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Discrimination
Apr. 5th, 2005 09:57 amThis article was sent to me by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
immlass
Obese Shoppers more likely to experience discrimination
Is anyone surprised by this? I think it's clear that obesity is one of the few conditions that it is acceptable to denigrate. The perception, as is correctly stated in the article, is that obesity is something that is under one's own control. You are only obese because you allow yourself to be obese. It is a sign of weakness, and weakness is to be hated.
Somehow I see this as a stronger issue against women than men. More correctly, I see men allowed to be more overweight than women before the discrimination begins to be noticeable. Perhaps this is because women are expected to work at being attractive, while men are able to be more relaxed about their appearance.
I am also interested in the fact that the sales clerks were mostly women. I believe (but have no data to prove) that women are more likely to discriminate against other women who are obese than either 1) men are likely to do so, or than 2) women are likely to do so against obese men. Male sales clerks may not start flirting with obese female customers, but I do not believe that they are as quick to dismiss them as women sales clerks. This is just anecdotal, of course.
As I lose weight, I am interested to see how I am treated by other people, especially sales people. Of course, the women in Lane Bryant were always friendly. ;)
immlassObese Shoppers more likely to experience discrimination
Is anyone surprised by this? I think it's clear that obesity is one of the few conditions that it is acceptable to denigrate. The perception, as is correctly stated in the article, is that obesity is something that is under one's own control. You are only obese because you allow yourself to be obese. It is a sign of weakness, and weakness is to be hated.
Somehow I see this as a stronger issue against women than men. More correctly, I see men allowed to be more overweight than women before the discrimination begins to be noticeable. Perhaps this is because women are expected to work at being attractive, while men are able to be more relaxed about their appearance.
I am also interested in the fact that the sales clerks were mostly women. I believe (but have no data to prove) that women are more likely to discriminate against other women who are obese than either 1) men are likely to do so, or than 2) women are likely to do so against obese men. Male sales clerks may not start flirting with obese female customers, but I do not believe that they are as quick to dismiss them as women sales clerks. This is just anecdotal, of course.
As I lose weight, I am interested to see how I am treated by other people, especially sales people. Of course, the women in Lane Bryant were always friendly. ;)
