Being obese is already a problem since it makes the person more vulnerable to serious disorders such as a number of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndromes, and type 2 diabetes.
However, it may turn out to be particularly more painful for women as they deal not only with the possible physical and mental health effects of obesity but also with financial difficulties.
An article published in NPR on Saturday, November 8, reveals that women who are considered obese are usually paid less.
The article begins by sharing a 2004 study authored by John Crawley that suggested women who gained more than 60 pounds experienced an almost 10% reduction of their earnings, which was equivalent to losing 3 years' worth of working experience.
Another study, this time by Jennifer Shinall, looked into the reasons why. The author, who also works as a teacher in Nashville's Vanderbilt University, hypothesizes that this reduction in earnings may be because of three reasons.
First is discrimination. Employers themselves hinder the economic growth of obese women. They don't want to deal with these women in the first place and thus reject their application.
The discrimination exists not only in terms of build but also in terms of sex. Men who are obese don't experience the same discrimination as their women counterparts. Simply put, employers find it okay to work with obese men, not with obese women.
The other potential reason is productivity. Perhaps given the bigger build and other health issues that may arise from obesity, women who weigh more than their ideal pounds may become less productive.
Then there's also the choice of obese women to avoid work that pay more. Based on her research, these types of women avoid jobs that require social interaction, which pay more, and instead settle for physically demanding work.
