Weight Discrimination with Women Compared to Men
@desertdarlene (8910)
United States
April 1, 2008 6:20pm CST
OK, this is probably not anything anyone hasn't heard of, but women don't have to be much overweight to experience weight discrimination compared to men.
For a woman who is 5 foot 5 inches (average height), discrimination starts when she is 13 pounds over her ideal weight.
For a man who is 5 foot 9 inches (average height), discrimination begins when he is 68 pounds over his ideal weight.
OK, for me, 13 pounds is not that much weight even at that height. In fact, it's only about 10% over the average weight for that height if you consult the health charts. And, health professionals consider that within a healthy range.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
2 Apr 08
My mom used to be extremely thin when I was a child because my dad was so afraid of her gaining weight. Yet, he didn't put the same restrictions on himself.
@elisa812 (3026)
• United States
2 Apr 08
Yeah, it's pretty sad that we have that double standard. I've never heard those exact numbers before, but I guess it shouldn't surprise me too much. That is a really huge difference though! It seems like people just think that men are supposed to be big, so it's ok or something. :P It's really too bad, and it makes me worry about how young girls will perceive themselves.
1 person likes this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
2 Apr 08
I also get a kick out of these guys who say "it's not fat, it's muscle". Yet, for a woman who is not overweight, but just a little flabby or out of shape, she's considered to be "fat".
@ilove2shop (58)
• United States
2 Apr 08
This is true, just about everyone will notice a woman that is just slightly pudgy, but it would take quite a bit for someone to actually notice or ever say anything that a man was pudgy. :-)
1 person likes this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
2 Apr 08
Yeah, the discrimination can be really harsh, too. I can't believe how mean people are if a woman appears to be overweight. I recently lost a lot of weight and was under what was considered the average weight for my height. I didn't think I looked as good as I did when I gained some of the weight back.
@Breath (1297)
• United States
2 Apr 08
People are blinded to the real person.Only to see weight and never the real person.I believe you are right a man can be more over his weight limit without as much looks or whispers.If a woman who is a tiny bit above the line people just stop and look at you like why are you still living looking at that.The world has become so shallow.
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
2 Apr 08
And, women were designed to carry a little body fat, so it's doubly unfair.
I did the math. If an average 5 foot 5 inch woman is supposed to weight 125 pounds, she starts to get discriminated against when her weight reaches 138. If an average 5 foot 9 inch main is supposed to weigh 160, he doesn't experience discrimination until he weighs about 228 pounds.
