Victory for high-impact aerobics instructor
A 240 lb. aerobics instructor in San Francisco won her discrimination case against Jazzercise. Their "fit appearance" requirement violates San Francisco's "short and fat" law.
A semivegetarian who stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall and wears size 16 to 18, Portnick had been doing high-impact aerobics for 15 years.
Last spring, her Jazzercise teacher was so impressed by her stamina and ability that she invited Portnick to audition to become a Jazzercise certified instructor.
But a company manager said Portnick would have to develop "a more fit appearance."
Yay for a victory against fat discrimination, a very real problem. Portnick obviously has a high level of cardio fitness, and the case demonstrates that the 'fit appearance' rule had everything to do with appearance and nothing to do with fitness, that there isn't one fit appearance.
Boo for the inevitable use of this story as evidence that there is absolutely no correlation between carrying any degree of fat and any negative health consequences whatsoever, which belief I consider another very real problem.
=v= What the hoohaw is a "semivegetarian," anyway?
Posted by Jym on May 8 2002 11:26
=v= Wait, I figured it out: a "semivegetarian" is sorta like a vegan whose diet includes cod liver oil.
Posted by Jym on May 10 2002 14:30
He is not fit to command others that cannot command himself...
Posted by Joan on June 14 2004 15:29