Deck 15: Weight and Appearance

Question 1

Research studies on obesity and healthcare have found that

A) overweight people are more likely to receive preventive care than others.
B) medical professionals do not typically hold the same negative perceptions that discriminating employers hold about those who are overweight.
C) the attitude of medical students toward obese patients changed in a positive direction after working with obese patients.
D) most nurses believe that obesity could be prevented by self-control.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Abercrombie and Fitch has had multiple diversity concerns including

A) selling merchandise that perpetuated stereotypes about Hispanics.
B) discrimination against Filipinos in hiring practices.
C) using race-coded job channeling.
D) All of the above.
E) B and C above only.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Which of the following is true of research results about weight?

A) Preferences for thinner people have been found among adolescents, children, parents, and even those themselves who are fat.
B) Overweight children view social discrimination as the most immediate consequence of their weight.
C) In some cultures, overweight is desirable.
D) In one study, time spent watching television was associated with obesity.
E) All of the above.

Answer 3

E

Question 4

The prevalence of overweight has increased due to

A) changes in the design of work.
B) changes in transportation.
C) quantities and types of food consumed.
D) changes in leisure activities.
E) All of the above.

Question 5

It is illegal in most states to fire someone because he or she is overweight.

Question 6

Obesity is not a problem in developing countries, as people there have fewer resources and food than in the U.S.

Question 7

Genetics play a role in a person's propensity to be overweight or obese.

Question 8

In the Bonnie Cook case, in which Bonnie was denied employment at a State of Rhode Island agency:

A) Bonnie had successfully worked for the organization twice before.
B) Bonnie had worked for the organization before but her unsatisfactory performance kept her from being rehired.
C) Bonnie sued under Rhode Island legislation prohibiting weight discrimination.
D) Bonnie failed the pre-hire medical examination.

Question 9

When assessing appearance requirements, employers should consider which of the following?

A) Whether the applicant or employee is neat and clean.
B) Is the requirement necessary to the safe operation of the business?
C) Is resistance to the applicant or employee's appearance a situation of race, cultural, ethnic, or other bias?
D) All of the above.
E) B and C only above.

Question 10

If fat employees experience discrimination,

A) costs related to turnover, absence, and low morale could exceed higher medical and benefits costs related to having fat workers.
B) they have no legal recourse.
C) because weight is largely controllable, they should attempt to reduce the discrimination by losing weight.
D) All of the above.
E) B and C only above.

Question 11

Similar to most other non-dominant group members, overweight people

A) experience disparate treatment even when their qualifications are similar to those who are not overweight.
B) can use Title VII if they experience employment-related discrimination.
C) can change the aspect of their identity that results in unfair treatment.
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.

Question 12

Thin people may be in worse health than fat people.

Question 13

Some appearance requirements instituted by organizations are discriminatory and illegal.

Question 14

One-third of the U.S. population is overweight or obese.

Question 15

Which of the four attributes that Dworkin and Dworkin associated with depicting "minority" groups is not generally applicable for overweight people?

A) Visibility.
B) Low power.
C) Group awareness.
D) Discrimination
E) All of the above are applicable.

Question 16

When attempting to reduce benefits costs, which is the best solution for employers?

A) They should encourage overweight people to lose weight.
B) They should refuse to hire overweight applicants.
C) They should require overweight applicants to take a medical exam to ensure their blood pressure is normal and that they do not have diabetes or other obesity-related health problems.
D) They should introduce wellness programs, focusing on health.

Question 17

Which of the following are potential outcomes of having a large-sized, fit aerobics instructor in San Francisco?

A) The employing organization can pay him or her lower wages with no negative outcomes.
B) Having such an employee may be viewed positively by many overweight people who may want to attend aerobics classes.
C) Because the U.S. population is increasing in size, having such an aerobics instructor may be a competitive advantage.
D) All of the above.
E) B and C only above.

Question 18

Which of the following is true of overweight and obesity at work?

A) Overweight people have lower absence than others.
B) Overweight people strongly resist discrimination at work by boycotting and protesting.
C) Overweight is erroneously associated with negative personal attributes.
D) Overweight people are not likely to be discriminated against at work.

Question 19

A new employee with a physical deformity applied to work at a restaurant chain as a hostess. She had considerable experience as a hostess, and was hired. Although she worked as a hostess for a few weeks, she was soon assigned to work as a cook. The manager told her she would never be able to work as a hostess again because customers had complained about her appearance. Which of the following is true of this situation?

A) This is a case of appearance discrimination related to a disability, and thus is illegal under the ADA.
B) This is the manager's prerogative; customers are always right.
C) Although this is an unfortunate situation, the manager had no choice.
D) B and C above only.

Question 20

Regarding treatment of overweight people in organizations

A) employers may make virtually any decision they desire.
B) assigning overweight people to jobs where they are not seen by customers or clients makes good business sense.
C) employers should make job-related decisions on the ability to perform the job.
D) None of the above.

Question 21

Non-Hispanic Whites are more likely to carry excess weight than non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics.

Question 22

Research indicates that most nurses agree that obesity could be prevented by self-control.

Question 23

In research, physical attractiveness was found to be positively related to hiring, performance evaluations, and promotion for women, but not men.

Question 24

Some studies find that both men and women who are taller than average are advantaged in employment situations.

Question 25

Race-coded job channeling means that employers steer applicants to certain jobs according to employer preferences for Whites in certain positions and minorities in others based on the applicants' interests, skills, or experience.

Question 26

Mortality rates for extremely thin people are higher than those for other people.

Question 27

Because no Federal laws strictly prohibit appearance discrimination, those who are unattractive or overweight have no recourse.

Question 28

Like people with disabilities, fat people are more likely to be hired because employers know they have fewer employment options and are thus less likely to turn over.

Question 29

The retailer Abercrombie and Fitch has experienced problems with racially offensive merchandise.

Question 30

Research suggests that fat women fare worse than fat men in employment contexts.

Question 31

Because overweight workers use more sick days than workers who are not overweight, employment discrimination against them is good business sense.