Fat Discrimination

Now that's a survey worth taking.  I bet there are more people out there like us. A question similarly to  Do you feel discriminated in the workplace more because of your 1. Race 2. gender 3. religion 4. weight

For me, it would be religion.  I'm heavy, but I'm not super morbidly obese, either, so people usually don't obviously discriminate against me because of my weight.  I'm also a young, white female, and in my field, that's a pretty good portion of the demographic.  Where I've felt the most uncomfortable is when religion come into play.  I'm an Atheist.  If it come up in a conversation, you can literally see people draw back from you and see the distaste on their faces.  People suddenly stop being friendly or even stop talking to you entirely.  Even here at OH, I've been exposed to anti-Atheist sentiment and discrimination (not by OH itself, but by other members).  Being an Atheist in the Bible Belt can be acutely uncomfortable at times, because people talk about their religion and automatically expect you to agree with them.  If you don't, you're at risk of endangering your job, your future prospects, your home and pets, etc.  For me, my weight's been the least of my worries.

How sad for you.  Yeah, weight has been the last of my worries over the years.

I have to say that, above all else, religion is it for me, then race, then gender, and lastly weight. I'm not an Atheist, but consider myself non-Christian and on my own spiritual journey. When people hear that, it's just as "bad". I'm not Christian, therefore I'm also Godless. After that admission, I too am also lucky if conversation continues much past what is absolutely necessary. So yes, weight is the last of my worries, too.

I get what you mean.  I even get the looks when some folks here that I'm Catholic.  A Black Catholic?

LOL Yeah....aren't you supposed to be Baptist! Geeze. Seriously though...I've never heard of that. I was raised Catholic, at a Catholic school, and there were a lot of Black people at my school....

Yeah, you'd be surprised at the number of people who make assumptions.

I have to be honest.  I have never felt fat discrimination.  I have gotten any job I ever wanted (provided I was qualified).  I have been recognized for my teaching many times (when I was at my heaviest!).  I never had a lack of dates due to my weight.  I really have never felt it but I think that's because I never saw myself as less-than because of my weight.  It was just a part of me.  Therefore, I was always accepted.    If it was otherwise, I was clueless!  My friends have always envied my self-esteem.  I just never let anything hold me back!

Oh there was no question I had suspected it a few times, being both heavy and partially hearing impaired, but there were other times that people came out and told me I was just plain "overqualified"! I say their darn loss...I ended up starting my own business and am much happier.

Several years ago I had gotten my Elementary Principal's Certificate. I went on a ton of interviews but I only got a couple of call backs. I really feel that people thought I would be unable to keep up with the children. Perhaps now things would have gone differently. I think that many people treat me with more respect now but I am having too much fun being retired to try all over again.