I was cancelled for being too old and fat
I’ve been sitting on this one for a while because, even 12 months later, I wasn’t exactly sure how I felt about it.
Then, earlier today, I read a story of a woman who had been consistently turned down for jobs seemingly because she was larger than other candidates.
Because she was brave, now I am.
Late last year, I was booked for a speaking gig for an organisation that I had not expected to book me. They are one of those “inspo” groups where everyone is beautiful, fit, under 40, immaculately dressed, constantly posting like models on Instagram, and white. But I’m an expert at what I do, so I get some unexpected gigs here and there.
The week leading up to the event, I was contacted by the event coordinator to say that the event wasn’t going ahead because of several reasons. Ok, I thought, it’s a pandemic, people are missing way more work than I am. Chin-up. Move on.
But I learned later, that the event did, in fact, go ahead.
I had been replaced by someone half my age, less than half my weight, 10 times my volume of hair and able to pull off a stunning size 10 halter-neck dress.
Someone who would look amazing and on-brand in the event photos.
For the first time, I had lost work because of what I looked like.
And yes, I know. One white, overweight, balding, middle-aged cis male got rejected. It’s hardly earth-shattering stuff considering the women, transgendered, people of colour, differently-abled and “not quite the right cultural fit” people who lose work again and again because of how they look.
While it stung for a moment, I replaced it with other work within a few hours. It took me being rejected, because I’m too old and fat, to finally know what it feels like to be rejected for my looks. And it sucks.
So for the sake of others who don’t have the privilege of being able to just find another gig, let’s just call this crap out when we see it happening. It’s just not right.
Dante St James is the founder of Clickstarter, a Facebook Blueprint Certified Lead Trainer, a Community Trainer with Facebook Australia, a digital advisor with Treeti Business Consulting, an accredited ASBAS Digital Solutions advisor and presenter, and the editor at The Small Marketer. You can watch free 1-hour webinars and grow your digital skills at Dante’s YouTube Channel.
