The idea that conventionally attractive people are dumb and shallow is a serious problem, in large part because it often only applies to women. In many STEM workplaces and academic environments, men are allowed to care about personal grooming, fashion, and their fitness without their intellectual abilities being called into question.

But the exact same men will tear down female colleagues who also care about their appearance, while praising the ones who don’t care about “superficial” things. And ironically, I’ve seen many women in the latter category go out of their way and dedicate just as much time and energy into their appearance while trying to look as frumpy as possible in order to be taken more seriously.