Using What You've Got

*I originally posted this at Skirt.com, where I am now writing as a Skirtsetter! Give the site a visit if you haven't already.

We've all heard the phrase "Use what you've got until you get what you want." It is sound advice, and is applied to many areas of life. But how far should that go? According to a new book, that includes using your feminine wiles to get ahead at work. Catherine Hakim, who is a research fellow at the London School of Economics, has written a book titled Erotic Capital: the Power of Attraction in the Boardroom and Bedroom. In this book, she says six qualities (beauty, sex appeal, social grace, liveliness, social presentation, and sexual competence) combine to create erotic capital. However, she insists that it does not involve sleeping your way to the top.

From The Daily Beast:
Hakim defines erotic capital as more than just sex: a combination of beauty, style, social skills, and charm that can be learned (or, shall we say, bought). If that means spending a fortune on brand-name clothes, so be it—because erotic capital is as important in today’s workplace, she says, as intelligence or skill. Dieting and exercise? That should be a given, because nobody wants to hire the overweight. Tanning, hair dye—even cosmetic surgery. Those are all necessary evils if you’re really driven to make it to the top, says Hakim. (Perfume and high heels also have been known to do the trick.)

“Anyone, even quite an ugly person, can be attractive if they just have the right kind of hairstyle, clothes, and present themselves to the best effect,” Hakim tells The Daily Beast. “This isn’t a frivolous spending of money. It has real benefits.”  As a famous cosmetics creator once put it: “There are no ugly women, only lazy ones.”

Not having read the book, I can't give a full and effective critique of this line of thinking. However, I do have some concerns that I hope the book addresses. The main thing that stood out to me was that it seems to assume that a straight male is the one who determines how far a woman goes in a company. Will she address other possibilities, or is her ideology based solely on heteronormativity and correlating gender roles?

I would also like to read the author's discussion on how this erotic capital comes into play when dealing with sexual harassment. Yes, we all know that harassment and assaults occur even when there is no provocation. But we do not live in an ideal world; the victim's behavior, dress, attitude, etc. all comes under scrutiny when there are claims of sexual harassment. Could this erotic capital be an additional problem for those facing this issue?

To a lesser extent, I'm curious as to whether Ms. Hakim foresees any potential rifts between those who go through the more traditional channels of advancement and those using erotic capital. Surely they would not see each other the same, nor would they be viewed the same by others in the company. What could that mean for those who follow her suggestion, and how can they avoid or overcome that?

Just off of general principle I can't say that I agree with this idea. Yes, of course you should look your best, exude confidence, etc. but shouldn't that be done for yourself? I'll let my work and attitude speak for me on the job, and save the exotic capital for getting out of speeding tickets.

Ladies do any of you use your "erotic capital" at work or do you know someone who does? How has it affected them career-wise and emotionally? If you don't, do you think this is something you would try? Speak out!