Do plus-sized women face added discrimination in the corporate setting? I’m not plus-sized, and I’m wondering if I don’t see it because it’s not part of my day-to-day experience.

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My management loves my ideas, loves the way I pursue new business and my networking prowess. However when it comes time to meet face to face, I’m always left out of pitches & meetings. Instead my teammate with the perfect figure is asked to attend. I’ve been the size 2 and after 20+ years am now the size 12 - I’ve never worked harder and been ignored more than I am now. It is demeaning, frustrating and pervasive in this industry. We spend so much time making things visually pleasing to our clients, some folks think that extends to staff also and anything not within their ideals of “pleasing” are disregarded. It’s made me consider a career change.

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Absolutely. I'm 5'9" and have gotten it both ways. Have been ignored or left out of pitches due to "casting". Also had insecure male coworkers paint me as "aggressive" since, in heels, I often have 2 inches and 50 pounds on them. Can truly be loose-loose.

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many people in our industry act like fat is contagious. they wont make eye contact. return greetings. generally avoid in every possible way. the "fear of fat" guys are the funniest. if a fat woman smiles or greets them they seem to go out of their way to be rude and dismissive as they often mistake common courtesy for romantic interest. they want to make damn sure us fat babes know they dont approve of our bodies so we dont deserve common courtesy. the size police are very real and very vocal in advertising.

likeuplifting

There’s a thread a little ways down of how differently women were treated after they lost a good amount of weight. It’s happened to me - I wasn’t necessarily discriminated against or ostracized or disliked, but after I lost 50 pounds I was treated MUCH better. It was things I didn’t even notice when I was heavier. Most of them weren’t work related but in meetings I’ll be looked directly at now, I’m interrupted less, etc.

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I’ve definitely seen it within the account world. Not in account myself but I overheard some former co-workers (truly “mean girls" in their own right) saying she wasn’t a good fit because she was plus sized. I interviewed the woman and thought she was wonderful. I hope that candidate ended up somewhere fantastic, I think she dodged a bullet on that one.

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This is in no way representative of everyone’s experience, but it’s been mine.

When I was plus-sized, people took me more seriously than they do now, even though I dress in completely the same way (skirts at or below the knee, or pants; high necklines, etc.). I felt my opinions and ideas were very respected and was able to laugh a lot more with my colleagues. Occasionally I got an annoying “such a pretty face” comment but nothing too irritating or demeaning regarding my weight.

Since I’ve lost weight - from about a 16 to a 4 - I am constantly being second-guessed, especially by male colleagues. It’s like I lost my ability to have smart ideas along with the weight.

That being said I think I’m one of the few women who was treated better when she was plus-sized. I was way less self-conscious then, despite the fact that, as AD1 pointed out, there’s a lot of fat hate.

likehelpful

Yes. I get ignored all the time, my ideas repeated later as if somebody else came up with them. People don’t make eye contact, are openly hostile or rude, and some even deliberately stand next to my desk and talk about diet tips with their friends as if they’re being subtle. There’s a lot of fat hate out there.

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Yes. Very much so.

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Yes. It’s real

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Oh yeah. It’s a thing

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Agree with Senior Manager above. I am often praised for being smart and well spoken, but I am frequently passed up for meetings for someone who has less to contribute but more attractive. I’ve also been asked to dress more professionally when I know for a fact that peers who have worn athleisure to the office have not been. I don’t wear blouses and blazers everyday, but I certainly think I dress the part for an agency

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Yes, definitely.

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A receptionist at my agency approached me and tried to sell me weight loss coffee and belly wraps during my first month on the job. They obviously were apart of some pyramid scheme, but it was so bizzare :/

likefunny

Yes, very much a real thing.

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Sad but true

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