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Weight-Based Discrimination in the Italian Labor Market: an Analysis of the Interaction with Gender and Ethnicity

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  • Giovanni Busetta

    (University of Messina)

  • Maria Gabriella Campolo

    (University of Messina)

  • Demetrio Panarello

    (University of Udine)

Abstract

Access to the Italian job market is undermined by several kinds of discrimination influencing the opportunities for individuals to obtain a job. In this study, we analyze together the impact of three of the most relevant kinds of discrimination operating in the Italian labor market: gender, race, and weight. Our aim is to assess whether gender and race either increase or decrease the impact of weight-based discrimination. In this respect, we submit a set of fictitious résumés including photos of either obese or thin applicants in response to real online job offers. Our results indicate that the strongest kind of discrimination operating in the Italian labor market is the one connected to the candidate’s geographical origin. Moreover, we find discrimination based on body weight to be more relevant within immigrants than within natives, and gender gap appears to be higher within the obese candidates’ group compared to the normal-weight candidates’ one. This last result is particularly relevant, as the growing rates of obesity forecasted for the next years could in turn produce an increase in the gender gap, which in Italy is already massive.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni Busetta & Maria Gabriella Campolo & Demetrio Panarello, 2020. "Weight-Based Discrimination in the Italian Labor Market: an Analysis of the Interaction with Gender and Ethnicity," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 18(4), pages 617-637, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joecin:v:18:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s10888-020-09456-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10888-020-09456-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Ping Li & Xiaozhou Chen & Qi Yao, 2021. "Body Mass and Income: Gender and Occupational Differences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-20, September.
    3. L'Horty, Yannick & Mahmoudi, Naomie & Petit, Pascale & Wolff, François-Charles, 2022. "Is disability more discriminatory in hiring than ethnicity, address or gender? Evidence from a multi-criteria correspondence experiment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 303(C).
    4. Nesseler, Cornel & Gomez-Gonzalez, Carlos & Parshakov, Petr & Dietl, Helmut, 2023. "Examining discrimination against Jews in Italy with three natural field experiments," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    5. Antonio Pacifico, 2023. "Obesity and labour market outcomes in Italy: a dynamic panel data evidence with correlated random effects," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 24(4), pages 557-574, June.
    6. Laura Pagani & Demetrio Panarello, 2022. "Evaluation of a program for promoting physical activity and well-being: Friuli Venezia Giulia in Movimento," METRON, Springer;Sapienza Università di Roma, vol. 80(1), pages 97-120, April.
    7. Vlad I. Rosca & Georgiana-Virginia Bonea, 2024. "Paving the way: migrant women's perceptions and experiences regarding gender-based discrimination on the Romanian labor market," Journal of Community Positive Practices, Catalactica NGO, issue 2, pages 27-50.
    8. Fazio, Andrea & Giaccherini, Matilde, 2024. "Weight, Stigma, and Attitudes toward Immigrants," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1470, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    9. Schaerer, Michael & du Plessis, Christilene & Nguyen, My Hoang Bao & van Aert, Robbie C.M. & Tiokhin, Leo & Lakens, Daniël & Giulia Clemente, Elena & Pfeiffer, Thomas & Dreber, Anna & Johannesson, Mag, 2023. "On the trajectory of discrimination: A meta-analysis and forecasting survey capturing 44 years of field experiments on gender and hiring decisions," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    10. Giovanni Busetta & Fabio Fiorillo & Giulio Palomba, 2021. "The impact of attractiveness on job opportunities in Italy: a gender field experiment," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 38(1), pages 171-201, April.

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