A recent study reveals that even women with healthy weights are subject to job discrimination based on their size.
Attention All Women in Visible Jobs: We Have Some Troubling News.
It’s long been established that individuals who are overweight or obese encounter more challenges in the workplace, often earning 1-6% less than their slimmer peers. Moreover, obese women tend to earn less than their male counterparts, which is an unfortunate reality. However, a new study has shown that even minimal weight fluctuations among women with healthy body mass indexes (BMIs) can impact their perceived employability.
Published in the journal Plos One, this study examined how slight changes in weight affect a person’s suitability for “front stage” roles—those involving customer interaction, like retail or hospitality—compared to “backstage” positions, such as kitchen work or janitorial tasks. Researchers manipulated images of male and female faces to represent various BMIs and asked participants—who were told to assume all candidates had equal qualifications—how likely they would be to hire each individual for different roles. The findings indicated that women within the normal BMI range faced greater weight-based bias than their male counterparts who were overtly overweight.
A press release from the University of Strathclyde, which conducted the study, stated, “These results confirm that even a slight increase in weight negatively affects the hireability ratings of female applicants.” Indeed, even a few extra pounds can hinder women more than men. “Sure, Mike has at least fifty pounds on Sarah, but you can’t deny that his male privilege really balances him out.”
This news is both infuriating and alarming, especially considering that the average American woman wears a size 14. Moreover, fat discrimination is only illegal in a handful of places, including Michigan and a few select cities. In most areas, a woman can gain weight, lose her job, and have little recourse. Meanwhile, overweight men often continue to thrive professionally.
Women have long been subjected to unrealistic beauty standards, and the idea that our worth is measured to the pound is utterly ridiculous. A survey by Refinery29 revealed that 70% of millennial women would refuse to gain ten pounds for a promotion. Initially, I felt frustrated by this statistic, but in light of this study, it seems their fear of being penalized for a minor weight gain is justified. After all, it’s one thing to be a 125-pound manager, but quite another to be a 135-pound manager—no one wants to buy capris from someone perceived as less than perfect.
There’s a common belief circulating that feminism is no longer necessary because women have achieved equality. However, if a woman who is ten pounds lighter is preferred over an equally qualified candidate, while Mike gets promoted regardless of his weight, I’m inclined to reject that idea. The struggle for equal rights continues as societal values remain tied to our size, and the expectations we face are more unrealistic than ever.
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In summary, even slight weight variations can significantly impact women’s employment opportunities, revealing persistent biases that need to be addressed.