The Biggest Issue in the Workplace Is Weight Discrimination

Have you ever hesitated to take on a particular role or get up in front of other people because you felt self-conscious about your weight? Or worried that others would see you as unprofessional or “not equipped” for leadership positions? Perhaps you’ve made offhand comments about a colleague’s eating habits?

Weight bias is everywhere, including at work, and yet it’s rarely discussed openly or made part of efforts to create equitable and inclusive workplaces. It should be, especially given what we know about the economic and emotional costs to women who are on the receiving end of this stigma.

Two women who have studied weight bias at work—and the misconceptions that underpin it—help us understand our role in creating a positive body culture.

Guests:  

Dr. Habibah Williams is a nurse practitioner at the University of Virginia.

Grace Lemmon is a management professor at DePaul University.

Resources:

• “A primer with purpose: Research implications of the objectification of weight in the workplace,” by Grace Lemmon et al.
• “Sizably Aware: Teaching Healthcare Staff to Lose Their Weight Bias,” a write-up of Dr. Habibah Williams’ work, by Christine Phelan Kueter
• “Unconscious Bias Training That Works,” by Francesca Gino and Katherine Coffman
• “How One Company Worked to Root Out Bias from Performance Reviews,” by Joan C. Williams et al.

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