Discrimination against fatties

Lardies really do suffer discrimination in the workplace, according to this new paper. Dan-Olof Rooth sent employers identical CVs with photos attached, with half the photos of attractive people doctored to make them look fat. And he found that the lardies were 18% less likely to be invited back for interview.
Discrimination was most pronounced in occupations such as restaurant staff, shop workers and business sales - that is, jobs where lots of meetings with customers; there was no discrimination in computing.
This suggests that employers are anticipating customers' tastes against lardies.
This matters, because although there's strong evidence of a correlation (pdf) between obesity and low incomes, especially for women (pdf), the direction of causality has been unclear until now.

Comments

[Mark Wadsworth]

Does this surprise anybody?

I work across the road from Burberry's head office and all the lasses over there look like models.

[Llainwen]

B****rds. I bet they discriminate on the basis of ability and qualifications as well. The world is so unjust.

Seriously though, very interesting stuff. I just hope New Labour doesn't continue to consider itself the best judge of who employers should employ, and outlaw it like it has age discrimination.

[dearieme]

In my twenties I was very slim, with an Irish cast of face. Now I'm fat and Jewish-looking. And the consequences are.....?

[pommygranate]

Discrimination against fat bastards is an interesting one. Unlike say skin colour or height, there is something you can do about your weight (yes i know for some lardarses it's glandular but only for a very few).

Most people would make the assumption that fat bastards are weak willed, lazy and lack self-motivation - none of which lend themselves to making for a good employee.

Lardies should suffer discrimination. It might act as an incentive to shed a few lbs.

[Bruce]

It's deadful discrimination. Everyone should be treated equally no matter what the job and regardless of their shape and size.

Me, I'm thinking of taking up fashion modelling. Or maybe I could become a jockey? Or a basketball player. No, I've got it; I'm going to become a porn star...

[dc]

As if they don't have enough on their plates.