National Organization for Women-New York State Applauds TV Anchor Jennifer Livingston

ALBANY, NY (10/04/2012)(readMedia)-- NOW-New York States Says "Love Your Body!"

The National Organization for Women-New York State salutes Jennifer Livingston, TV Anchor of La Crosse, Wisconsin's WKBT News 8 This Morning, for her response to a viewer's recent outrageous attack on her appearance.

NOW-NYS President Marcia Pappas congratulates Livingston for the "powerful response" Livingston and her husband (fellow news anchor Mike Thompson) posted on the station's Facebook page.

Livingston explained: "That man's words mean nothing to me, but what really angers me about this is there are children who don't know better - who get emails as critical as the one I received or in many cases, even worse, each and every day."

Pappas said that every year the National Organization for Women sponsors a "Love Your Body" day for women and girls. http://loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org/gettalking.html

She says "the first step in moving beyond unrealistic body and beauty standards is to get talking about the common themes found in media images of women. We must encourage all people to think critically about the images they see every day. Discrimination against larger people in not acceptable and we must fight it."

Fact Sheet: Size Discrimination info provided by National NOW

People who are larger than average encounter discriminatory attitudes and are denied equal opportunity in many areas of their lives.

Overweight and obese women have lower incomes ($6,700 a year less) and higher rates of poverty (ten percent higher) than their non-obese peers.

Studies show that overweight and obese students, especially girls, are less likely than the non-obese to be accepted by the more competitive colleges.

Overweight students are more likely to be refused letters of recommendation from faculty members.

Overweight people are not hired as often as those of average size, are not promoted as often, and are paid less than thinner counterparts.

In Pappas' words "we should all put pressure on companies that discriminate against overweight people or force employees into weight-loss programs. We should fight accessibility problems in restaurants, theaters, airplanes, etc., and promote school programs that teach tolerance and non-violence. Overweight kids should not be harassed, put on diets, or denied food. And we should challenge fat jokes."