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Study: Obese Women More Likely to be Assumed Guilty

A Yale experiment suggests men think overweight women are morally suspect

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by Dain Fitzgerald

Staff Writer t +

Image: Equal Justice Initiative

Is being overweight bad for a woman's...legal status?

A Yale study being reported by New York Magazine found that men participating in an experiment akin to a mock-trial were more likely to judge overweight women - but not overweight men - guilty of a hypothetical crime than their thinner counterparts. Presented with pictures of women accused in a phony case of fraudulent check-passing, men, and thin men especially, selected the obese women pictured as more likely to have committed the potential felony.

Researcher Dr. Natasha Schvey suggests that the men involved in the study are basing their assumption of guilt on the idea that obese women are "greedy" and selfish. Not only that, but they're thought to come from poorer backgrounds than overweight men (for some reason), which could contribute to perceived criminality.

Whatever the reason for the bias, it certainly won't be helped by the release of this film next month...

Via New York Magazine.
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What do you think accounts for the findings of this study?

99 Comments (view in Forum)

  • MadAmerican
    !
    I would say yes and look at the obvious. NASCAR doesn't hire heavy set drivers like Buddy Baker, Yarbourough, and Rick Mast. No you've got to be cute-appealing to the eye. doesn't matter if you can drive-just be cute. Look at the country music scene. If your a female just stick your chest out, look cute and let the computer do the rest. Same for the long hair, earing wearing guys. Ain't none of them ever lived a country life but it's the appeal that has brainwashed America. A woman who is overweight is made fun of. I see it all the time. Respect for each other as individuals is dying across America because our morals are in the trash with yesterday's news. They didn't need a study to confirm this. All they had to do was to look at job interviewers, public treatment on buses, watch TV and see how many obese women are actresses. When was the last time you saw a blockbuster chick flick that involved an obese woman as the star? This is really not news but a common occurance in our society.
  • Comment removed for Engagement Etiquette violation. Replies may also be deleted.
  • PoliticalSpice
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    @Waynestew I think whoever had the post removed did, but as you can imagine from reading my comments, sometimes I just like to have fun and don't care what they think. I mean if someone is too slow too get that it is not like they could have had a meaningful debate otherwise!
  • stepped_in_it
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    Ok...1st) Was this Yale study performed using MY blankity blank blank tax dollars? You have got to be kidding me! 2nd) Is this really news worthy? 3rd) Sounds like Yale has ran out of study material -OR- someone at Yale has a little obese fetish. 4th) Is this really news worthy? >>>Moving on now.....have bigger fish to fry!!
  • Buzzfriendly
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    Just guess here but I think the assumption may come from the fact that if your won't respect yourself by becoming overweight that feeling somehow translates that you don't respect laws either. A rather flawed and uneducated assumption me thinks.
  • Mbjhug
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    That, unfortunately, is the attitude that the always-thin (have never been overweight in their life) usually have towards the overweight. It's quite the most shallow thing I've ever heard of.
  • Rocker
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    Yeah, I read the whole thing. Jury selection has gotten to the point that there are also studies done to look for a specific juror when loading the jury for a specific case. Lawyers know this as well. Latent psychology has figured into it for subtle advantages. Sometimes I think we have become too smart for our own good. Makes you wonder if justice really is blind.
  • texas_cutie75
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    There is some basis to this. While in nursing school, I packed on 45 lbs. There was a definite difference in the way society interacted with me. On the flip side, I was miserable and not the happy go lucky person I usually was. So I can see both sides of that argument. Now using grant money on this.....well, I just don't know about that.
  • texas_cutie75
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    @PoliticalSpice It's too early.... what I should have clarified was people are harsher in their interactions with the heavyset. It is possible for them to be "found guilty" in this experiment.
  • PoliticalSpice
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    @Rocker I'm just lucky I'm not a woman, I'd be in jail about 30 pounds ago. They should have a court tv show for these criminals, where judge judy would Sentence yhrm to loose thirty pounds and get a makeover.

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  • stepped_in_it
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    HMMM.....possible the overweight women ate them?(JK). Next study: Dental hygiene and heart disease both plummet when cannibalism is involved! Study was not completed due to consumption of the control group.....LOL

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  • Chromalord
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    But I also disagree with Dr. Schvey's assertion that men observe obese women as greedy and selfish. The most greedy and selfish women I have ever met in my lifetime are the thin trophy wives who marry for money and/or the self-entitled women who base their existence on rewards juxtaposed with their beauty. Obese women are in all economic levels of life, but far more in poor circles than in wealthy ones. The wealthy ones usually never get to prison as the system often facilitates the rich.
  • Zazziness
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    Obese women also face discrimination during the hiring process. We may be a country of overweight, out-of-shape couch potatoes but we still have a base human instinct that says tall, fit and beautiful is superior.
  • Mbjhug
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    I would like to see the study where the genders were flipped to see if the same would hold true for overweight men when being judged by women. On the flip side, I wonder how many of them presumed a more attractive woman would be found not guilty, even if there was some evidence against her.
  • Keyjo
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    It's a sad commentary on our objectiveness, or rather, lack thereof, in our system of justice. We can joke about it, but it's also a bit frightening. The pretty, guilty woman stands a greater chance of acquittal than theobese, innocent woman. We've all heard tales of traffic cops letting the pretty young girls off with a warning and sticking it to everyone else.
    Human nature!?
  • Zazziness
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    It really is human nature. They've done experiments with babies so young they have had zero chance of picking up cultural cues from others. If presented with photos of two faces, the babies will stare at the prettier, more symmetrical face. The instinct goes that deep.
  • Politicskid
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    It doesn't suprise me, but it's certainly not because of discrimination. Watching your weight is a part of personal responsibilty. Keeping out of trouble is another. So there's going to be a lot of people who are both obese and in jail.
  • Denizen_Kate
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    You must be thin and male. I switched my avatar back to my actual photo to make a point. Being overweight has nothing to do with personal responsibility or a criminal mentality. It is different for everyone. Your knee-jerk comment is an indication of the very attitude this study revealed.
  • Politicskid
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    @Denizen_Kate I didn't mean to offend you or anybody. Even my dad, who's obease, acknowleges my point here is true. All I said is criminals generally lack personal responsibility, and you're more likely to get fat if you are unresponsible. It does not mean that if you're overweight you're unresponsible.
  • Politicskid
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    @Denizen_Kate It's the same way black people are more likely to be criminals. It doesn't mean most Black people are; they aren't; it's simply fact that's worth acknowledging. Do you think it's discriminatory that four fifths of criminals are black?
  • Denizen_Kate
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    @Politicskid - "Do you think it's discriminatory that four fifths of criminals are black?" Yes, I do in fact find that to be a discriminatory statement. Think of it this way: while it's true that most of the people in prison are black or another minority, it is also true that poverty is more a part of their lives than with most white people. Many of the crimes committed are either out of ignorance or poverty and wreckless need. Many of the people in our prisons are there for lack of a good attorney, as well as for a petty crime that probably should not even require jail time. Which is more likely to get pulled over and have their car checked for drugs, even if it turns out to be a small bag of cannabis? A group of white kids or a group of black kids? That's one example. I only ask that you think about discrimination before judging people for how they look, or for what they do.
  • Politicskid
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    @Denizen_Kate When did I say we should do that? All I'm saying that, because of the mass poverty in their demographic, black people are more likely to have committed crimes. Just as irresponsible criminals are more likely to be obese. We both aknowlege that; if it's discriminatory, you're being discriminatory too by giving reasons for it!

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  • Mia
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    Our parents taught that people do judge you by your appearance, so be mindful of how you present yourself. Our parents, grandparents, teachers, and peoplein the community taught all the children by their example to be polite, neat, respectful. What are todays children learning?
  • Realthinker
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    Hollywood and Madison Ave. in particular have stigmatized the overweight. It's just one more example of how bigotry is still encouraged in this country. I saw recently where the women's clothing industry wants to label size 6 and up "plus size". The standards being imposed on women are beyond unrealistic. They are downright unreasonable. Marilyn Monroe was a size 12. Today she would be considered obese.
  • mimi57
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    I think, in part , it shows a lack of self control. Also, Obese women appear to not
    take care of themselves, and some may see them as lazy. People who put little
    to no effort caring for themselves, and have little self respect, may be thought to
    have less respect and self control when it comes to how they treat others. I'm
    sure many suffer from depression.
  • Denizen_Kate
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    Seriously, Mimi? You're really that clueless about overweight women? I'm so disappointed, that is such a thoughtless comment. As an overweight woman, I'm dismayed and offended by your comment. I may have emotional baggage (who doesn't?), and I always work on that, but I happen to take very good care of myself, take a lot of trouble to look my best whenever I go out, and have a great deal of self respect. Control is an illusion. You go ahead and stick with your illusions (you seem to have many), but the gloves are off between us.
  • mimi57
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    @Denizen_Kate What is that supposed to mean??? Obesity is a real problem,
    being over weight and obese are two different things. Every woman struggles with their weight, but most manage to not become obese. I stick to what I said.
  • Denizen_Kate
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    @mimi57 - I am considered obese by today's standards. There are more reasons for obesity than any one person could ever include in a comment here, not all of which are the fault of the obese. If you see an obese woman and assume you're seeing someone who is lazy, has no self respect, and doesn't take care of herself, that indicates an inability or unwillingness to look beyond the surface of things. Your comment was thoughtless and I'm very disappointed. I keep trying to think better of you, but you make it difficult.
  • mimi57
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    @Denizen_Kate You do not have to 'try' to think better of me...I have attempted to lighten things up by joking, etc. and quite frankly, I am a little tired of your attacks.
    You are the one who termed yourself obese, not me. I am not skinny, however, I do
    try to keep my weight down and it is never easy, especially after 40. There are few
    diseases that lead to being obese, there are numerous health problems that are caused by being obese, and any doctor will tell you that. There is only one way you gain weight, you take in more calories than you burn...I have seen people riding on scooters and they weighed 350-400 lbs., they didn't get they way from a healthy diet
    and exercising. I've have also worked w/ obese people, and they did the least amount of work (physical) than anyone there. There are numerous weight loss programs and they work. Again, you called yourself obese, not me. It makes little
    difference what your opinion is of me, we are on opposite sides of the political spectrum, that will remain. I don't attack everything you say, this is about 'opinions'
    and yours is not the only one that counts. Enough said.

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  • Thegrif
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    Maybe it's cause us men, consciously or unconsciously, are prone to think with the wrong head from time to time.
    And very few of us, in our monds eye, see ourselves with a fat chick, maybe because we are programed to think FAT BAD- THIN GOOD, maybe cause it is easier for a thinner lady to look nice for court than a fat one, I guess?
    Look, who knows, men aren't complicated. Feed us, let us come in the house (every now and then), and and have sex with us ( also every now and then).
    Really ladies thats pretty much the only 3 things us men think about, and we base all our plans on getting 1 of those 3 things.
    Not really a coplicated animal are we?

    Unlike my wife, who traffic jams my mind every single day.
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