Weightism is a Human Rights Issue
I was overweight as a child.
While in today’s society I might be, rightly or wrongly, counseling by my pediatrician on how important it is to be active each day or have my tater tots taken away in cafeteria, at that time my weight was brought up rarely by the adults in my life. Some of my peers, however, had looser lips and let me know just how much my weight affected them.
No, they didn’t tell me that looking at me made them uncomfortable because it represented to them something socially deviant. They didn’t tell me that their hurtful words or their tendency to “lose” my invitation to the birthday party were a result of their socialization. They didn’t let me know that they were just imitating the disgusted look mom gave Aunt Rita when she ordered french fries after going up a dress size. Or that it they feared that they too may one day carry extra weight and be subject to taunts, jeers, and revolted glances.
My childhood classmates didn’t say any of that, because they didn’t yet have the words to do so. But now they do, and so I expect much more.
Unfortunately, I bear witness to the heartbreaking discrimination of overweight people each and every day. In my work, I spend many hours per day talking with individuals who have struggled with weight, often for the better part of their lives. What seems universal is not the etiology of their struggle, but the result. Almost all of these individuals have faced countless snide remarks from strangers, incidences of being passed over for promotions, rejections by salespeople in department stores, and even cruelty by family members.
The research gives evidence that their pain is not isolated and begins at a very young age. Children who are obese are likely to be bullied at a rate sixty percent higher than their peers, regardless of social, academic, and other factors. And as these children grow into adults and enter the workforce, the discrimination continues. A recent poll found that 25% of employers acknowledged that an applicant’s weight influenced whether they were willing to hire the individual. While 25% may not seem like a lot, these are the individuals who were both able to see their own biases (which we are all notoriously poor at doing) and willing to report on a poll.
In fact, a Yale study recently showed that discrimination against overweight individuals is today as prevalent as racism. While any form of discrimination is intolerable, those who are subject to weightism are often the most powerless, as they lack the same legal protections as other forms of diversity.
One of the reasons that weightism is not given the same legal and social awareness as other forms of prejudice is because weight is often thought to be controllable. But just like sexual orientation and other bases for biases, we are (all too) slowly learning that our weight is not always – and shouldn’t always be – within our control.
One of the author’s of the Yale study, Rebecca Puhl, said pointedly to ABC News,
We place a lot of emphasis on personal responsibility for body weight. Our billion-dollar diet industry is founded on that premise. Your weight is modifiable. But that does not reflect the current state of science. We know from hundreds of randomized clinically controlled trials that it’s very difficult to sustain weight loss over time with our existing treatment methods. That has compelled a number of expert panels, like the National Institutes of Health, to conclude that we really can’t expect you to lose more than 10 percent of your body weight and be able to keep that off.
So why should any of us really care about weightism?
We should care because if today’s data is correct, every single one of us is or has a sibling, parent, or close friend who is overweight. And discrimination hurts every single one us. A society in which differences are not tolerated in one that is limited in its creativity, flexibility, and ability to grow and expand. And a society in which differences are not tolerated is not one in which I want my children to live.
What has your experience been of weightism?
**The title of this post came from a fantastic article by Dina Zeckhausen on the issues at the heart of obesity.
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Michele @ Healthy Cultivations
498 days ago
This issue is one I think about often. Part of the difficulty in seeking protection to be extended for weight (or other physical appearance — I’ve read reports of so-called unattractive or ugly people suffering the same problems as the obese) is that it’s like fighting for protection for something that can change. Even though there’s a lot of personal work to be done in order to legitimately address the underlying causes of a weight problem, it’s not like race or national origin. I’m not making that argument; I’m just saying that the naysayers would claim, as you said, that weight is controllable. And it is — but if that’s the route society wants to take, then perhaps it’s our health care system that needs overhauled (ABSOLUTELY NOT so more people can undergo bariatric surgery of any sort) so that more mental health care is available to people suffering from weight issues.
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
498 days ago
I definitely agree that we need to overhaul the healthcare system, particularly coverage for mental health and eating issues. Our health system is missing a huge piece by not recognizing the importance of the mind when it comes to these issues.
Joy Tanksley
498 days ago
Again I thank you, Ashley. You so eloquently and boldly say what needs to be said, and the community is better for it.
I recently read an online piece from a major news source that featured an interview with the lovely Nikki Blonksky. She had the nerve to say she was happy with her body, and I made the mistake of scrolling down to read the comments. The vast majority of what was said was rude and degrading. It was a real eye opener for me. Our culture harbors a deep hatred for overweight people, even though the majority of our culture IS overweight. Even in my own family, I can sense the anger rising when I talk about the HAES approach. It’s like I’m threatening some important system or suggesting that we all commit suicide. And like all the other -isms, it stems from ignorance. So, on that note, thank you again for helping to educate!
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
498 days ago
Joy, I’ve had the same experience in circles of people I care about and trust. It’s frustrating and sad. I think you hit it on the head when you said it’s like you’re threatening the system. I think it’s really a mind shift for people to think about weight and health in a new way.
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul recently posted..Weightism is a Human Rights Issue
marzipan
498 days ago
Oh Ashley – so many times yes. I was also very overweight as a child, though, unfortunately my parents were not kind enough to not talk about it. I feel like the psychic pain that you internalize during that time is unbelievably traumatic. I find myself reliving moments every once and a while, and feeling almost like I have PTSD from the repetition of the unbearable hostility, subsequent overeating, and ultimately a whole lot of reckless/vulnerable behavior. It breaks my heart when they just put overweight kids on a diet and send them on their way. Thank you for this post. xoxoxox
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Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
498 days ago
I totally agree, Mara. And that pain is all too often not discussed. I’m writing a post on trauma now and I those experiences you describe – that so many of us have endured – are definitely trauma.
rebecca lustig
498 days ago
i’ve never really had personal experiences with ‘weightism’ except for the idea that i used to get praised for being the ‘girl who could eat anything and everything and not gain a pound’ (not necessarily true, but it helped create a false self esteem image).
rebecca lustig recently posted..2011
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
498 days ago
I think those messages about our bodies, even if framed as praise, can be really damaging. Thanks for sharing!
Katie @ Health for the Whole Self
498 days ago
I have several family members who have been the victims of weightism, and I think that seeing their pain and suffering is partly what led me to become obsessive about my weight. I think it’s partly what led me to believe that I was gross and disgusting in my average, healthy-sized body. Which is proof that – like all kinds of “isms” – the whole society is affected. So I think it’s important to remember that fighting weightism begins with the individual; we must examine our own thoughts and beliefs and values, even the subconscious ones. We must deal with those first. And then we can begin the process of educating others, so that issues like this one become less and less prevalent.
Katie @ Health for the Whole Self recently posted..Potato and Parsnip Soup with Dill
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
498 days ago
Fantastic point about the individual, Katie. I think the hard work is really in examining our own beliefs, as you said.
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul recently posted..Weightism is a Human Rights Issue
Margarita @ Weightless
498 days ago
Ashley, thank you so much for writing about this, and doing so so eloquently!! I’ve never really experienced weightism but people who I’m close with have. It’s devastating! And, unfortunately, it’s all around us. I just saw an article on WebMD this morning with the headline “Why Am I Fat?” and an image of a woman staring in the mirror with a disgusted look on her face. It’s really sad, and beyond unacceptable.
Margarita @ Weightless recently posted..Radical Self-Acceptance- Q&A With Author Rosie Molinary
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
498 days ago
That’s so heartbreaking! And you’re right, unacceptable.
Dana Udall-Weiner
498 days ago
Wonderful and brave post, Ashley. I really like what you said about control, that we assume that weight is within our control, which plants the seeds for weight and size-based discrimination. I so admire the way you combine research and your own story–very relatable as well as informative.
Dana Udall-Weiner recently posted..To Keep- Change- or Hyphenate- What’s a Woman to Do
The Binge Diary
498 days ago
This is so right on point. I have experienced this abs it is very sad that overweight people have to live like that. Thanks for posting and sharing this with the world. Send this to Michelle Obama! Seriously!!
Megan @ ascesion blog
497 days ago
Thank you for this post, Ashley. It’s’ so important that society wakes up to the fact that discrimination based on weight is no different that discrimination based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, etc. There are still so many people in the world who believe it is rational and right to judge others by these characteristics. And, unfortunately, I used to be one of them as a child; so my experience of weightism is from the other side. When I was in elementary school, I had a best friend who lived in my neighbourhood. She was very overweight, but I never thought much of it until she began attending the same school as me. At first, I was so excited to have my best friend close to me. But, almost immediately upon her arrival, the taunting and ostracism from other classmates began; not just towards my friend, but towards me as well for hanging out with her. And so, instead of standing by her, I ‘broke up’ with her. I avoided being seen with her, stopped walking home from school with her, and eventually stopped talking to her completely. I hurt her deeply. For many years, I’ve carried a great deal of shame about that.
Sarah
497 days ago
I’ve personally never experience weightism (except for the lovely negative thoughts I’ve directed towards myself) but I think it’s ridiculous to tourment anybody regardless of weight, etc. Well I do not believe weightism is the same as racism, etc (the majority of people can control their weight) BUT that doesn’t give people an excuse to tourment those who struggle with weight. No one should be teased or bullied for any reason.
maria
497 days ago
I personally think to put weightism into the human rights category is a bit much. There are people struggling with much more horrific problems in their life based on things they have no control of: sex, race, caste, etc. But what you touch on Ashley is more of a “prettiness” problem. It has been shown that tall attractive people are regularly paid more than their less attractive counterparts. And I believe being overweight puts you into the same “unattractive” category. However, before we jump on our media and magazines that supposedly is feeding us that message, we need to remember that the standard of classical beauty is and has been the same across many cultures and thousands of years. Even babies, who have not read any beauty magazines, spend more time looking at symmetrical aka attractive faces. It’s in our genes to be attracted to attractive people! Nothing is wrong with that. But what’s wrong is that when we grow up and let that natural reaction overtake our rational thought. We as individuals need to be aware of it and work on ourselves to not judge people based on their looks.
Meaghan
416 days ago
It makes me sad that the First Lady of the US is waging a “Fight Against Childhood Obesity”. As if overweight kids don’t face enough discrimination, their bodies are now the enemy against which we have to fight to end. And the only people left out of Obama’s new Anti Bullying bill is fat people.
It sends the message that fat is public enemy #1 and it’s OK to tell fat people so.
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
416 days ago
I agree that this campaign – and particularly the wording and some of the media around it – can be incredibly stigmatizing. There’s a real danger of creating immense shame in children who of higher weights and even a risk of promoting disordered eating. Some major organizations have sent letters and met with the First Lady and others on just this topic, and hopefully this will spark some positive change.
Elena Gilbert
155 days ago
i’ve never really had personal experiences with ‘weightism’ except for the idea that i used to get praised for being the ‘girl who could eat anything and everything and not gain a pound’ (not necessarily true, but it helped create a false self esteem image). Part of the difficulty in seeking protection to be extended for weight (or other physical appearance — I’ve read reports of so-called unattractive or ugly people suffering the same problems as the obese) is that it’s like fighting for protection for something that can change. It has been shown that tall attractive people are regularly paid more than their less attractive counterparts. She was very overweight, but I never thought much of it until she began attending the same school as me.
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