Article number four
Obesity and Hotel Staffing: Are Hotels Guilty of 'Lookism'?
Summary of the article. This article looked into the discrimination of obese and overweight people in the hospitality industry. Advertisers for large three to five star hotels primarily had slim to average size persons in their advertising. This is discrimination based on a person’s size and weight. These establishments are broadcasting that if you are large you are not welcomed to work or visit. Obese people, if hired, are forced to work behind the scenes. It is also noted that it is okay for older men to have a few extra pounds. Women, on the other hand, are often viewed as overweight even if they are at a normal weight. Obese people are also viewed as being less that professional and do not have self-control and therefore are not worthy of employment.
How does the story relate to oppression/discrimination? This article discusses the oppression and discrimination of those people that are overweight. People that are often characterized as being lazy. They are often teased and the object of mean jokes. Obese people are made to feel unwelcome by many industries, especially the hospitality industry.
Who is oppressed? The people that are overweight or obese are the ones being oppressed. They are told and made to feel like they are not welcome anywhere.
Who is oppressing? The oppression of the obese is an enormous issue. Across America there is a stigma attached to being overweight. Everyone looks down on those with a few extra pounds.
How are they oppressed? What type of oppression/discrimination is involved? Obese people are oppressed mentally. They are made to feel unwelcome and unwanted. This can lead to a lot of mental anguish. The airline industry does not even hire people that are over a certain weight. It comes across from the hospitality industry that big is not beautiful.
Explore the significance in our society? What are the implications for this oppression? What does this say about the values of our society? As a society we have made this discrimination of the obese okay. Our movie theater seats are made for the average size person. Theme parks make it clear that they do not want fat people on their rides. Even chairs in waiting rooms are only made for the average size person. We must change and make it easier for obese people to be accepted.
What was my personal reaction? Explore thoroughly. What aspects of my own socialization have led me to this reaction? My personal reaction was not one of shock. We, as a society, have made it okay to discriminate against the obese. We look at someone who is overweight as being that way because they want to be. I have a heart for those that are overweight. I will have to pay attention to my surroundings the next time I am out in the public domain and watch for this discrimination in the area of hospitality. Unfortunately, I do not know when this discrimination will end.
What did I learn? I learned that the discrimination against fat people is rampant. People that are overweight are viewed as lazy and with poor self-image. This is not true, we as a society, have given them this poor self-image. There have also been law suits against many companies for their discrimination against fat people.
Source:
Harris, C., & Small, J. (2013). Obesity and hotel staffing: Are hotels guilty of 'lookism'?. Hospitality & Society, 3(2), 111-127. doi:10.1386/hosp.3.2.111_1