Physical attractiveness and managerial favoritism in the hotel industry: the light and dark side of erotic capital

Abstract

Erotic capital is the combination of aesthetic, visual, physical, social, and sexual attractiveness to other members of the society, in particular, to the opposite sex. Despite its importance in the workplace, little is known about its influence on organizational politics, including favoritism. Drawing on elegance theory, which suggests that physical attractiveness can confer status in social settings, this article examines the way possession of erotic capital may influence managerial attitudes in the hospitality industry. To this end, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a dyad of managers (n = 5) and employees (n = 20). Our findings indicate that erotic capital can have both positive and negative organizational outcomes. Research and practical implications of these results are discussed.