I’ve seen plenty of examples of hot women excelling in the workplace regardless of their skill set.  An article in the National Post highlights both the pros and cons of actively flaunting your sexuality on the job.

First, the good;

Ms. Brunger (director of the International Image Institute) says that a more nuanced sexuality can work to one’s advantage. “There are some people who are naturally sensuous; that’s the very essence of who they are. It’s natural charisma, and that’s what people maybe would be better to go after than overt sexiness.”

On the other hand;

Mr. Tancred (retired sociology professor and former director of the McGill Centre for Research and Teaching on Women) believes that sexiness is perceived as irrelevant to the job at hand. And, in addition to his conclusions about stereotypes, Mr. Glick says sexiness can be perceived as manipulative. “You combine sexual power with some kind of status at work and that’s particularly threatening for men,” he says. “It’s like in Basic Instinct with Sharon Stone.”

A “Blink” style psychology experiment seems to confirm the danger:

Study participants were shown a videotape of a provocatively dressed woman, and were told that she was either a receptionist or senior manager. When told that she was a senior manager, she was perceived as less competent.

Read the whole article here