by Wayne Leon Learmond

Created on: September 19, 2009   Last Updated: September 21, 2009

There is a conundrum here, the prejudice that follows a woman in this world, if she is plus size {overweight}, is alarming. The prejudice is rife and runs within the very heart of society. Indeed, if this prejudice were aimed at any other person in society due to the colour of their skin, or their nationality, then it would be stamped on and people would not put up with it, and rightly so. But because a woman is plus-size people think that they can get away with saying anything they like, staring at her as if she were something from another planet. The prejudice that big women - and indeed men, face - is a national disgrace.

And this type of ignorance goes on day after day, nothing is made for the benefit of the person who happens to be larger in size: Seats are too narrow, on public transport, if you want to go to an amusement park the majority of rides you cannot go on simply because, again, the seats are too small - or the rides do not accommodate people of a certain weight. People laugh and joke behind your back, snickering to their friends as they whisper at the fat person in front of them.

When you are big you become adept at picking up all the negative comments and snickers. Your senses are heightened simply because you are more aware of the prejudice around you. This prejudice even hits you in the face in the town centre, indeed, the majority of business within the town centre might as well tell you not to shop here, because they do not cater for fat people - one could not put it more bluntly than that. The clothes are all standard - and might as well fit a stick insect. The frustration of walking from shop to shop, in the vain and desperate hope that something you like and desire to buy is going to fit you is heartbreaking. I have been there, and experienced this first hand, as my wife is - and has always been - overweight.

I have seen her struggle from shop to shop, looking desperately for something that would fit. I have seen the despair on her face as the item of clothing she likes and has picked up to place against her body is too small for her frame. Oh she has had the money to pay for it, but believe me, her frustration was, and is borne out daily, with her money staying firmly within her purse. And this prejudice, because that is what it is, is played out day after day after day. It is as if the Fashion Industry is absolutely blind to the fact that large women exist, {not to mention men}. In the world of the Fashion Industry { which I believe

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