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As for airline stewardesses, there are rational, job-related reasons for not hiring fat people. The aisles are narrow and you are having to squeeze past people continually. The more weight in the airplane (luggage and passengers) the more fuel it uses, so why would the airline want to fly your extra weight around full time?
I know there are rational reasons, but it did not have to go to the extreme it did.
There is ONE area I do discriminate in regarding the airlines. I think they should make people over a certain size and weight pay for two seats. And I apply that to myself - great motivator to lose weight.
Since there is a thread on fat acceptance here, I thought I'd start one on weight discrimination as I searched on that and came up with nothing. I have the impression most people are pretty in shape in this forum, but maybe some aren't or maybe some weren't.
At any rate, I'd like to have a discussion of weight discrimination. Since I've been every size of the rainbow, I think I'm in a perfect position to comment. My weight of 122 four years ago is far removed from my current weight of 193 four years later, but my basic looks are not. I still have no gray hair, same hair, no changes, etc. Just more fat. Well, recently I dealt with a contractor. Upon arriving at my house he guessed I used to work in banking. Hmm, he was right! He guessed I was a teller. Hmmm, he was wrong. I actually had a very good job and made good money. In fact, only those with MBAs and PhDs had the type of job I did in the departments where I worked.
So then issues came up and he condescendingly tells me he understands my view of the world has been shaped from my being an "employee" as if he is better than me in some way. Now, you may wonder what this has to do with weight discrimination. First, why assume I had a lower level position in a bank? Two, why assume I was some uneducated worker bee whose world view was shaped like some drone? I say had I been 70 lbs thinner and he had walked in my door he would have guessed a different profession and would not have been nearly so condescending to me. Of course, I could be wrong. Maybe most contractors are just jerks. But certainly contractors know there are women who work in higher level positions at banks.
And it happened in another situation too I vaguely remember. In fact, I was ready to say "I know she's cuter than me, but I was here first" to a service person, but the other customer knew enough to let me go first.
Well, I'd like to hear any examples you've experienced due to your weight that you feel were discrimination.
I think maybe you are using the word discrimination when you really mean stereotyping.
And I do think that people are stereotyped on the basis of appearance as being more or less capable.That may be due to their weight, their clothing, or --- especially today --- the presence or absence of visible piercings and tattoos.
The stereotyping may lead to discrimination, such as in hiring for a job, if the person doing the hiring cannot see beyond the issues of appearance and go by the actual qualifications of the applicant for the position. And a subtle form of discrimination against overweight persons in hiring could be due to fear of health problems in the candidate with the risk of increased absenteeism and increased health insurance costs for the business.
And, as far as weight goes, there may be discrimination, but if the weight issue makes the person less able to do the job, it is probably not illegal discrimination. For example, an extremely overweight person might not be able to physically perform some jobs.
How about airlines making people who are too large for one seat pay for the amount of space they actually use? Is it discriminatory and based solely on weight? Yes, but I happen to feel it is justified. It is unfair to other passengers to expect them to give up the space they have paid for when someone in the next seat is overflowing into it. And it is unfair to the airline to give up the revenue by allowing someone to use a seat they have not paid for. I suspect that eventually the airlines will compromise and come up with a few larger seats in coach. But will those be first come, first served or just held for obese passengers? Would reserving them for overweight people discriminate against those who are not overweight?
And I do not think you were either stereotyped or discriminated against. I think the contractor was just a jerk.
Actually, it sounds to me that you have issues doubt of your own self worth and have little self confidence.
How the heck can you relate your weight to what the people were thinking in those instances posted? What makes you think that if you were "70 pounds lighter" it would have been a different story?
This thread should be moved to the mental health forum.
I think maybe you are using the word discrimination when you really mean stereotyping.
And I do think that people are stereotyped on the basis of appearance as being more or less capable.That may be due to their weight, their clothing, or --- especially today --- the presence or absence of visible piercings and tattoos.
The stereotyping may lead to discrimination, such as in hiring for a job, if the person doing the hiring cannot see beyond the issues of appearance and go by the actual qualifications of the applicant for the position. And a subtle form of discrimination against overweight persons in hiring could be due to fear of health problems in the candidate with the risk of increased absenteeism and increased health insurance costs for the business.
And, as far as weight goes, there may be discrimination, but if the weight issue makes the person less able to do the job, it is probably not illegal discrimination. For example, an extremely overweight person might not be able to physically perform some jobs.
How about airlines making people who are too large for one seat pay for the amount of space they actually use? Is it discriminatory and based solely on weight? Yes, but I happen to feel it is justified. It is unfair to other passengers to expect them to give up the space they have paid for when someone in the next seat is overflowing into it. And it is unfair to the airline to give up the revenue by allowing someone to use a seat they have not paid for. I suspect that eventually the airlines will compromise and come up with a few larger seats in coach. But will those be first come, first served or just held for obese passengers? Would reserving them for overweight people discriminate against those who are not overweight?
And I do not think you were either stereotyped or discriminated against. I think the contractor was just a jerk.
I guess I mean both stereotyping and discrimination. They really go hand in hand. If the perception or stereotype is that fat people are lazy, then they won't get hired for the job. That becomes discrimination. I most certainly WAS discriminated against when I went to that job fair. Why? I'll never know. But I do know it was either my age, my weight or both. They'd already seen my resume and invited me. And the person who was trying to run the fair was fired and I'm pretty sure it was a result of my actions, although I did not intend for that to happen. I am like a pitt bull when I am onto something. I even called the senator's office here. Of course, big waste of time since said Senator is John McCain and said company is Fortune 500. But I did call the Attorney General's Office and they would have done an investigation. And the company did admit their lie and then "reached out to me" (their words) with an interview proposal. This is why I dropped it. I knew that since they "reached out to me" and I refused I had no leg to stand on.
As to airlines, I guess time will tell. I just hope I get lucky everytime I get on one and I don't fly often. Of course, I'm no one to talk right now. I'd feel guilty myself being not my former svelte self sitting next to someone.
Oh, and I do agree that a very overweight person may not be able to do a very physically demanding job and then it's tricky if this borders on discrimination (because maybe that overweight person works out five days a week and is strong as an ox and appearances can be deceiving), but that person will most likely not be hired. This is no different than not hiring a fat, ugly person for a front desk position in a lawyer's office though because that fat, ugly person may have stellar skills compared to some beautiful bimbo. When was the last time you saw a fat and ugly receptionist in a prestigious law firm? I've never seen anyone not attractive in any prestigious office in a front desk capacity. Now, non profits are another story.
Last edited by mistygrl092; 09-09-2011 at 07:36 AM..
Reason: clarification
Misty- I have to disagree with the fat and ugly receptionist generalization. First the two do not go hand and hand, there are ugly skinny women and fat beautiful ones too. Not to mention inner beauty that radiates with self confidence. Secondly my mother was the executive secretary for a very prestigious aerospace company, she is obese, she was obese when she was hired, her skills were never in question because of her weight.
I would venture to guess that age is more of a discriminating factor in this day's workforce. Age may come with wisdom, but it also comes with baggage. Many companies would rather mold a fresh hire than re-train another company's past employee.
Last edited by Dogmama50; 09-09-2011 at 02:34 PM..
Reason: typo
Misty- I have to disagree with the fat and ugly receptionist generalization. First the two do not go hand and hand, there are ugly skinny women and fat beautiful ones too. Not to mention inner beauty that radiates with self confidence. Secondly my mother was the executive secretary for a very prestigious aerospace company, she is obese, she was obese when she was hired, her skills were never in question because of her weight.
I would venture to guess that age is more of a discriminating factor in this day's workforce. Age may come with wisdom, but it also comes with baggage. Many companies would rather mold a fresh hire than re-train another company's past employee.
I respect your perspective. Maybe it's a regional thing. Where I've lived, I've just never seen it. And even in the Midwest, where you'd think things would be more forgiving, the company I worked for said no because this person was fat (sorry if that word offends, I hate the word heavy, for example). And I guess I was speaking more of front desk positions where you are greeting the public, not behind the scenes supporting an executive. Don't know if your Mom was front desk or behind the scenes.
Yes, age is a real issue. I say combine age and weight and it's the kiss of death. I was invited to a teller job fair and between my age and weight I just knew I didn't have a chance. Plus, it was for my former company and I simply would have died had I run into a former coworker and had to tell them I was applying for a teller position (no offense to tellers, but I'm of an age and background that lends itself to higher level positions as is the case with all my former coworkers). Wouldn't mind doing it at a bank where no one knew me, but couldn't at this one.
I have an idea, lose weight... It's your choice to be fat.
I have an idea. Read some of my posts. I've lost 10.8 lbs since 8/3. You can go back a ways and see that for yourself. You click on stats and then click on read posts.
No need for snide remarks that are snippy and add no value.
I don't doubt that discrimination against fat people exists occurs every hour of every day. I believe fat people would likely hire the smaller of two people if equally qualified.
Studies regularly show that good looking people fare better in almost any job situation.
I am not saying fat discrimination is justified (unless body weight or size is a direct impediment to getting the job done). But I don't think there is realistically much that can be done about it. It will always be very difficult to prove in court unless the hiring manager clearly documents they didn't hire someone because of their weight.
It may get worse - as healthcare costs continue to rise. Obesity is the leading preventable cause of death (as per wiki). Why would an employer responsible for health insurance want unhealthy people in their company if healthier people of equivalent skill are available for hire?
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four years later, but my basic looks are not. I still have no gray hair, same hair, no changes, etc. Just more fat. Well, recently I dealt with a contractor. Upon arriving at my house he guessed I used to work in banking. Hmm, he was right! He guessed I was a teller. Hmmm, he was wrong. I actually had a very good job and made good money. In fact, only those with MBAs and PhDs had the type of job I did in the departments where I worked. 
