Nina: I really need the conversation to start changing, to recognize that these are the bodies that we're in and we can be healthy within this body. And once again, because way to see as the moral failure on the person living in the larger body,. It's not something that we feel like we have to move on. We often think of the consequence of the weight bias of being someone's feelings. But it has such broader consequences.
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:
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