To: Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Government Equalities Office
Add Height and Weight to The Equality Act 2010
Add Height and Weight to The Equality Act 2010
Why is this important?
Height and weight discrimination is a proven, yet largely unrecognised bias in society. Several scientific studies have reported this, with one study stating in some cases weight/height "were even more prevalent than discrimination due to gender and race". https://www.nature.com/articles/ijo200822
Important protected characteristics such as age, race and sexual orientation, (all things that cannot be controlled), are included in the legislation. Yet height and weight, (some medical conditions mean weight cannot be controlled, such as an underactive thyroid and Cushing's syndrome), are ignored by our government. Is it fair that only some members of society are legally protected from being discriminated against?
Scientific Findings:
Height Discrimination
- "employers prefer not to hire or promote short employees, and that they do not adequately compensate them"
https://papers.ss-rn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3166828
- "someone who is 6 feet tall earns, on average, nearly $166,000 more during a 30-year career than someone who is 5 feet 5 inches--even when controlling for gender, age and weight".
https://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug04/standing
Weight Discrimination
- "weight discrimination by individuals with obesity were common, and its negative consequences are highly relevant issues within society"
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26596238/
- "Weight discrimination is highly prevalent in American society and increasing at disturbing rates. Its prevalence is relatively close to reported rates of race and age discrimination, but virtually no legal or social sanctions against weight discrimination exist."
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1038/oby.2008.35
The law is meant to protect us all. Why doesn't it cover all types of discrimination? This is wrong. We can do better. Amend the Equality Act, and get justice for all.
Important protected characteristics such as age, race and sexual orientation, (all things that cannot be controlled), are included in the legislation. Yet height and weight, (some medical conditions mean weight cannot be controlled, such as an underactive thyroid and Cushing's syndrome), are ignored by our government. Is it fair that only some members of society are legally protected from being discriminated against?
Scientific Findings:
Height Discrimination
- "employers prefer not to hire or promote short employees, and that they do not adequately compensate them"
https://papers.ss-rn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3166828
- "someone who is 6 feet tall earns, on average, nearly $166,000 more during a 30-year career than someone who is 5 feet 5 inches--even when controlling for gender, age and weight".
https://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug04/standing
Weight Discrimination
- "weight discrimination by individuals with obesity were common, and its negative consequences are highly relevant issues within society"
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26596238/
- "Weight discrimination is highly prevalent in American society and increasing at disturbing rates. Its prevalence is relatively close to reported rates of race and age discrimination, but virtually no legal or social sanctions against weight discrimination exist."
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1038/oby.2008.35
The law is meant to protect us all. Why doesn't it cover all types of discrimination? This is wrong. We can do better. Amend the Equality Act, and get justice for all.
