One of the most brutal things I learned in life was determinism – it’s real. Genetics outweighs hard work in every area of life, your fate depends on how you were born. Were you born rich? Beautiful? Talented? Oh, how lucky! You really hit the genetic lottery!
while others have to push themselves to the limit, go beyond their boundaries, and sacrifice everything, there are people who are born to have what others desire so much. And this is not just about "luck" or "effort," but characteristics that are out of any individual’s control: appearance, genetics, physical traits.
the real problem is that we’re not born equal, especially in traits that are permanent and directly impact our lives, like appearance. How you present yourself to the world affects practically everything – from how you're treated socially to how you're perceived at work and even in love. The traits you carry are not just superficial; they are either a barrier or an advantage throughout your life. We need to work hard to overcome these visible inequalities, but most of the time, it just doesn't work as we hoped.
the reality is that at birth, some people get benefits simply because of their genetics. Society tends to favor those with attractive physical appearances, something that is unconsciously perceived by most people. This ranges from special treatment in social interactions to an easier time landing jobs or even partners.
attractive people, for example, don’t need to do much to be noticed, as attention is automatically directed towards them. They are more likely to be promoted at work, receive job offers more easily, and often don’t need to exert as much effort as others to achieve something. This extends to other areas of life, such as social validation. Those who don’t have these "genetic advantages" have to fight against stares and judgments they can’t control, which ends up creating a cycle of disadvantages that is hard to break.
the idea that "nobody is born perfect" is often used to justify the inequalities that exist, but the truth is we are not treated equally by society. Appearance is not a trivial detail; it shapes the perception of who we are even before we open our mouths to speak. People who don't fit the beauty standard can be hurt in ways that are often invisible, like lack of opportunities or difficulty in establishing meaningful connections.
this is also reflected in people's behavior. Human biology tends to make us treat better those who meet the beauty standards we have evolved to associate with health, youth, and attractiveness. Humans are programmed to react positively to certain visual cues, and this affects the daily lives of those who don’t fit those standards. Additionally, social status is often a direct reflection of how someone is perceived physically, which further amplifies the disparity between those who "have" and those who "don’t" have these advantages.
therefore, appearance cannot be ignored when talking about success and equality of opportunities. It’s not just about "trying to be beautiful" or "doing the best you can," but about a deterministic reality that often gives a bigger push to those already at the top – something hard to fight, but that influences every aspect of life. In the end, appearance is indeed a big part of how someone’s life will unfold, and this is a truth that we often prefer to ignore, but that remains real an impactful.
