Today I'd like to talk about the discrimination faced when trying to land that ever elusive job. A number of experimental studies address just this. In these studies people were asked to evaluate others who were applying for a job. These people were given résumés that were all the same, EXCEPT that the applicant was described as either fat or average weight. The participants were then asked to evaluate the applicant's qualifications. The first study we are going to look at was conducted quite some time ago – in 1988. People participating in the study rated the fat applicants with a number of negative characteristics - labeling them as lacking in self-discipline, having poor personal hygiene and professional appearance, and low supervisory potential. It is amazing that these characteristics were reserved for the fat, as the résumés were all the same except for the description of weight (Rothblum, Miller, and Garbutt, 1988). A number of studies have shown that fat bias has actually increased over time, so I shudder to think about the results we would find if we did this study again today.
These results are not atypical. In fact, in another study video applications were used. The participants described the fat applicants as significantly less neat, productive, ambitious, disciplined, and determined. Not surprisingly, the fat applicants were also less likely to be recommended for hiring than those who were average-weight (Larkin & Pines, 1979). Thinking that these results might be due to attraction (prettier people getting the job), another group of researchers did a similar study, but blocked out the applicant's faces. -Surprise! The obese applicants were STILL less likely to be hired (Klesges, Klem, Hanson,Eck, Ernst, O'Laughlin, Garrott, Rife, 1990). Still wondering if something else was interfering with the results, an industrious group of researchers took their study to the next level. Using professional actors and theatrical prosthetics, they were able to record job applicants and make sure that they looked and sounded exactly the same - varying only on weight. These videos were made using the same person saying the same thing in the same way. The only difference to be found was that that the actor was made to look fatter. For an idea of how this worked, think about the movie, The Nutty Professor. Eddie Murphy is thin, but with prosthetics we can see how he would look if he were to gain weight.
When the actors were made to look fatter they were less likely to be recommended for the job. This bigotry was stronger against women applicants. Interestingly, fat applicants were less likely to be recommended for a sales position than for a systems analyst position (Pingitoire, Dugoni, Tindale, & Spring, 1994).
So there you have it. The fat have a fat chance of getting a job.
These results may shock you. I myself shake my head in wonder. It is surprising to think that the addition of weight on a person's body could make that person less likely to get a job. Let’s be real, though. We have seen results like this before. We have seen them in respect to hiring women, minorities, the handicapped, and queer individuals. We are not alone in this struggle for acceptance and fair treatment. The struggle may be uphill, but it is not impossible. Whatever you do, do not buy into the idea that a fat person is less qualified than a thin person because of their weight.
References:
Klesges, R. C., Klem, M. L., Hanson, C. L., Eck, L. H., Ernst, J., O'Laughlin, D., Garrott, A., & Rife, R. (1990). The effects of applicant's health status and qualifications on simulated hiring decisions. International Journal of Obesity. 14 (6),527-535.
Larkin, J. C. & Pines, H. A. (1979). No fat persons need apply: Experimental studies of the overweight stereotype and hiring preference. Sociological Work Occupations. 6, 312–327.
Melville,D. S. & Cardinal, B. J. (1997). Are overweight physical educators at a disadvantage in the labor market? A random survey of hiring personnel. Physical Educator. 54, 216–222.
Pingitoire, R., Dugoni, R., Tindale, S., & Spring, B. (1994). Bias against overweight job applicants in a simulated employment interview. Journal of Applied Psychology. 79, 909–917.
Rothblum, E. D., Miller, C. T., & Garbutt, B. (1988). Stereotypes of obese female job applicants. International Journal of Eating Disorders.7, 277–283.
