I don’t notice many women with very curvaceous bodies in the upper levels of business as upper level executives or managers. To be specific by “curvaceous” I don’t mean “curvaceous” as a metaphor for “fat” as it’s often used to politely describe overweight women , but “curvaceous” in describing a woman with normal set of female hips, medium to slim waist, and somewhat larger than average breasts for her build. A classic “hourglass” shape like Sophia Loren or Scarlett Johansson
I saw these women in fair numbness while in college as coeds when I was a student, and I occasionally see them at parties and school athletic events as wives and mothers, and I often see them at bars and nightclubs, but I almost never see them in the upper to mid-upper levels of business.
Why? Do they have other/better options re marrying and opting out because of their physical attractiveness? Do people not hire them thinking they would be a distraction? Does the culture not take them seriously? Are they dissuaded from entrepreneurial or business options? Does the unusual level of attention paid to their bodies make them uncomfortable to the point they take themselves out of interactive person to person environments?
If they have a “normal” shape, then how are they “unusually curvaceous”? By the way, I have never seen “curvaceous” used to mean “fat,” just “curvy,” which as a fat but decidedly non-curvy woman, makes me want to stab someone.
I don’t see how a woman’s body shape has anything to do with her chosen career unless her career is one where her body shape actually matters–a model, an athlete, a dancer. You may not notice such women in upper level executive or managerial positions because women in such positions may dress to de-emphasize their figures (if possible), or because of, what’s it called, confirmation bias.
I also hope you’re not trying to imply that curvaceous women are less ambitious or intelligent than women not so blessed.
I have noticed that they are accused of wearing ‘sexy’ or ‘distracting’ outfits more than other women– even if they’re wearing a turtleneck and jeans, or a slight V-neck. It also starts quite early; as soon as their bodies develop, they are up for grabs. I think many people can imagine a female president– but I wonder, would they be able to take a woman ‘seriously’ if she was 40-25-35?
ETA I don’t doubt that the ones that work higher up make great pains to de-emphasize their bodies’ natural shape, for better or for worse.
I don’t see anything in my OP that implies that in any way, shape or form. If anything I’m 180 degrees away from that position in observing that I don’t see them in the numbers I would expect demographically in the upper tiers of business, so what are the external cultural etc. factors that might tend to keep them out of upper level management and administration. Female executives in my expereince typically range from chunky, medium to slim I almost never see a upper tier female executive with a true “hourglass” shape.
I did say I hoped you weren’t trying to imply that, as there are those who would use phrasing like yours to imply just that. I didn’t say you were implying that.
I suspect that curvaceous women do make it do the higher levels of business–they just dress to downplay their curves. As a short woman, I’ve learned how to dress so that my height isn’t as obvious. I’m sure that women blessed with curvy figures learn how to do something similar.
At the risk of making an already sexist thread moreso, maybe you’re just missing the effects of time. It takes years for anyone to rise to the level of upper management. Maybe the women who looked like this as college students look like this as board members.
Most clothing designed for business women is designed to deemphasize curves.
I can look like Jessica Rabbit if I’m so inclined but I don’t do it at the office. I don’t even show clevage at the office (well, at least not much). I tend to wear pant suits which look professional but not sexy.
So, as opposed to no curvy women being in management roles, I think it’s actually women in management roles don’t play up the fact that they’re curvy women. Well, except for Cuddy in House.
I read it as implying that women who end up in professional careers had to do so because nobody wanted to marry them. “Better options re marrying and opting out because of their physical attractiveness”? Geez.
IME, many of the coeds in college with that sort of figure run to “stout” now: they may be in business, but they don’t look the same. It’s the women that are skinny all over that stay skinny into middle age, and I’d bet that some of the older women at school events and such that have big breasts but little bodies have implants (and don’t say you can tell: it’s one thing to pick out breast implants in a nude shot or a bikini: they are much harder to notice under a T-shirt or a blouse). Professional women are less likely to have had implants.
Also, remember that the girls in college were dressing to accent their breasts and the professional women are likely dressing to downplay the same features: it’s only the women on the extreme ends of the curve that can’t do either–never underestimate the ability of a good bra and cleavage to make you (especially college-age you) think a C cup is impressive, when in reality that exact same bosom in an industrial bra and under a blouse and jacket is unremarkable.
Yeah… I suspect you and others making the same point are correct. It’s not that they aren’t there, it’s just that if they are they are significantly deemphasizing their curviness.
See I actually see it the other way. It’s not that women’s business clothing makes such a point to de-emphasize curves, so much as casual clothing makes such a point to emphasize them. Think about what a young woman might wear to a summer party - a halter top-dress, a short skirt, a baby tee, etc. What would a guy wear? cargo shorts and a t-shirt. Women’s casual clothing lines that doesn’t really hug the body (think Lands End or Charter Club at Macy’s) tends to be considered “conservative” when it’s really not any more fitted then the corresponding men’s outfit.
I remember reading about one of those academic studies about how we judge people based on physical appearance. Anyway, this one studied various physical features of women and how that affected how they were perceived. The study found that women with large breasts were judged to be less intelligent, controlling for their other features.
No, I don’t have the cite, and it’s not a topic that’s particularly amenable to Googling.
Anyway, assuming that was a valid finding, it could contribute to what you’ve observed.
I agree completely; it does take a fair amount of time to rise to, or even close to, the top. That said, I’ve seen some female executives and entrepreneurs who prove the exception to the rule.
