Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Fat is a Feminist Issue, but it is Complicated: Commentary on Fikkan and Rothblum

  • Feminist Forum
  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fikkan and Rothblum (2011) review the literature on discrimination and bias against overweight and obese (fat) women. They provide convincing evidence that fat women face discrimination in the workplace, are treated disparately in medical, mental health, and educational settings, are at a disadvantage in social and romantic situations, and are either absent or portrayed negatively in the media. They conclude with the observation that feminists have largely ignored this issue that disproportionately affects women. While I agree that fat is a feminist issue, I also argue that the issue of gender differences in the experience of weight discrimination is more complicated than suggested in the Fikkan and Rothblum review. The commentary concludes with some possible explanations for why feminists have neglected this issue, emphasizing the historical changes in the feminist movement which have taken the focus off of issues primarily related to White middle-class women.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Averett, S., & Korenman, S. (1996). The economic reality of the beauty myth. The Journal of Human Resources, 31, 304–330. doi:10.2307/146065

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baum, C., & Ford, W. (2004). The wage effects of obesity: A longitudinal study. Health Economics, 13, 885–899. doi:10.1002/hec.881

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bellizzi, J. A., & Norvell, D. W. (1991). Personal characteristics and salesperson’s justifications as moderators of supervisory discipline in cases involving unethical salesforce behavior. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 19, 11–16. doi:10.1177/009207039101900102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bellizzi, J., & Hasty, R. W. (1998). Territory assignment decisions and supervising unethical selling behavior: The effects of obesity and gender as moderated by job-related factors. The Journal of Personal Selling & Sales Management, 18, 35–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, E. Y., & Brown, M. (2005). Obesity stigma in sexual relationships. Obesity Research, 13, 1393–1397. doi:10.1038/oby.2005.168

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dill, K. E., & Thill, K. P. (2007). Video game characters and the socialization of gender roles: Young people’s perceptions mirror sexist media depictions. Sex Roles, 57, 11–12. doi:10.1007/s11199-007-9278-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fikkan, J. L., & Rothblum E. D. (2011). Is fat a feminist issue? Exploring the gendered nature of weight bias. Sex Roles, this issue. doi:10.1077/s11199-011-0022-5

  • Fonda, S. J., Fultz, N. H., Jenkins, K. R., Wheeler, L. M., & Wray, L. A. (2004). Relationship of body mass and net worth for retirement-aged men and women. Research on Aging, 26, 153–176. doi:10.1177/0164027503258739

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forbes, G. B., Collinsworth, L. L., Jobe, R. L., Bruan, K. D., & Wise, L. M. (2007). Sexism, hostility toward women, and endorsement of beauty ideals and practices: Are beauty ideals associated with oppressive beliefs? Sex Roles, 56, 265–273. doi:10.1007/s11199-006-9161-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frederick, D. A., & Haselton, M. G. (2007). Why is muscularity sexy? Tests of the fitness indicator hypothesis. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 33, 1167–1183.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Friedan, B. (1963). The feminine mystique. New York: Dell Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Firth, K., Shaw, P., & Cheng, H. (2005). The construction of beauty: A cross-cultural analysis of women’s magazine advertising. Journal of Communication, 55, 56–70. doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.2005.tb02658.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaertner, S. L., & Dovidio, J. F. (1986). The aversive form of racism. In J. F. Dovidio & S. L. Gaertner (Eds.), Prejudice, discrimination and racism (pp. 61–89). San Diego: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Han E., Norton, E. C., & Powell, L. (2009a). Direct and indirect effects of teenage body weight on adult wages. NBER working Paper Services (Vol. w15027). Retreived from http://www.nber.org/papers/w15027

  • Han, E., Norton, E. C., & Stearns, S. C. (2009b). Weight and wages: Fat versus lean paychecks. Health Economics, 18, 535–548. doi:10.1002/hec.1386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harnois, C. E. (2008). Representing feminism: Past, present, future. NWSA Journal, 20, 120–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartley, C. (2001). Letting ourselves go: Making room for the fat body in feminist scholarship. In J. E. Barziel & K. LeBesco (Eds.), Bodies out of bounds: Fatness and transgression (pp. 60–73). Berkeley: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hebl, M., & Kleck, R. (2002). Acknowledging one’s stigma in the interview setting: Effective strategy or liability? Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32, 223–249. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2002.tb00214.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Judge, T. A., & Cable, D. M. (2011). When it comes to pay, do the thin win? The effect of weight on pay for men and women. Journal of Applied Psychology, 96, 95–112. doi:10.1037/a0020860

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kirk, G., & Okazawa-Rey, M. (2010). Women’s lives: Multicultural perspectives. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klarenbach, S., Padwal, R., Chuck, A., & Jacobs, P. (2006). Population-based analysis of obesity and workforce participation. Obesity, 14, 920–927. doi:10.1038/oby.2006.106

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larkin, J. C., & Pines, H. A. (1979). No fat persons need apply: Experimental studies of the overweight stereotype and hiring preference. Sociology of Work and Occupations, 6, 312–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laughlin, K. A., Gallagher, J., Cobble, D. S., & Boris, E. (2010). Is it time to jump ship? Historians rethink the waves metaphor. Feminist Formations, 22, 76–135. doi:10.1353/nwsa.0.0118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loh, E. S. (1993). The economic effects of physical appearance. Social Science Quarterly, 74, 420–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maranto, C. L., & Stenoien, A. F. (2000). Weight discrimination: A multidisciplinary analysis. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 12, 9–24. doi:10.1023/A:1007712500496

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, C. E. (2009). Love your fat self. In S. Shaw & J. Lee (Eds.), Women’s voices, feminist visions: Classic and contemporary readings (4th ed., pp. 280–284). Boston: McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mukhopadhyay, S. (2008). Do women value marriage more: The effect of obesity on marriage and cohabitation in the USA. Review of Economics of the Household, 6, 111–126. doi:10.1007/s11150-007-9025-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neumark-Sztainer, D., Story, M., & Harris, T. (1999). Beliefs and attitudes about obesity among teachers and school health care providers working with adolescents. Journal of Nutrition Education, 31, 1–9. doi:10.1016/S0022-3182(99)70378-X

    Google Scholar 

  • Orbach, S. (2006). Fat is a feminist issue. London: Arrow Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pagan, J. A., & Davila, A. (1997). Obesity, occupational attainment, and earnings. Social Science Quarterly, 78, 756–770.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pingitore, R., Dugoni, B. L., Tindale, R. S., & Spring, B. (1994, December). Bias against overweight job applicants in a simulated employment interview. Journal of Applied Psychology, 79, 909–917. doi:10.1037//0021-9010.79.6.909

    Google Scholar 

  • Puhl, R., & Brownell, K. D. (2001). Bias, discrimination, and obesity. Obesity Research, 9, 788–805. doi:10.1038/oby.2001.108

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Puhl, R. M., Andreyeva, T., & Brownell, K. D. (2008). Perceptions of weight discrimination: Prevalence and comparison to race and gender discrimination in America. International Journal of Obesity, 32, 992–1000. doi:10.1038/ijo.2008.22

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rothblum, E. D., Brand, P. A., Miller, C. T., & Oetjen, H. A. (1990). The relationship between obesity, employment, discrimination, and employment-related victimization. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 37, 251–266. doi:10.1016/0001-8791(90)90044-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, B. (1992). Feminism and the women’s movement. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saltzberg, E. A., & Chrisler, J. C. (1995). Beauty is the beast: Psychological effects of the pursuit of the perfect female body. In J. Freeman (Ed.), Women: A feminist perspective (5th ed., pp. 306–315). Mountain View: Mayfield Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, S., & Lee, J. (2009). Women’s studies: Perspectives and practices. In S. Shaw & J. Lee (Eds.), Women’s voices, feminist visions: Classic and contemporary readings (4th ed., pp. 1–14). Boston: McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheets, V., & Ajmere, K. (2005). Are romantic partners a source of college students’ weight concern? Eating Behaviors, 6, 1–9. doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2004.08.008

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stein, H. F. (1974). “All in the family” as a mirror of contemporary American culture. Family Process, 13, 279–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, V., Whittier, N., & Rupp, L. J. (2009). Feminist frontiers. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tovah, Y., & Thompson, K. J. (2010). Perceptions of health and attractiveness: The effects of body fat, muscularity, gender and ethnicity. Journal of Health Psychology, 15, 1039–1048. doi:10.1177/135910530936042

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Travis, C. B., & Meginnis-Payne, K. L. (2001). Beauty politics and patriarchy: The impact on women’s lives. In J. Worell (Ed.), Encyclopedia of women and gender (Vol. 1, pp. 189–200). San Diego: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011). Healthy weight, it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/index.html#Interpreted

  • U.S. Department of Labor. (2001). NLSY79 users’ guide. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/nls/79guide/2001/nls79g0.pdf

  • Weeden, J., & Sabini, J. (2005). Physical attractiveness and health in western societies: A review. Psychological Bulletin, 131, 635–653. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.131.5.635

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, N. (1991). The beauty myth: How images of beauty are used against women. New York: William Morrow and Company.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank Mark Roehling and Kerry Smith who provided helpful feedback on this commentary.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, Hope College, Holland, MI, USA

    Patricia Vincent Roehling

Authors
  1. Patricia Vincent Roehling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patricia Vincent Roehling.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Roehling, P.V. Fat is a Feminist Issue, but it is Complicated: Commentary on Fikkan and Rothblum. Sex Roles 66, 593–599 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-011-0059-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-011-0059-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation