Obesity at work - sex discrimination?

4 replies

Mehfruittea · 30/08/2017 21:19

Interesting article here on how people, mostly women, are viewed differently at work due to their weight.

I have lost 7 st and know how differently I was treated at work before and after. What are your thoughts?

www.theguardian.com/inequality/2017/aug/30/demoted-dismissed-weight-size-ceiling-work-discrimination

OP posts:

GraceMarks · 31/08/2017 19:54

I've been fat and, well, less fat (not exactly thin!). I can't say I noticed much difference at work - then again, how would I know if I missed out on jobs or promotions because people made negative judgements about my weight? - but I definitely feel I get treated better in general when I'm not so big. The smaller I am, the more visible I somehow become. When I'm larger, I get ignored all the time by bar staff, shop assistants, people on the street who just barge into me and knock me off the pavement.

Mysteriouscurle · 30/08/2017 21:42

I am overweight. I have never had problems getting a job (promotion not really an option in my job, so no idea if I would get promoted or not). Nobody ever comments on my weight (to my face anyway) but some, not all, do talk about other overweight women in a negative sort of way. I definitely do not hear my colleagues making these comments about men. Only ever women. Same with my last job and usually dressed up as concern

coolaschmoola · 30/08/2017 21:32

It may be true for some, but definitely not all.

I am seven stone overweight. I have never had any issues at work. I'm confident and I'm bloody good at my job. People ask for me.

It was the same when I was thin.

MotherPeresA · 30/08/2017 21:28

It's undoubtedly true. Being fat has connotations as to character: lazy, scruffy etc... This would be particularly true of women due to increased focus on appearance. Judgements will be harsher.

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