This chapter explores the correlation between body weight and income for women, revealing the economic consequences of societal pressure to be thin. It discusses how the relationship between beauty standards, thinness, success, and self-perception intersects with economic incentives tied to weight. The discussion sheds light on the wage penalty for overweight women, particularly those with higher education, impacting their career prospects and financial outcomes.
Fat women make less money than thin women and get fewer raises and promotions. It’s going to take more than a wonder drug to fix fatphobia in America.
This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Anouck Dussaud and Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices