Who knew payscale practices were still stuck in the stone age?

Depending on your gender the results of a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology in October, recently gaining online popularity, say yes – or no.

The theory behind the study is that society holds very different body standards for men versus women. Research indicates that the consequences of defying these social norms may not be linear. After examining the relationship between weight, income and the degree to which the relationship varies by gender, the findings support the hypothesis that the closer women are to media defined versions of attractiveness, the more value the person will find in the labor market. In simpler terms, if you’re a woman, the thinner you are the more money you make. {Morning Quickie} Even more depressing, as women celebrated as attractive by the media have become thinner, so have perceptions of average and overweight.

Numerous tests have been done and theories discussed throughout the years regarding this very topic. Stigmas, stereotypes and prejudice can all play a role in the bias against physical appearances. For example, a woman considered “very thin” (25 lbs. less than the group norm) makes an average of $22,000 more per year than her average size counterparts. Could it be that thinner women are actually just better at the job? Maybe at an individual level in some cases, but considering the size of the study it seems unlikely that every average to overweight woman was that much worse at her job than her thinner counterpart. The results were drawn from two separate studies in the US and Germany, and each study tracked more than 10,000 participants.

At an average or higher than average weight? Value yourself highly, even if others don't. Once in a while, that works out really well.

The same study indicates the opposite holds true for men. “Men earn more as they pack on the pounds – all the way to the point where they become obese, when the pay trend reverses”. In fact, very thin men can earn an average of $17,000 less than their bulkier counterparts. {Wall Street Journal}

There are reasons for hiring someone on the thinner side, but there are a very small number of jobs where weight has a direct influence on a person’s ability to do the job. Even in our thin-obsessed society it is shocking to see such a difference in pay scale for something most people don’t have control over. If a man is naturally very thin, he shouldn’t have to spend hours in the gym bulking up to earn money for a job well done (unless that job is something like body building, of course). If a woman is naturally not very thin, she shouldn’t have to starve herself or put her health in danger for pay equal to thinner counterparts.

Unfortunately, since weight/body type doesn’t qualify as a protected class under US employment law (like gender or race), when it comes to hiring or pay there’s not much someone who finds themselves discriminated against in this way can do to – forgive the pun, balance the scales. While it may be small consolation, the one person who can be convinced to ignore stereotypes is in the mirror. In at least one case, valuing yourself highly can make some difference in how others value your work as well.

What is Carstache, you ask? Itâ€s a mustache for your car. Yes, if you’ve looked at Tom Selleck, Burt Reynolds or any other famous mustachioed man and thought “why isn’t there a car accessory that will give me the same kind of ’70sn mustachioed cool?” look no further. This week, Daily Candy tweeted a link to the Carstache Web site, which describes the company as “the undisputed global leader in automotive facial hair, delivering the industryâ€s most luxurious in car mustaches.” The site also says the Carstache is a vehicle accessory that is meant to be silly and fun for “events and special occasions” like tailgating, weddings, Halloween, bachelor parties, birthdays, Fatherâ€s Day and Bar Mitzvahs.

Carstache, which is located in San Francisco, has had car mustaches on the market since April 2010. We just canâ€t imagine why more people havenâ€t hopped on this bandwagon yet…

We do appreciate Carstacheâ€s attitude, since the product is meant to make people laugh, and if you don’t have any hipsters in your area (or don’t actually want to hang out with the hipsters in your area) it’s not the worst way to celebrate the mustache trend. Unless you work in the adult industry or for American Apparel (close enough) we wouldnâ€t recommend driving to the office with a furry accessory on your bumper though.

You can “Get ‘Stached” for about $40 at carstache.com or at any of Carstacheâ€s retail partners including Spencerâ€s Gifts, Urban Outfitters and Hot Topic. The Carstache is weather tested, comes with rubber attaching wires and is available in a variety of colors, the names for which are really clever (Wisdom Grey, Firestache Orange). Another benefit: if you’re in an area where car theft is a problem, silly as this mustache looks it might be a good way to get would be auto thieves to sniff out another target.

Kind of cute

Christmas is fast approaching, and if youâ€ve still got some last-minute shopping to do, you can find gift guides galore online and in magazines and newspapers to help you come up with some great present ideas. The following product, though, is one weâ€d suggest skipping as a holiday gift this year. And every other year after this one, for that matter.

Glamour reported via The New York Times last week on a new handmade doll called MamAmour that is pregnant and can give birth – vaginally.

Kind of creepy

Weâ€ve heard of baby dolls that cry, pee and drink from a bottle, but a mom doll that gives birth to a baby doll? Thatâ€s certainly a new one. While weâ€re all for young people understanding child birth and discussing it openly as a natural part of life, these discussions should probably be reserved for those that are not young enough to play with dolls.

MamAmour gives birth through an elastic vaginal opening and comes with a woven umbilical cord and a placenta. The baby dollâ€s mouth has a snap that corresponds to one on the mom dollâ€s nipple, so that the new-born can breast-feed.  Just when you thought it couldnâ€t get ant weirder, right?

The dolls can be custom-made with any skin, hair and eye color, which, along with being handmade, is actually a nice feature.

Hereâ€s what sticks the nail in the coffin for us, though: each MamAmour doll costs $130, with custom dolls starting at $145. Toys “R” Us sells baby dolls for $14.99, and those wonâ€t provoke awkward questions from a child thatâ€s too young to need to know all of the scientific details about birth. Apparently there is a significant shopping audience who disagrees, however: all of the pre-made $130 dolls are sold out through January 2011.

(Did you know that stunningly-beautiful actress Hedy Lamarr, for example, was an accomplished inventor who contributed to the development of wireless technology?)

Berry chides the tendency of people — irregardless of gender — to judge women harshly, instead encouraging a spirit of education and tolerance which allows women and girls to be who they want to be.

The “love thyself” philosophy is by no means new, but it’s something we could all learn to incorporate into our lives more often.  Remember that fashion is something you put on to express your self and your ideas — not the other way around.

Read the full story {The Guardian}

Her “Lists For Life: The Essential Guide for Getting Organized and Tackling Tough To-Do’s” is a mouthful to say but offers helpful hints on everything from planning no-fuss holiday dinners to making the move to your new pad a lot less stressful.

Tahari sees lists and organization as simple ways to make life easier, but — more importantly — sees this structure system also as a form of “empowerment.”  When life is neat and organized, she believes, it’s easier to feel confident about choices, no matter how big or small — which means less time doing last-minute stressing out and more time idyllically eating pie  with Grandma.

Read the full story {ABC News}

In order to rebrand itself as a viable shopping source, today eBay will be unveiling The Inside Source, an online fashion and lifestyle magazine which will present current fashion and pop culture trends, in turn directing customers to certain items and vendors that fit within those trends.

The idea seems like a smart move for eBay, as it will certainly give the site a more polished, stylish update — but we wonder how The Inside Source will be marketed in order to bring in people who normally wouldn’t shop on eBay.

Read the full story {Bits Blog via NY Times}