[russell]

I recall reading about a similar prejudice in the promotion of men. In the case of men it's height not prettiness.

EDIT: simonsarris beat me by 3 minutes wit better data, so I'll throw in another data point. In the past 25 presidential elections the taller or tying candidate won 19 times. Before that it is more even, perhaps because it was harder to see the differences.

[erikj54]

This is true. There is indeed a biological explanation for many of these behaviours. We are programmed to believe that tall men would infer strong mating partners, or someone to avoid in the case of a male.

For females, it is quite similar. Women who possess certain qualities appear more attractive and we generally look more favourably upon them in society.

This problem is indeed real, but it is perhaps more subconscious then we wish to believe.

[alxp]

Beware of using biology to explain behaviours when those behaviours re-enforce the status quo. Evolutionary psychology is struggling to seem legit and using it to make 'that's just how things are' statements sound scientific is not helping at all.

[davidtanner]

You're barking up the wrong tree if you think sex selection for height and attractiveness are anything but biological in origin.

[Evbn]

How many were ties? 19/25 is already a smallish margin.