In my article 5 Great Places to Buy Women's Plus Size Business Suits for Under $100, I recommended Lane Bryant. I still do. They offer fashionable clothing for casual wear and the work place that won't break your budget.
In April 2010, Lane Bryant announced that Fox and ABC would not sell them prime time ad space for a commercial featuring a plus-sized model. After a Lane Bryant made a public stink, Fox agreed to air the commercial at the end of an episode of American Idol - but only after major editing and rebuffs (to make the woman appear thinner.) Eventually, Fox agreed to air the unedited version in response to negative publicity surrounding their original decision.
Lane Bryant made the following public statement on their blog:
"ABC and Fox have made the decision to define beauty for you by denying our new, groundbreaking Cacique commercial from airing freely on their networks."
Lane Bryant reported that Fox "restricted our airtime" and has refused to air the commercial during Dancing With the Stars. Lane Bryant also claims that Fox "demanded excessive re-edits and rebuffed it three times before relenting to air it during the final 10 minutes of American Idol, but only after we threatened to pull the ad buy."
Watch the Controversial Lane Bryant Video
Weight Discrimination In The Work Place
Although it is illegal to refuse to hire or promote someone based on their weight, the fact remains many women feel pressured to be thin to get jobs or get ahead in the work place.
Advertising and media play a significant role in defining the standards of "beauty" in the United States and often, thinness is associated with power, success, intelligence, and desirability. Stereotyped messages and social norms forged by advertising and marketing has led to the misconception that people who are overweight are lazy, uneducated, and lack self-control.
The Council on Size and Weight Discrimination reports widespread discrimination based on weight, including:
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"Prospective employers often refuse to hire large size people, especially in jobs where employees do physical work, or jobs where employees interact with the public.
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Large people are subject to harassment about their weight by their employers, are kept in jobs beneath their abilities, and are often demoted or fired because of stated or unstated weight prejudice.
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Physicians and other health care professionals often tell fat patients to lose weight rather than treating them for their specific medical condition.
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Applicants are often turned down by colleges, universities, and other educational institutions because of their weight.
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Landlords, housing agencies, and real estate agents often deny larger people apartments, or show them only inferior locations, to prevent them from moving into the neighborhood."
Share Your Thoughts About Weight Discrimination
Please share your thoughts and feelings about weight censorship in advertising and discrimination in society. Do you think it is fair? Should people who are overweight be denied access to opportunities based only on their weight?
