You 100% are judged on your looks. As someone who’s assigned female though, and usually lets interviewers read them as such initially, I have something to add.
There’s a VERY specific type of look women have to have in order to be seen as professional. You have to be as flawless as possible, but you also have to be understated. Any ‘fun’ type of femininity is looked down on. The long lashes, long nails and red lips definitely fall in that category. ‘Professional’ for women means you have to spend a lot of time and money on skin, makeup, jewelry, nails, hair, clothing, but you can’t have fun with it.*
Personally I’m in stem academia, where it’s expected that you look like you don’t spend any time on your appearance at all. Otherwise it’ll be assumed you can’t keep up with the men. Still can’t have, for example, body hair though.
*Unless you happen to have fun with nude colours and understated jewelry and fashion. Nothing wrong with that!
You 100% are judged on your looks. As someone who’s assigned female though, and usually lets interviewers read them as such initially, I have something to add.
There’s a VERY specific type of look women have to have in order to be seen as professional. You have to be as flawless as possible, but you also have to be understated. Any ‘fun’ type of femininity is looked down on. The long lashes, long nails and red lips definitely fall in that category. ‘Professional’ for women means you have to spend a lot of time and money on skin, makeup, jewelry, nails, hair, clothing, but you can’t have fun with it.*
Personally I’m in stem academia, where it’s expected that you look like you don’t spend any time on your appearance at all. Otherwise it’ll be assumed you can’t keep up with the men. Still can’t have, for example, body hair though.
*Unless you happen to have fun with nude colours and understated jewelry and fashion. Nothing wrong with that!