Bits and bobs from a British glasses-wearing, sweary, fat, disabled, atheist ex-Catholic, anti-capitalist, pacifist feminist lesbian with eclectic tastes.

I normally blog at incurable-hippie.blogspot.com.

10

Jun. '12

Some Thoughts on Thin Privilege in Employment

frrrass:

Thin Privilege is not worrying that you will be turned down for any job because your potential employer will perceive your weight as being synonymous with “lazy”

Thin Privilege is being able to apply confidently for jobs in the clothing retail sector, unaware that many fat people don’t even bother most of the time, as one glance at their weight marks them as instantly “unfashionable” by the majority of employers, regardless of how on point their personal style is.

Thin privilege is being able to apply for jobs where uniforms are mandatory as the uniform will undoubtedly be carried in your size.

Thin privilege is being able to find cheap interview outfits because more stores cater to smaller sizes.

Thin privilege is being perceived as “put together” when the reality is “I rolled out of bed and landed in this” because people have been conditioned to believe clothes look better and more expensive on thin bodies.

Thin privilege is not turning up to interview to be turned away after five minutes of non-relevant questions as your interviewer has already judged you as unsuitable due to their false weight-based assumptions and prejudices. 

Thin privilege is not discovering a less qualified, less experienced, thin person got the job you were up for, probably because of negative assumptions based on your weight.

Thin privilege is not being considered “bad for business”, because of your weight, when working in the service sector.

Thin privilege is being paid more than your fat co-workers for doing the same job -  because of your weight.

Thin privilege is being regarded as “more professional” than your fat co-workers, thereby progressing further and quicker in your chosen career, due to others’ weight-based prejudices.

Thin privilege is not having to worry about unfair dismissal based on your weight.

Thin privilege is not being called irrational or neurotic when you voice these real concerns to your friends, family, and most importantly, your employers.

Thin privilege is being unaware of all of the above.

  1. thehonza reblogged this from domermaidslayeggs
  2. necro-invasion reblogged this from ghost-ambrosia
  3. quitemajorly reblogged this from creepedoutsarah
  4. whirlerdog reblogged this from emotionalbaby
  5. emotionalbaby reblogged this from weirdoqueer
  6. urrickaa reblogged this from creepedoutsarah and added:
    I thankfully have not come into contact with any of this. I have been lucky enough to work retail jobs where looks are...
  7. creepedoutsarah reblogged this from weirdoqueer
  8. ghost-ambrosia reblogged this from weirdoqueer
  9. english-translation reblogged this from weirdoqueer and added:
    I’m pretty sure I still qualify as morbidly obese and I enjoy all but one or two of these privileges.
  10. weirdoqueer reblogged this from everythingbutharleyquinn
  11. zeroambit reblogged this from mysyncope and added:
    Oh well shit yeah that is how it should work. This is what I mean when I say it probably applies a lot more to women—who...
  12. mysyncope reblogged this from zeroambit and added:
    I’ve spoken with that were fired because they were “too attractive and a distraction to the opposite sex” and one
  13. bawdybody reblogged this from everythingbutharleyquinn and added:
    I’d just like to add that thin privilege is also earning higher or more tips in a job where tips on your main source of...
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