In nearly all occupations, women are paid less than men for equivalent work—on average, about 80% as much as men. In most other predominately-female jobs, men are favored over women in both pay and promotions. But in fashion modeling women are paid a 25-75% premium over men’s wages (Mears 2011). This gap is even larger at the top—for a high-end fragrance or fashion campaign, a man may earn as little as one-tenth as the women next to him in the ad (Mears 2011). Why is it that in certain contexts, being female pays?
While it might at first seem encouraging that there are at least some jobs in which women are paid more—modeling and sex work—Mears (2011) argues that this simply highlights women’s cultural subordination as objects. For women, working as an ornamental object is a natural extension of feminine expectations, but for men it creates a cultural contradiction. Male models are supposed to embody the masculine ideal, but subordination as a display object is inherently un-masculine.
Does beauty always pay more for women?
Good-looking men and women earn more than their averagely-attractive peers, and the beauty bonus is at least as large for men as for women, as is the penalty for being plain (Borland and Leigh 2014; Hamermesh and Biddle 1994). In fact, in the general population the link between physical attractiveness and earnings is, on several measures, more consistent for men than for women (Borland and Leigh 2014). Thus, it is primarily in modeling that beauty pays greater returns for women that for men—yet it is also in modeling that standards of beauty are most arbitrary, unpredictable, and socially-constructed (Mears 2011).
Beauty does not generally pay better for women than for men in the labor market, but what about the marriage market? Both women and men benefit romantically from being beautiful in that they are less likely to be single or celibate, but neither gender is likely to leverage good looks in exchange for socioeconomic mobility (McClintock 2014). Pretty women marry highly-paid men (and handsome men marry highly-paid women) for the simple reason that couples match on beauty and beautiful people earn more, on average. In fact, counter to the stereotype of the idle “trophy wife,” good-looking women are more likely to be employed than their plainer counterparts (Borland and Leigh 2014).
Women’s beauty fades faster
Although female models are paid more, they also have earlier “expiration dates” (Mears 2011). Female editorial models retire mid-twenties; men can work into their forties. Women also have an earlier expiration date in the marriage market. The older men are when they marry, the larger the age gap between the men and their younger brides (England and McClintock 2009) and the odds that a single person marries decline with age at a faster rate for women than for men (Smith 1991; Veevers 1988). Arguably, age is more closely-linked with beauty for women than for men. Good-looking men reap the benefits of beauty for a longer time than good-looking women. Thus, although women may devote more time to their looks, on average, men’s vanity may provide higher returns.
REFERENCES
Borland, Jeff and Andrew Leigh. 2014. "Unpacking the Beauty Premium: What Channels Does It Operate Through, and Has It Changed Over Time?" Economic Record 90:17-32.
England, Paula and Elizabeth Aura McClintock. 2009. "The Gendered Double Standard of Aging in US Marriage Markets." Population and Development Review 35:797-816.
Hamermesh, Daniel S. and Jeff E. Biddle. 1994. "Beauty and the Labor Market." The American Economic Review 84:1174-1194.
McClintock, Elizabeth Aura. 2014. "Beauty and Status: The Illusion of Exchange in Partner Selection." American Sociological Review 79:575-604.
Mears, Ashley. 2011. Pricing Beauty: The Making of a Fashion Model. Berkely and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press.
Smith, Ken R., Cathleen D. Zick, Greg J. Duncan. 1991. "Remarriage Patterns Among Recent Widows and Widowers." Demography 28:361-374.
Veevers, Jean E. 1988. "The "Real" Marriage Squeeze: Mate Selection, Mortality, and the Mating Gradient." Sociological Perspectives 31:169-189.
FAQs
A female model appears to add more value to a brand than a male model. Having a beautiful female associated with your product raises demand and brings in more sales than a male model. As a result, the demand for female fashion models is high and this bids up the wage.
Why do female models make more money? ›
There are several causes for the gap. One reason is that historically the menswear sector has gotten less financial support than the womenswear industry. The need for female models is always greater than the need for male models, and this is where the wage disparity originates. Menswear designers are also quite rare.
Who makes more money, male or female models? ›
The pay gap also extends to the modeling rank-and-file. Female models make an average of $41,300 annually, which is 148% more than the men, who earn an average of about $28,000, according to data from Payscale.
Is modeling a female dominated industry? ›
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in fashion model positions over time. Currently, 77.7% of fashion models are female.
Who is the highest paid female model? ›
Gisele Bündchen
Gisele Bündchen, the Brazilian supermodel, has consistently been at the top of the highest-paid models list for many years. She's famous for her captivating presence on runways and for teaming up with big brands, making a lot more money than other models, as estimates suggest.
Do male models get paid less than female models? ›
A quick glance at the figures shows that the earnings of female fashion models far outstrip those of male models. The top grossing female model, Kendall Jenner, earned last year 15 times the amount of the top male model, Sean O'Pry.
Why should female athletes be paid more? ›
By paying female athletes more, sports organizations could attract more top talent and create a more competitive league. This could lead to more interest from fans, more ticket sales, and more revenue overall. Finally, paying women in sports more money would help promote gender equality in all aspects of society.
Who is the number 1 paid male model? ›
World's Highest Paid Male Supermodel David Gandy On Transitioning From Fashion Model To Wellness Wear Designer. Contributor.
Are male models well paid? ›
How much does a Male Modeling make? As of Apr 21, 2024, the average hourly pay for a Male Modeling in the United States is $34.05 an hour.
What is the dark side of modeling? ›
Unrealistic Standards: The relentless pursuit of 'perfection' means countless models face rejection for reasons as arbitrary as a freckle or an inch on the waist. Mental Health Struggles: The pressure can be mentally taxing, with many facing anxiety, depression, and self-doubt.
The most common ethnicity among runway models is White, which makes up 55.8% of all runway models.
What jobs are most dominated by men? ›
Various studies show the most male-dominated industries include construction and building, vehicle technicians or mechanics, or carpenters, where the share of women is only 1–2%. Female-dominated jobs include preschool and kindergarten teachers, nursing, or secretarial positions.
Who is the number 1 female model? ›
Kendall Jenner is the top model in the World. Kendall Jenner is an American Mannequin. She is also a U.S gold medalist as Decathlon winner.
How much do Gucci models make? ›
As of Apr 23, 2024, the average hourly pay for a Gucci Model in the United States is $45.71 an hour.
How much more do female models make? ›
The modeling industry is a women-dominated sector, one of the few industries where the gender pay gap is reversed, where male models typically earn far less than their counterparts. According to PayScale in 2013, female models had an average salary of $41,300, earning 148% more than male models.
Do male models make a lot of money? ›
How much do male models make? As of August 2022, male models in the United States made between $10,094 and $254,999, with an average salary of $49,309, according to Comparably. Models working in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Miami can typically earn higher wages.
Why are female role models important for girls? ›
Role models are important as they can be a powerful force for social learning and can help influence their decisions. They also play a large role in motivating people to achieve their goals as they can see that it is possible.
