Teaching in an Environment with “Unnoticed Discrimination”: Raising Faculty Awareness of Obesity Stigmatization in Our College Classrooms
Abstract
While a great deal has been written concerning the adverse physical effects of obesity on the human body, less is known regarding the effects obesity has on the classroom learning environment. According to one researcher, "for fat students, the school experience is one of ongoing prejudice, unnoticed discrimination, and almost constant harassment." The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes and behaviors of college students toward their obese classmates. Results indicate that a number of students will not sit by, study with, or loan pencils to their overweight classmates. In addition, students admit to grading overweight students' presentations lower than normal weight students and judging overweight faculty as being less intelligent. The purpose of this session is to raise awareness of faculty to the issue of obesity discrimination in our classrooms.
Location
Room 2908
Recommended Citation
Moorman, Diann, "Teaching in an Environment with “Unnoticed Discrimination”: Raising Faculty Awareness of Obesity Stigmatization in Our College Classrooms " (2010). SoTL Commons Conference. 88.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/sotlcommons/SoTL/2010/88
Teaching in an Environment with “Unnoticed Discrimination”: Raising Faculty Awareness of Obesity Stigmatization in Our College Classrooms
Room 2908
While a great deal has been written concerning the adverse physical effects of obesity on the human body, less is known regarding the effects obesity has on the classroom learning environment. According to one researcher, "for fat students, the school experience is one of ongoing prejudice, unnoticed discrimination, and almost constant harassment." The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes and behaviors of college students toward their obese classmates. Results indicate that a number of students will not sit by, study with, or loan pencils to their overweight classmates. In addition, students admit to grading overweight students' presentations lower than normal weight students and judging overweight faculty as being less intelligent. The purpose of this session is to raise awareness of faculty to the issue of obesity discrimination in our classrooms.
