P
Patrick
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Are left-handers next to seek protection in Massachusetts?
Discrimination based on height and weight may be real, but legal redress isn't needed.
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Reader Comments (below)
May 23, 2007
? Advocates of rules, laws and policies to combat various forms of discrimination are often criticized as overly idealistic people who fail to recognize that it's a cold, cruel world out there.
In fact, it is a pretty harsh place, with a number of people seemingly bent on finding a flaw or a difference or some characteristic they can use to antagonize others. The world has many playground bullies -- and worse -- who never grew up.
Most people fighting discrimination have been undeterred, however, and are managing to do good work. Without their efforts, we would not have legislation to combat discrimination that targets race, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation and disabilities.
Massachusetts, on the other hand, may be taking the cause a bit too far. A bill in that state's Legislature would outlaw discrimination based on height and weight -- too little of the former, too much of the latter.
Arguably, tall people have some social advantages. Studies have shown height and income levels are proportional, partly because "executive material" literally infers a loftier point of view. And overweight people have long suffered abuse in cultures that push paradigms of beauty that almost celebrate anorexia.
A law to bar such discrimination, however, is overly ambitious. How far do we go in mandating an equitable world? The Massachusetts proposal doesn't even define the parameters of height and weight, posing problems in judging the legitimacy of complaints that might arise.
It might be better for those who feel aggrieved to confront the small-minded. Speak out, speak up and raise their consciousness. In this case, a persuasive tete-a-tete is better than a tort action.
Reader comments
Darren McLellan of Cape ELizabeth, ME
May 23, 2007 8:20 AM
And this has what to do with Portland Maine?
Al Libby of phillips, ME
May 23, 2007 7:17 AM
This is laughable what do they want. There are some things that over weight and short people just can't do. Fat people should avoid high risk jobs like Hospitials and police jobs, Firefighters and the like. Short people to a certian extant shouldn't be in Police work unless it is dispatch. You get a fat person who stands 5' nothing they are going to be no match for a drugged up person who is 6'4" I have seen where male officers who were of adequite hight and weight get their asses kicked. If this is just to compete in the popularity contest that is the job market then this is a stupid cause. You can't force somebody to do something they don't want to do. It's called extortion and is illegal.
Discrimination based on height and weight may be real, but legal redress isn't needed.
E-mail this page
Reader Comments (below)
May 23, 2007
? Advocates of rules, laws and policies to combat various forms of discrimination are often criticized as overly idealistic people who fail to recognize that it's a cold, cruel world out there.
In fact, it is a pretty harsh place, with a number of people seemingly bent on finding a flaw or a difference or some characteristic they can use to antagonize others. The world has many playground bullies -- and worse -- who never grew up.
Most people fighting discrimination have been undeterred, however, and are managing to do good work. Without their efforts, we would not have legislation to combat discrimination that targets race, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation and disabilities.
Massachusetts, on the other hand, may be taking the cause a bit too far. A bill in that state's Legislature would outlaw discrimination based on height and weight -- too little of the former, too much of the latter.
Arguably, tall people have some social advantages. Studies have shown height and income levels are proportional, partly because "executive material" literally infers a loftier point of view. And overweight people have long suffered abuse in cultures that push paradigms of beauty that almost celebrate anorexia.
A law to bar such discrimination, however, is overly ambitious. How far do we go in mandating an equitable world? The Massachusetts proposal doesn't even define the parameters of height and weight, posing problems in judging the legitimacy of complaints that might arise.
It might be better for those who feel aggrieved to confront the small-minded. Speak out, speak up and raise their consciousness. In this case, a persuasive tete-a-tete is better than a tort action.
Reader comments
Darren McLellan of Cape ELizabeth, ME
May 23, 2007 8:20 AM
And this has what to do with Portland Maine?
Al Libby of phillips, ME
May 23, 2007 7:17 AM
This is laughable what do they want. There are some things that over weight and short people just can't do. Fat people should avoid high risk jobs like Hospitials and police jobs, Firefighters and the like. Short people to a certian extant shouldn't be in Police work unless it is dispatch. You get a fat person who stands 5' nothing they are going to be no match for a drugged up person who is 6'4" I have seen where male officers who were of adequite hight and weight get their asses kicked. If this is just to compete in the popularity contest that is the job market then this is a stupid cause. You can't force somebody to do something they don't want to do. It's called extortion and is illegal.
