Have you ever heard of the term “Pretty Privilege”? If not, then to summarize it is basically the double standard appointed to attractive young people that allows them to get away with doing and or saying things other people would not be allowed to do and or get away with. And while many people say that the term “Pretty Privilege” does not exist, I would say that it does in fact, exist in our society.
Take a look, for example, at the television show “You” (2018). Following a man who stalks a woman and goes to the extreme to insert himself into her life by any means necessary, the show centers around a deranged stalker who is obsessed with a young woman. Creepy, right? But not to the fanbase. In fact, they find it rather hot and attractive just because the stalker in the show is hot and attractive. Casting the actor, Penn Badgley as the main lead, many fans of the show expressed how willing they were to overlook his criminal stalking since the actor was pretty and attractive. Now, do you think the same thing would happen if another actor were cast instead?
Let’s also look at the “Fifty Shades of Grey” movies. I know for a fact that everyone and their mother knows about the films, so I am not going to waste too much time summarizing them. All you need to know is that one of the main characters, Christian, is a billionaire who is into BDSM and often uses his money and status to run and fund his lavish and lustful life. Falling in love with a girl named Annastasia, he proceeds to use his money and status to try to win her heart, and maybe his way with her as well. Portrayed on screen by Jamie Dornan, many fans of the films often see this as romantic and beautiful, while downplaying and really ignoring the red flags in the situation. Why? Because he is hot and attractive. If anyone else did this who wasn’t Dornan, then I can guarantee that the films will not be as popular as they are today. And if this were real life with ordinary people, people would run for the hills!
