Written by Isabella Pallotto ‘19 What we wear sends messages to others around us and influences how we are treated. Athletes wear team uniforms to develop a reputation and control messages sent to other teams and spectators. In addition to messages sent to others, a uniform outfit creates an environment of harmony, efficiency, team spirit, […]

Written by Emily Redler ’20 As discussed in a previous blog post , being physically attractive can be an advantage or disadvantage in hiring based on a multitude of factors. One factor is gender – often, being physically attractive can have opposite effects for men and women, with it helping men and hurting women (Shahani-Denning […]

Written by Isabella Pallotto ‘19 As mentioned in a previous blog post, cheerleaders face a unique risk for eating disorders based on revealing uniforms, weight requirements for stunting purposes, and aesthetic ideals that come with representing their school on national television. Like other athletes, cheerleaders are pressured by coaches to maintain a certain weight. A […]

Written by Emily Redler ’20 Physical factors can often influence whether or not a person gets hired. It’s been well-established that gender can be one of those factors, and that women are often hired at lower rates than men. Another factor that’s been explored in relation to hiring is weight. There are societal pressures to […]

Written by Isabella Pallotto ’19 Genetic and environmental factors are thought to contribute to eating disorders and disordered eating (Keery, van den Berg, & Thompson, 2004). Athletes, specifically in aesthetic sports such as figure skating or gymnastics, have been demonstrated to engage in more disordered eating than non-athletes, and researchers wanted to know if parents […]

Written by Emily Redler ’20 Hiring managers are meant to select applicants for jobs solely based on their qualifications. However, it’s been well established that this often isn’t the case. There are many subtle, unconscious factors that can influence a hiring manager’s decision – anything from the perfume the applicant is wearing to the applicant’s marital […]

Written by Isabella Pallotto ‘19 Eating disorders are thought to be partially influenced by family, peers, and the media. These influencers pressure individuals to be thin and to compare their appearance to others. However, do all family members have the same amount of influence? A 2008 study by Coomber and King examined 47 Australian sister […]

Written by Emily Redler ‘20 When you go in for an interview, there are many factors that can affect whether or not you get hired. Some of these factors may subconsciously affect your interviewer, and many of them are inherent – you can’t do anything to change them. Some examples of these factors include gender, […]

Written by Isabella Pallotto ‘19 Athletes receive more critical comments about their body than non-athletes since their bodies’ shape and weight are seen as a factor in sport performance (Muscat & Long, 2008). Additionally, athletes will receive critical comments from more sources than non-athletes. Non-athletes typically hear body criticism from parents, friends, and significant others […]

Written by Emily Redler ’20 Almost everyone uses fragrances in their daily routine, whether it be a perfume, a cologne, or a deodorant. Putting on a fragrance is a common practice, and most people don’t think twice about how it may subconsciously affect how they are perceived by others. Fragrances are often gendered and perceived […]