Our society is not that different from the society depicted in Gattaca; a majority of society treats more attractive people better than average or unattractive people. According to economics Professor Daniel Hamermesh at UT Austin, “Attractive people earn an average of 3 or 4 percent more than people with below-average looks” (Stanger). In Gattaca, people are ranked in society under two categories: “valid” and “in-valid”. The naturally born “in-valids” are cast aside and relegated to working-class, menial jobs and the genetically engineered “valids” are put into powerful positions and revered in society. The protagonist of the film, Vincent Freeman, dreams of being a space pilot, a profession that “in-valids” would be strictly barred from occupying.
