Once I judged a woman, based on her looks.

[Alan H]

This was a number of years ago, now. I was teaching non-majors biology at a Community College in Oakland. I taught at three colleges, part time, trying to get a full-time tenure-track job at one of them, and make enough money to keep going. It's the first day of class.

....and she walks in.

I could not believe my eyes. Blonde hair, teased up to permanent windblown-status... red nails, crop-top with a tanned and taught stomach peeking out over her low slung shorts. Some women that try this look cheap, but this gal didn't look cheap, she looked like a freaking model in what's colloquially known as a "Mens Magazine"...photographed by a top-notch professional. I'm not exaggerating, either, she was an absolute jaw dropper.

If you're into that sort of thing, of course. *ahem*

She plopped down next to two other women over on the right side of the room. I could see their eyes roll back in their heads. I figured...OK..."Brain Dead". GREAT to look at, but fluff between the ears, for sure.

Man oh man, was I wrong.

She earned the highest grade in the class, cleaned up with A's and nearly perfect test scores.
She helped arrange study sessions for all the other students at the local pizza place, before each midterm and the final.
She was a haircutter/stylist who'd gotten bored with that job and was trying to get an education and do something different. She gave half the women in the class free haircuts.

The other women in the class wound up LOVING her...she had no attitude on her at all.
She wound up TA'ing for the Anatomy and Physiology professor, the next year.

...and she came to class most days that spring looking like a straight-out-of-the-magazines fantasy.

Did I learn a lesson that semester? You bet I did. Don't EVER judge someone by their appearance. EVER.

[davedove]

It's not so much that we tend to judge people by their appearance, but rather we limit them. We see the gorgeous woman, or man, and assume they must not be too bright. Or we see the person with the pocket protector and taped up glasses and assume they are incredibly smart, but socially awkward.

We always have problems when we see someone in only one way. Unfortunately, I think it's human nature to want to categorize the people we encounter.


So.... did this woman have a sister?

[Spc. Scott]

A good story and a good lesson. I can't imagine that there are very many of us who haven't done that to someone at one time or another.

I know I have and was promptly proven that my first impression was pretty far off base. A humbling lesson to remind me to stay open-minded.

[Kilted in Maine]

And how has Mrs. H aged?

[hospitaller]

good story, but you know the X Marks old maxim ... without pictures of the stunner ... it never happened.

[Smayniac]

I remember a similar woman when I was a college student. She was brunette and looked like a typical sorority girl, which I think she actually was. On the final exam of our Macroeconomics class, she was the first person finished, so fast that the prof gave her a look that said "wait for someone else to finish too".

Bob

[Bob C]

You don't happen to have any pictures, do you?

[Southern Breeze]

Good lesson there. One of my brother in laws nieces is 25, with a Masters in History. She's 5'0 in high heels and looks like she's only 13. Because she looks so young, she actually has a hard time getting dates. And an even harder time buying alcohol.

[McELT]

Like you, I learned at an early point when teaching not to judge the book...

but I used to always get a kick out of those that did it in reverse.



I'm 5' 8 1/2" , 230 lb with a full beard and rather a "rough" look. At work, people always tell me I'm the least likely to be picked out as the supervisor instead of one of the guys - welder, mechanic, rigger, etc. I've also had people speak to me as though I weren't educated, especially those new to the group. (I have a PhD in chemistry).

I know I'm not a hot blonde (I'm a toasty brunette ), but sometimes the knife cuts both ways.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Whether we admit to it or not, we always judge people by their looks, most especially when we first encounter them. The reason for this is because when you don't know a person, all the information you have about them comes from their appearance. So your brain immediately takes that information in and draws certain conclusions, good or bad.

This is quite natural. BUT -- the thing to remember is to be willing to change or amend your judgement based on further information. As you get to know a person better -- as you did this young lady -- your perceptions of them should change. You may find your initial assumptions affirmed, or you could find you were dead wrong.

The problem, I think, is when you don't have that opportunity to get to know a person better. You are left with your immediate snap judgement. This is why I stress the importance of maintaining a good personal appearance. People don't like to think of others judging them by how they look, but the truth is the clothes you wear, the way you carry yourself, etc., does affest how people perceive you. And you want that perception to reflect the person you actually are. So dress appropriately! (And watch lots of "What Not to Wear" on TLC!). lol.....