Multicultural body image, emergence of “sizeism” and fat shaming in our society has immensely influenced how I view myself and how I feel like our society portrays minorities, especially minority women. Something that really irks me and something I want to change in terms of institutional and in turn structural discrimination.
The problem with size and appearance discrimination is unlike most of the identities we talk about in class, it isn’t binary; size is fluid, relative, and is valued differently in different cultures. From my experience as an Indian-American, women are often discriminated in the acting and modeling industry completely shuts down women of certain skin colors, having a stick thin body is considered “sick.” Yet, “ethnic” beauty and the exotic look is seen as sexualized in American media, which is mostly geared towards caucasian, middle and upper class communities. Lip plumping, injections, and darkening of eyebrows are common procedures taken by middle and upper class white women. Thus, women of color are seen as inferior, yet white people who carry the “exotic” features of our cultures are praised and sexualized.
The intersection of size and race is multifaceted. Regardless of Race or Ethnicity, multiple studies (one I have linked to below) show that the vast majority of employers look down upon job prospects who are “overweight,” often citing being viewed as “less productive” and “unable to fulfill the role in business.” Even more concerning is that women, particularly white women, are judged more harshly by employers, while African-American women are judged, but judged less harshly by African American employers, due to cultural acceptance and ideals being of being more “curvy” and “voluptuous.” Thus, people of color are judged within their culture, and with the caucasian ideals of women and men.
Institutionally, Michigan is the only state that has laws that ban weight discrimination (hooray)! Nevertheless, 49 states don’t have any legislation that addresses this concern. Deeper concerns rise with company maintenance, as insurance costs for overweight and obese people are significantly hire, costing the company more to equate employee benefits.
In essence, our society views the “ideal” body as more powerful and a more productive member of society. What is ideal varies from race to race, yet is still a tool of oppression. Companies are discriminating, ostracizing certain ideals, and creating a sense of shame of the body in order to “cut costs.” But are companies really saving money, or are they missing out on talent due to discrimination?
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This topic is something that I would have never thought of and it amazes me how this topic is something that actually happens in society. Size should not matter in the workplace but I wonder why Michigan is the only state that has this type of discrimination into law and why is there this "ideal" body type in caucasian society but they strive to form their standards to the standards of people of color who are naturally born with the things that white society once despised?
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