Weight bias in the fashion industry

February 12, 2018

*The term "obesity" is contested among scholars and as a feminist, fat studies scholar I used the term inside scare quotes. The term "obese" medicalizes human diversity and by default implies that fat people need to be cured. There is a lot of harm caused by this perception and that is why we use the words and others qualifiers referring to so-called "obesity" in scare quotes.

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There are many ways that fat bodies are marginalized. We didn't cover all of them in the video but here are other ways larger bodies are discriminated against:

Small uncomfortable dressing rooms

Limited or less color options

Limited and/or less styles/ unfashionable options

Little formal attire available

Designs have too much cleavage

Plus-size maternity rarely exists

 

 

 

Separate section in the basement - or in a difficult to find place

Vast difference between and XL and a 1X - sizing is complicated

Unsolicited comments about body weight and size from sales clerks or other customers

Judgemental glares or microaggressions

Lack of fat bodies in media or advertising

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What did we miss? If you've had an experience that we didn't cover, please share with us in the comments.

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