The thread on weight discrimination that convinced me to join this group..

[Wetzelbill]

This is well worth a revisit for the people involved in the discussion and also for you others to take a look at too.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4025275

[Eloriel]

1. Thanks!!

nice to read again.

[Wetzelbill]

2. yeah it was, I've read it several times

You're welcome, btw.

[atommom]

3. That is a great thread!

It reminds me of my college days, when I knew several people who applied to med school. Among the brightest of those was a young woman who was quite overweight. After being interviewed by the med school, she was turned down. The same year, another woman I knew (who had a good GPA but was kind of a dim bulb) did get in ... and I always wondered whether her physical appearance was the deciding factor.

[Logansquare]

4. I had a roommate who was on the review committee for a med school

She brought some of the applications, personal essays and transcripts home with her. (I guess this was OK with the committee). I was appalled at the reasons people were being thrown to the bottom of the heap, including physical appearance and lack of cool hobbies. They were particularly charmed by a woman who did English-style horse jumping competitions. This is a valid criteria for how we choose physicians? It was Northwestern Med School in Chicago, BTW. This was 15 years ago; I hope things have changed.

[eridani]

5. As the OP, I was surprised and pleased at the level of discussion

I had originally thought to post the piece only in the fat acceptance group, but someone there suggested giving GD a try also. I had expected a lot of lounge-level sexist abuse. Just goes to show.