Subtle Increases in BMI within a Healthy Weight Range Still Reduce Womens Employment Chances in the Service Sector.
Using mixed design analysis of variance (ANOVA), this paper investigates the effects of a subtle simulated increase in adiposity on women's employment chances in the service sector. Employing a unique simulation of altering individuals' BMIs and the literature on "aesthetic labour", the study suggests that, especially for women, being heavier, but still within a healthy BMI, deleteriously impacts on hireability ratings. The paper explores the gendered dimension of this prejudice by asking whether female employees at the upper end of a healthy BMI range are likely to be viewed more negatively than their overtly overweight male counterparts. The paper concludes by considering the implications of these findings.
Department of Human Resource Management, Strathclyde Business School, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Dennis
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3328-0729
D
Nickson
School of Management, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Andrew R
AR
Timming
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Daniel
D
Re
School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom.
David I
DI
Perrett
D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014933:Women's Rights