Fatism: The Final Frontier?
While we’ve made strides in challenging biases around race, gender, age, and sexual orientation, there’s one area of discrimination that’s rarely discussed openly: size. Body size bias, especially against women, persists in ways that are quietly accepted. Despite the progress in other areas, weight stigma remains one of the last frontiers of socially acceptable discrimination. Let’s look at how this bias impacts women in the UK and why it’s time to challenge this last taboo.
The Hidden Impacts of Size Discrimination
In a world where appearance is so closely tied to perceived worth, people in larger bodies face an array of assumptions that affect nearly every aspect of life. From harmful “jokes” to serious stereotypes, size bias influences how women are viewed—and treated—in the workplace, healthcare settings, and even in social spaces.
Employment: A 2023 study found that 34% of people in larger bodies experience workplace discrimination, with harmful stereotypes linking body size to a lack of ambition or laziness. For women, this can mean fewer promotions, lower pay, and judgments on their capabilities based solely on appearance.
Healthcare: Weight stigma in healthcare settings means many women feel judged before they even explain their symptoms. In fact, 69% of individuals with higher body weights report avoiding medical care altogether due to fear of being shamed. This isn’t just frustrating; it’s dangerous, as it often leads to delayed or skipped treatments.
Social Stereotypes and the Media: From movies to magazines, women’s bodies are scrutinised in ways that men’s rarely are. This scrutiny often reinforces the damaging stereotype that larger women are lazy, undisciplined, or lack self-control. In the media, female celebrities often face intense body criticism regardless of their accomplishments, perpetuating a double standard that affects women’s self-image everywhere.
Why We Need to Recognise Size Bias as Discrimination
Unlike race, gender, or disability, size is not a protected characteristic under the UK Equality Act. This means that women who experience size discrimination at work or in other areas have few protections or recourses. The assumption that weight reflects a person’s ambition, discipline, or work ethic is not only outdated but harmful. When we hold these biases, we limit the opportunities and well-being of women everywhere.
Changing the Conversation
If we want to create a society that values individuals for their contributions rather than their appearance, we need to start by acknowledging size discrimination for what it is. By addressing and challenging these assumptions, we can create a world that recognises all women for their worth, regardless of body size.
If you’ve noticed or been affected by size bias in your life, subscribe to my newsletter for more insights about how we are worth more than we weigh and join the Table Talk where we can start to change the conversation together.
