Korean Job Discussion Forums

[maitaidads]

[World Traveler]

Are you from the U.S.? Attractive women can make a lot of money as servers, casino dealers, etc. (Pretty much any tipped position.) It's way easier for them to get in as a woman and once in they are tipped well. I personally know the young, attractive women who are making a killing. Do you not believe me?

(I think it's unfair as hell they get so much for doing so little, but I'm not stupid enough to say that in their presence. Besides, they are my friends so I don't dwell on it. I just think about ways I can make more money in the U.S. and party with them.)

[maitaidads]

I am from the US, and I don't really believe you. I know servers that make a reasonable living, but we may have different ideas of what a killing constitutes. 40k? Sometimes. 60k+ for an extended period of time? No way.

[edwardcatflap]

[Stain]

Sorry, I've been away for while and am kinda lost. Are we talking about hot female dwarf waitresses? In Korea?

[World Traveler]

[World Traveler]

[World Traveler]

Beauty, sex appeal, social skills and the arts of self-presentation have increasing value everywhere, helping to sell ideas, products and policies. Popular culture especially valorises female erotic capital: just look at unkempt boy bands and glossy girl bands. Yes, men with high levels of erotic capital do better than those who don’t. But it is beautiful and elegant women who grace the advertisements for products of all kinds, from cars to detergent—not men.

The economic benefits of being physically and socially attractive can be substantial, especially in marketing, public relations, television, advocacy in the courts, as well as for actors, singers and dancers. But it’s broader than this: people working in the better-paid parts of the private sector are more attractive than those in the public and non-profit sectors. Tall and attractive people are more likely to be employed in professional jobs, like law or banking. For the ugly and short, it gets worse. Good-looking people can earn 10 to 15 per cent more than the average-looking, who in turn can earn 10 to 15 per cent more than the plain or ugly. The tall earn more than the short; the obese have earnings 10 to 15 per cent below average. Statistical analysis shows this beauty premium is not really just about cleverly disguised differences in intelligence, social class or self-confidence. Studies of lawyers reveal that there is always a premium for attractiveness that varies in size, but is not due to employer discrimination. The most attractive can earn 12 per cent more than the unattractive, and are 20 per cent more likely to achieve partnership in their firm, because they are more effective at pulling in customers.

Indeed, there is a 25 percentage point difference in average earnings between unattractive and attractive minorities. This impact can be as big as the gap between having a degree and no qualifications at all

[World Traveler]

Researchers have consistently found that attractive people of both sexes are perceived to be more competent and intelligent. Attractive adults are noticed more and treated more favorably, and they are more often welcomed into social networks, where they receive more cooperation and help from others. They are more persuasive and sell ideas and products more successfully.

Erotic capital also translates into income. A number of studies show that, in the U.S. and Britain, there is a 10% to 20% "beauty premium" in earnings across the workforce. In jobs that involve contact with customers or clients, the returns can be even greater, adding up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional income over the course of a career.

[Stain]

[Hokie21]

[Jongno2bucheon]

[wanderkind]

[erinmack]

"But in America, im sure you get asked about that quite a bit. American women's favorite topic of conversation is *beep* talk after all. Youve been with a black guy im sure?"

Actually, none of my friends have asked - I guess I just hang out with smart & progressive women who wouldn't make such ignorant assumptions. Suffice to say, I've been around the block a few times & I'm pretty content - and actually, one of the two black guys I've been with had the smallest *beep* I'd ever seen. Seems like you're the one who's preoccupied with wangs, however. (Wow, we've really digressed, haven't we?)

As for all the folks debating whether "ugly" women come to Korea because they couldn't get hired in the service industry in the US, I just had to laugh. Firstly, not everyone's cut out for waitressing and the like personality-wise. Secondly, even many women who are genetically gifted may not be up for dressing like glambots 24/7. I'm slenderish & have a pretty face but enjoy presenting androgynously (short hair, no makeup, boyish clothes) - casinos certainly aren't tripping over themselves to hire me, but in my late teens when I aspired more to normative femininity, I waitressed briefly - and absolutely hated it. I was a substitute teacher for 3 years & got every kind of verbal abuse in the book, meanwhile, but I'd still do it again in a heartbeat before I'd ever work in food service.

My two cents - I'm pretty much done with this conversation if it's going to devolve to this level, but if anyone wants to suggest other countries we're all ears. I appreciated the Japan feedback - how about Vietnam? I assume Taiwan would be similar given Hess' insistence on a full body shot, but maybe mainland China (though far less lucrative) is more open given their very high need for teachers.

For those who asked about reaching the chalkboard, he manages. We had a row of milk crates zip-tied together by our kitchen counter, & they did the trick just fine - I imagine something similar could be easily rigged in a school that was more eager to accommodate someone than exclude them. It sounds like that school may be difficult to come by in Korea, however.

[Jongno2bucheon]