RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Obesity, Attractiveness, and Differential Treatment in Hiring
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 710
OP 735
DO 10.3368/jhr.44.3.710
VO 44
IS 3
A1 Rooth, Dan-Olof
YR 2009
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/44/3/710.abstract
AB This study presents evidence of differential treatment in the hiring of obese individuals in the Swedish labor market. Fictitious applications were sent to real job openings. The applications were sent in pairs, where one facial photo of an otherwise identical applicant was manipulated to show the individual as obese. Applications sent with the weight-manipulated photo had a significantly lower callback response for an interview: Six percentage points lower for men and eight percentage points lower for women. This differential treatment occurs differently for men and women: The results for men are driven by attractiveness, while the results for women are driven by obesity.