A recent study reveals that even women with healthy body weights face job discrimination. If you’re a woman whose appearance is visible in your job, brace yourself for some unsettling news. It’s long been established that individuals who are overweight or obese often experience bias in the workplace, with those who are heavier making 1-6% less than their slimmer counterparts. Furthermore, women who fall into the obese category typically earn less than their male counterparts—a disparity that is frustratingly familiar.
What’s more shocking, however, is that a study published in the journal Plos One demonstrates that even slight variations in weight among women with healthy body mass indexes (BMIs) can affect their perceived employability. The research examined how minor changes in weight influenced hiring decisions for “front-stage” roles—like sales or waitressing—compared to “backstage” jobs, such as kitchen work or sanitation tasks. Participants were shown altered images of male and female faces to represent various BMIs and were asked to rate their likelihood of hiring these individuals for different positions, assuming all candidates were equally qualified. The findings suggested that women within the normal BMI range face greater weight bias than men who are overtly overweight.
According to a press release from the University of Strathclyde, which conducted the study, “even a marginal increase in weight appears to have a negative impact on the hireability ratings of female job applicants.” This means that just a few extra pounds can diminish a woman’s chances of being hired compared to her male counterparts. The underlying message? It’s clear that societal expectations around women’s bodies continue to be absurdly unrealistic.
This news is particularly troubling considering that the average American woman wears a size 14. To make matters worse, fat discrimination is only illegal in a handful of places, such as Michigan and certain cities across the U.S. This means that in many locations, gaining a few pounds could cost someone their job, while heavier men continue to thrive in their positions without facing the same scrutiny.
Women have long been subjected to unattainable beauty standards and this study underscores the extent to which these standards have infiltrated the hiring process. A survey conducted by Refinery 29 found that 70% of millennial women would decline to gain ten pounds in exchange for a promotion. Initially, I thought, “Come on, ladies!” But given the findings of this study, it seems even a slight weight increase could lead to demotion.
In a landscape where some argue that feminism is no longer needed because women have achieved equality, this study tells a different story. If a woman who is ten pounds lighter gets hired over a similarly qualified candidate while a heavier male colleague advances in his career, it’s clear we have a long way to go. The fight for equal rights continues, as women are still judged based on their size, and the standards are becoming increasingly unattainable.
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In summary, even slight weight differences among women can lead to significant discrimination in hiring practices, highlighting the persistent issue of body bias in our society.
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