Back when I was a waitress for a nanosecond, we were encouraged to touch our customers to make a connection with them. Nothing perverse, of course, just a little tap on the arm or shoulder now and then, in an effort to obtain better tips. Interestingly, in a recent study published by the International Journal of Hospitality Management, researchers confirmed another method for waitresses to up their tips — wearing makeup.
But there's a catch: it wasn't women customers who actually tipped at higher rates, it was men, who doled out 25 percent more to these cosmetics-donning servers. Sexist? You might say. Psychologist Ingrid Collins told the Daily Mail, "The object of make-up is to enhance the features, making the eyes bigger and the mouth fuller, much like the proportions of a baby’s face. Women look more vulnerable but alternatively the enlargement of the lips suggests sexual availability and arousal." She went on to add, "It makes men feel they need to be masculine and tipping, providing for this need, does that rather well." What do you have to say about this phenomenon?
Ben Sherman
Nike
Elle Passions
Duh? Any female that's waitressed for any length of time knows her tips go up when a little effort goes into the way she looks. Call it sexist if you want, but I call it smart.
1haha, Monday! I was going to say the same thing. Duh! I experienced this as a waitress in college. If I wore makeup that day, I got tipped better. The same applies to teaching too. The more attractive the teacher, the more respect she/he gets. Sad, but true. I've been told by students that they like that I dress nice and wear makeup as opposed to other teachers.
2Yeah I'm with you two, I hope they didn't spend too much on their study, they could've just asked!
I'd never go to work without makeup anyways, but the better you look the more money you make, obviously.
3It also applies to pizza delivery drivers. On the nights I wore makeup, I definitely made better tips.
4As a waitress for two miserable weeks of my life, I was told by the management to wear as little makeup as possible for health and sanitation reasons. I would wear some colored lip gloss though. I worked in DC last August and there weren't many people coming to eat. I didn't see a difference in tipping based on that. If anything I relied on my personality and level of attentiveness.
5I think it depends on if you do your makeup well too. No clown faces!
6Well, I've never waitressed before. But I've never worn make-up, and I suffered no deficit of attention from men. I do have naturally big eyes, and full lips, though (this was pointed out to me by WOMEN, believe it or not).
7Um, duh? Agree with Mondaymoos
8how funny...i JUST quit my serving job, in which management was constantly getting after me for wearing too much color (too much COLOR, not too much MAKEUP) on my eyes and nails.I wonder if that affected my tips any?
9I'm with Mondaymoos.
10Why would you post a picture of Asian woman serving white man? Racism and sexism all together?
11Um, this is news?
12Whatever. I think anyone looks better with a little makeup.
13yeah i feel like if i was working around a lot of people, i would definitely be wearing makeup anyway, but now another reason to!
14I haven't noticed any difference in the amount of tips between myself and a coworker without makeup. Tipping isn't a huge phenomenon in Australia, so I'm lucky to get four bucks a night, makeup or no.
15HAhaha if i become a waitress, il be sure to keep this is mind lol
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