Hefty Woman Wins Suit to Teach Aerobics

foxnews.com ^ | 2002-05-21 | Claudia Cowan

[Lorenb420]

SAN FRANCISCO

[Lorenb420]

picture of the person in question:

[ambrose]

hahaha... anyway, this shows employers with any brains that they should simply state that they have found more qualified applicants.. don't give the real reason behind the rejection///

[WilliamWallace1999]

No kidding. The person looking for work should be the HR director that was too stupid to duck this one. Gimme a break. Common sense is dead. Fat, gay, disabled, cross-dressing, atheist immigrants of color are going to inherit the earth.

[spetznaz]

This is what i refer to as 'Politically Correct Hogwash.' Why? It is just weird to let this be due to the following reasons. First of all the exercise industry doesn't just depend on health facts to attarct people, it also relies on image. Actually most people who go to exercise do not just go to achieve their ideal weight for health reasons, but actually to have a body they are comfortable with (blame social views on the 'best body' propagated by the media). They want to look nice because they believe if they do there lives will be better, easier, and others will find them more attractive. It is some sort of self-empowerment through bettering ones physical appearance.

So these health spas and exercise rooms depend a lot on image..... pushing the idea that if you work-out here you will get a great bod like the one your instructor has. It is a form of advertisement when they hire buff bodybuilders and slim exercise leaders to work in the gyms.

That is why it is unfair to make them hire this lady. And do not misunderstand me. I have nothing against her or people who happen to be over their optimum weight. Everyone has the same right to do what they want to do.

However this is not a case of equality in the workplace. It is simply a case of gyms trying to project an image to their potential customer base, and that image is one of slim well-toned ladies and sculptured males. That is why they go for that type of instructor.

I am sure that lady can perfrom all the duties required of her. I am also sure that she may be very healthy even if she looks overweight. And she would probably make a great instructor. HOWEVER she fails in one area. That of projecting an image people want. It is like going to a juvenile home to teach the kids there not to do wrong, and instead of giving them positive images to look up to you start showing them films of other kids in similar juvenile homes. I know that is a crude analogy, but it kind of sheds some light on this matter. It is all a matter of image, and although the lady may be able to perform all her duties in an exemplary manner, she is just not able to project the image of a body type people want.

And although some may say she will help inspire some to go an exercise since they can see another person their weight in a leading position, that is not the point here. The point is that in a bid to become politically correct people are making an issue that is simply of advertisement and image projection into one of work inequality and discrimination against over weight people. And that skews the whole view on the subject.

[agitator]

At least this isn't as bad as the grossly obese women who think it's ok to sue airlines to get a job as a stewardess when they can't fit through the escape hatch or look like they'd croak of a heart attack if they had to exert themselves. I like a nice pair of legs as much as the next guy but in the case of stewardesses, I'd be just as happy if they put those nice legs inside a Nomex flight suit and combat boots. I want them for go, not just show.

[Tacis]

As Al Bundy might say, "Why don't you just clip clop over there and teach the class?"

[riley1992]

First, let me state that I think this ruling is incompetent and as wrong as the day is long. It is a private business and they should be free to hire whom or not to hire whom they chose. If they find the hiring of a certain individual will not only not further their goals but may consequently deter them, it should be within their right to not hire them. However, having said that,:

"You can have a diverse population in your company, and that's good for business,"

I do think this woman, although wrong for suing, is right in theory. She may very well attract a clientel that would normally not go faced with a 5'5, 120 lb. instructor.

[Paul Atreides]

Look at it this way; her jumping up and down, with the flab flopping, could be an incentive for the students not to allow themselves to get in that shape.

[Thinkin' Gal]

FYI update.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

LOL

[SaveTheChief]

You know... I need to lose weight. 50 Pounds would be great. But I don't think I would be inspired to lose weight while attending an aerobics class taught by someone with her appearance.

[southern rock]

As Al Bundy might say, "Why don't you just clip clop over there and teach the class?"

LOL! Man, I wish I had the full Al Bundy lexicon at my fingertips for this story. How many great quotes would he have?

[Billthedrill]

Mt. Sinai Hospital general internist Scott Gottlieb said the message Portnick’s legal victory is sending is the wrong one.

Hmm...the health nazis versus the PC nazis...decisions, decisions...

Hope she doesn't die of a heart attack - her lawyers would no doubt sue the club...for hiring her...

[southern rock]

Look at it this way; her jumping up and down, with the flab flopping, could be an incentive for the students not to allow themselves to get in that shape.

Yeah, but what about the rights of the people downstairs? :)

[BlackVeil]

I agree, it is the projection of image which is the central issue. And as this is a commercial reality, it can't be legislated away. Personally, I think that whole "body beautiful" thing is codswallop, but if it was the manager of a gym, I would be obliged to consider it.

What next? I suppose that people with no legs will force themselves upon the ballet, as ideal employees.

[Jay W]

I wonder if in San Francisco if it's also illegal to not hire the blind as limo drivers, taxi drivers, or airline pilots.

I mean, look, who wouldn't feel comfortable, especially in San Francisco with its steep hills, of getting into a nice, plush limo driven by a blind guy with the black glasses and white-tipped cane?

(On a serious note, more business WILL move out of California, which quite frankly, suits me just fine, as I look forward to the day when the US secedes FROM California.)

[sweetliberty]

While I agree that a company should have the right to hire who they please, I believe their thinking is erroneous against overweight aerobics instructors. In the first place, an instructor with a perfect looking body number one, can be intimindating and discouraging to those who have considerable weight to lose; two, may make a person feel that it is impossible to achieve that look, and three, may just plain make clients feel bad about themselves.

Something else that I have yet to hear mentioned in any discussion of this issue is the fact that if the woman is teaching several classes a day, just how long is she going to stay in bad shape? Watching her shape up before their eyes I would think would be very encouraging for those she instructs. Personally, I think the anorexic look has been overdone to death and that the average woman has paid a high price for that cultural "ideal."

[southern rock]

Al Bundy's fat women jokes!

[Jaidyn]

A couple weeks ago I went to my granddaughter's dance recital. There were two heavy girls in it, one was about seven years old, the other was a teenager. The seven year old was very co-ordinated, in part because of the dancing. The other girl was magnificent! Sure, she had rolls, but her gracefulness outshone the rest of the girls. She didn't miss a beat and, I suppose, if she weren't so heavy she could go pro. I really enjoyed watching her.

[Paul Atreides]

For one thing, a business, wishing to project a certain image, has a right to hire people it feels will perpetuate that image. I know I would not feel comfortable walking into a doctor's or lawyer's office and seeing a receptionist sitting at her desk in sweats, hair in curlers, and holes in her clothes. Now, if this woman had been denied because of her facial appearance, I could understand it. I remember seeing a car, with a bumper sticker reading "Ask me how to lose weight", and the couple selling the product were both big as houses. They wouldn't have inspired me to buy their product. Just as, I would not chose a personal trainer with the body of Ichabod Crane.