Fat women need not apply:Employment weight discrimination against women

Abstract

With increased obesity rates in the United States, there are more overweight adults facing weight discrimination in employment. Studies show that overweight women are more likely to face employment and wage penalties than their overweight male or normal weight female counterparts. This chapter discusses legal protection against weight discrimination and attempts to understand the attitudes associated with weight discrimination. Unlike other forms of discrimination, weight discrimination may be considered acceptable or justified by some decision-makers. However, employers who discriminate against individuals who are overweight may be unnecessarily limiting their talent pool. This chapter includes employment strategies for employers and job candidates that may help reduce weight discrimination.