my muffin top and spray tanning rather than focusing on all that “education or career nonsense” our mothers and grandmothers fought so hard for. Hakim’s premise—that good looks can help one succeed—“is unlikely to come as a surprise to almost anyone with a pulse.” But her “cavalier pronouncements” that imply that a woman’s style trumps her substance are downright offensive.
Don’t miss her point, said Bryony Gordon in the London Telegraph. Hakim is “absolutely right” about a beauty premium, and what she’s really saying is that “you can be strong and independent and clever, and you can wear a nice frock and high heels while you do this.” Frenchwomen know how to put their best foot forward and not feel conflicted, but American and British women ridiculously refuse to embrace their feminine appeal for fear “it is a betrayal of the sisterhood.” I’m no catwalk model. But “what I’ve got I will flaunt, and I am damned if anybody is going to make me feel bad about it.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Spare me, said Jenni Russell in the London Times. Do everyone a favor and take a pass on Erotic Capital. Good-looking people get ahead? Men want sex more than women do? “If this is what counts as intellectual discovery” at the LSE, “I fear for the future both of universities and of serious books.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'A new era of hurricanes'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
How Britain's demographic is changing
A 50-year record population increase was fuelled by greater migration
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
The story of Japanese jeweller Tasaki
The Blend A revival in the use of pearls in fashion and jewellery design places heritage brand Tasaki centre stage
By Felix Bischof Published
-
Issue of the week: Yahoo’s ban on working from home
feature There’s a “painful irony” in Yahoo’s decision to make all its employees come to the office to work.
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Issue of the week: Another big airline merger
feature The merger of American Airlines and US Airways will be the fourth between major U.S. airlines in five years.
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Issue of the week: Feds’ fraud suit against S&P
feature The Justice Department charged S&P with defrauding investors by issuing mortgage security ratings it knew to be misleading.
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Issue of the week: Why investors are worried about Apple
feature Some investors worry that the company lacks the “passion and innovation that made it so extraordinary for so long.”
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Issue of the week: Does Google play fair?
feature The Federal Trade Commission cleared Google of accusations that it skews search results to its favor.
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Issue of the week: The Fed targets unemployment
feature By making public its desire to lower unemployment, the Fed hopes to inspire investors “to behave in ways that help bring that about.”
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Issue of the week: Is Apple coming home?
feature Apple's CEO said the company would spend $100 million next year to produce a Mac model in the U.S.
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Issue of the week: Gunning for a hedge fund mogul
feature The feds are finally closing in on legendary hedge fund boss Steven Cohen.
By The Week Staff Last updated