#How I Benefit from Unconscious Affirmative Action


Income disparities, indicated by the U.S. Census.
Add Figure.

Warning this is a bit personal, regarding a sensitive topic.

I should probably reserve this for a blog post, but I feel compelled to share. I have many anecdotes about this. Some are astounding.

I have benefitted greatly from social expectation, starting in my later 20s. I am sad to say, since I know that others have been hurt by it. Fortunately, I have some talent to justify the opportunities I have received (mostly), and usually there was very little competition to overtake via hiring bias. But there have been innumerable interactions where I know I was visually what others were hoping for. Not just for job opportunities, but every interaction, particularly sales side. I have been surrounded by others who also benefitted, with very little justification on the talent front (perhaps they advanced due to less talent, actually). Usually it is a combination looks, nepotism, and existing social structure (family connection), and age. Family connection and nepotism played no part in my opportunities, but I have seen it. I have had to actively work against ageism. My opportunities were due to a combination of appearance, personality (chattiness/conversationalism), and skill. Mostly it was due to experience in a niche software industry.

I would like to point out, that I have overcome a lot of personal adversity, that I will not share here, but nevertheless, I know I have benefitted greatly from my appearance.

There have been a bunch of threads about whether or not to include intelligence on a resume. I have always said that I include it, but cannot recommend it for everyone. One has to be able to promptly meet expectations surrounding intelligence immediately, visually, culturally, verbally, and continuously with appropriate action. Clearly, this kind of confirmation is not possible, purely voluntarily.

It is a lot easier, if you look and behave, very similarly to to these guys:

The larger the organization, the more obvious it is. I faced ageism many times, in large organizations. I also faced suppression of talent, since I'm superabundant, like many people here, and create a bit of fear. How much more difficult it must be, for those here, who do not benefit by social expectation? I also witnessed pervasive preferential treatment, and systematic exclusion (super obvious by internal demographics).

The biggest issue is the pervasiveness of it. It isn't just job opportunity, it is every interaction at work. Maybe a blog post for another day.

It is easy to overwhelm others with anecdotes, from the advantaged side, though. (Not so much from the *disadvantaged* side, which is telling). I have benefitted and I have many stories about it (both about people given opportunities without justification, and people denied opportunities). I actually left an organization, in part, due to it.

What stinks is that those who benefit most from it, either do not recognize it, or flatly deny it. Worse still they cover it up with b.s. about our "meritocracy." Providing elucidation for these people is not easy either.


Confirmation: 
"You remind me of.."
"You look like.."
"You remind me of someone.."
Or just a look of prior recognition.


A powerful influence, in which many are probably not aware, is the degree to which they transfer feelings from a culture figure or icon to someone similar. This is implicit in the fact that people attempt to look and dress like attractive famous people. Everyone immitates the fashionable. The reality is that people are trying to gain the attractiveness of these people. A male/female that looks like a beautiful pop star, will undoubtedly get attention, not just for being attractive, but for the transferrence from feelings towards that pop star. Yet association is not always positive or entirely positive, and can be quite negative.

Smart Guy 1: Matt Damon, Memory and Math Prodigy from Good Will Hunting

Smart Guy 2: Wentworth Miller, Architect from Prison Break

Smart Guy 3?: Matt Cavanaugh
![Matt Damon from Goodwill Hunting](./advantages-matt-damon-goodwill-hunting.jpg "Matt Damon from Goodwill Hunting")
