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Everything King: I don’t know if you’ve ever been made to feel 'less than' but I have

There seems to be two kinds of discrimination that society still accepts and lets morons get away with — age and weight
toes pedicure nail polish stock

I am getting increasingly concerned that all civility in society is almost completely lost.

I recently heard about a story out of Tennessee that stunned me. I thought it must’ve been “fake news” as so many reports are called these days or at least a singular incident. 

Then, I researched a bit more and found similar stories in several U.S. states in recent years. I didn’t find anything similar reported in Canada but I fear it likely has.

Here’s the story:

A woman had gotten a manicure/pedicure at a nail salon. She’d been there before. This time when she was paying there was an extra $5 charge. When she questioned it, she was told there was an added charge for being obese.

There was even a sign.

“Sorry but if you are overweight, pedicures will be $45 due to service fees for pedicurists”

Listen, I have spent a lifetime worrying about how much my various body parts weigh. I hadn’t thought to fret about my toenails — until now. Do they think it takes more nail polish or something? Aren’t toenail sizes basically the same? Do big feet take more water in the soaker sink? Are more towels needed?

Upon further questioning the salon operator said the extra charge is because extra weight can damage the salon chairs and they are expensive to repair so anyone “extremely overweight” is charged extra.

I think, at that point, had I been there, I might have suggested what they could do with their chairs and preferably they should do it sideways!

There seems to be two kinds of discrimination that society still accepts and lets morons get away with — age and weight. Both disgust me!

Aside from being a horrible business practice — it is horrible, period.

That kind of mean spiritedness would have brought me to my knees and kept me away from a nail salon forever after. More than making me angry it makes me so sad. The message is “you’re not good enough. You don’t deserve to be pampered or to feel special.” 

I’d go as far as to say the message is “pretty nails aren’t going to do YOU any good because you’re fat.”

I don’t know if you’ve ever been made to feel “less than” but I have.  When you feel so badly about yourself sometimes you cling to anything that will give you a little lift.  Sometimes it may be a new haircut or a cup of coffee out at a café or a manicure. Something so simple can be a lifeline.

Some policy so cruel can be a dagger to your heart.

It makes me want to protest but mostly it makes me want to have a good cry. However, after the cry, I will take my ample butt down to a nail salon, hop up on the massaging chair and power it up, and request the brightest red nail polish they have. 

Heck, add some sparkles. 

Go ahead and charge me extra for THAT but not for my weight.


About the Author: Wendy King

Wendy King writes about all kinds of things from nutrition to the job search from cats to clowns — anything and everything — from the ridiculous to the sublime. Watch for Wendy's column weekly.
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