I completely agree with you. I have a long body (40"), but short legs (29"). Hence I am only 5'9". People's attitude towards me changes markedly when I sit down around a table with them: they treat me with more respect, because I tower over them.
Here in England, there are many ways in which short people are mocked in the media: for example Declan Curry, who presents the BBC Breakfast Time financial slot is often mocked by Dermot Mernaghan, the (tallish) lead presenter. Take 'Pride and Prejudice', on of the best-selling novels of all time, as another example: Mr. Collins, who is short, is made to look a ridiculous figure of fun. Mr. Bingley, who is taller, looks like he's going to get the girl. However Mr. Darcy, initially misunderstood, turns oout to be the richest, most successful, and most honourable guy, so he gets the girl in the end (and guess what, he's the tallest!)
I'm glad that I'm not the only onbe that feels this. I think it is high time that we all stood up and refused to take this any more. Let us organize marches and demonstrations, until we get legislation banning height discrimination. I mean this seriously! It worked for groups with other physical differences that they have no or little control over (disabled people, black people.) It worked for fat people, who do have control over their physical difference. Why shouldn't it work for us? Why is it any less outrageous that we should be discriminated against?!
You have a marvelous web site, always updated and so informative.
I am about to voice my opinion on an important matter most neglected . . . and that's the parents of rude children when they spot a very short adult.
I am a short statured female and do not enjoy the so called luxury of shopping in peace. The moment a child spots me, that's it. Though I call kids "brats", it is the parents who are at fault. They should instruct their children that there ar many different types of people, black, white, skinny, fat, tall and SHORT. When I have had enough of a kid, upon correcting them the parent will always say . . . "Well, he or she is only four". I let them know that is no excuse for rudeness on the part of their child. Sometimes I feel like swatting the little brat, however I amd certain that I would hate prison food. Just joking.
It is bang on I deal with so much bullshit in my life, I just wish there was something I could do about my height. I assume you have checked out all those hormone drugs as well? I doubt they work which is probably the sad reality . . .
We should all get together and start a riot for our rights, I mena the blacks and gays did it, why cant' we?
I just wanted to comment about your essay you wrote on Heightism. I found it very helpful, and i know how it feels to be discriminated against. I'm lucky to live in a little city, and my friends respect me for who i am even though they're all taller than me. My best friend is actually a foot taller haha, but I've known him since grade six. It would be nice to hear back from you, I don't have time to type more tonight, got school in the morning and it's 12 am here. So I hope to hear back from you.
Hi, I read your article on height discrimination It is excellent and there are very good points in there. The Dos and Don'ts are very good to! Thank you for the article. All the best to you and in whatever you do
Thank you for your note and information.I am tall enough, but still shorter at 5' 7" that I have had my share of problems,
mostly in my youth. I am 71 now and retired so I don't have trouble.but I know some short fellows who do.people
stare at them, won't talk to them and kids who are taller are rude!your
site willgive encouragement and help so
thank you for letting us know of it!
I've read your "Heightism - The Last Bastion of Discrimination" over and over again. I believe you are right in everything you've stated. Everything is true, most things I already had noticed about the mistreatment of short people, but some I found to be new to me and it intrigued me to keep reading over and over.
I'm a fifteen year old boy who has been going through some rough times at school lately (well..not lately, more like since I started school 11 years ago about) I'm in the 9th grade, and I'm 5'1" about. Now, this height may be not considered "short" to some, but at 15 it really sucks. My best friends look down upon me physically and mentally. I'm often insulted, mistreated, and discouraged throughout my usual day. I haven't found much violence though, but there has been multiple times where i've been called weak just because I am short and have been beat up because of it, nothing real bad though, its just really discouraging.
The most happens with this though....number 25 on your Do's list. "25. Do watch and see how taller others are treated in comparison with you (words, tone of voice, actions, facial expressions, etc.)" I've seen this EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE since I was 10 years old. Heres an example: I play 4 instruments, Trombone, Guitar, Piano, and Harmonica (i sing also). I know alot about music, how to read music, different genres, etc. So one day 2 of my friends are talking about..oh lets say Led Zeppelin. Now, i've listened to every single Led Zeppelin album made up to this date. I've listened to them for many years (well, many for a kid my age). And when I hear my two tall friends talking about Led Zeppelin, naturally, I want to join in the conversation. So I join in by stating my opinion, and all of the sudden i'm being told I don't know anything about Led Zeppelin. One friend then states his opinion, he is not scorned like I was, he was well treated and told his opinion was cool. Noone thought anything of it but me, its usually that way.
Whenever I say their not treating me right, they ask for multiple examples, as if I know all of them on the top of my head. When i do come up with examples, they deny it and I can never be treated with equal respect.
I just wanted to give you some good feedback and just wanted to say you've really helped me. I know i'm not the worst case of this "short stature" but i've become depressed over it. Someday I believe that people will catch sight of the lack of acknowledgement us short people get. One day it'll be better, we just have to wait it out and fight I suppose.
Thank you so much for "Heightism - The Last Bastion of Discrimination", it has really helped.
I read ur essay on short person. I really feel very releived and enlightened after reading it. as I too belong to the category of short people. I residing in India. Most popular form of descrimination people use for short people is laughing on them. I m really impressed, the way u have categorised others reaction towards short people. I m really enthused to form a group or organisation sort for such people. I may need ur help.I u can consider me as a friend then pls reply.
Hi, just wanted to congratulate you on your essay,although it was written from an American point of view, all of the points raised apply to the United Kingdom,except that here the slights/insults are usually more subtle. I am sure the Napolean complex originated here as a counter to the common British soldier having a great deal of respect for their adversary during the Napoleanic war, the US did a very similiar thing referring to dirty little nips during WW11,
I just wanted to tell you personally how much I enjoyed your essay on short discrimination. It was a real wake-up call to me, and I think it is to anyone who'd read it. I'm a really short female and people are always telling me how tiny I am, as if I don't already know that. I've always been smaller than almost everybody else and a lot of my life has been hell because of it. I'm 20, but I've had people tell me I look 14 since I also look young. I've had people who don't know me and just met me actually REFUSE to believe I could possibly be 20 years old. I'm really thin also, and people pick on me about all this. It seems I get comments everywhere I go. Most of the time, I've always just tried to dismiss it, but lately it seems like it's happening more and more and to tell you the truth I'm getting really sick of it. But you're right; nobody takes it seriously or cares. I know that short people are discriminated. I even heard somewhere that short people, on average, make less money than taller people. That really made me mad. And something should be done to fight back. But I don't know what to do. If there is any way you could tell me what I can do in my community, I'd really appreciate it. Anything would be helpful.
I enjoyed your essay, though extreme at certain points. I agreed with most all of it. I found the Do's and Donts something I especially agreed with. Heightism is something I have really noticed lately. My girlfriends parents have told her I am too short and she is taller then me, ( I happen to be about 2 inches taller then her.) I am the president of my youth group and have really noticed the lack of respect and following of my authority, and have noticed it tends to relate to my short stature. Although I have become president, there were many jokes about being the shortest president, and about there should be a size limit and all the usual jokes. I have observed and really really noticed my lack of respect comes from my size. My size has hurt me in most sports (sans wrestling) and I am made fun of for not being good at sports like football and basketball. I wonder why I am not good at those sports. Being short has shot down many of my dreams, being an airforce pilot, being a professional wrestler ( sounds childish but it is one of my passions and I am not the sterotypical viewer.) But the catalyst was undoubtly my girl friends parents. I always have stuck up for shorter people, and probably have been a bit unfair by making more oppurtunities for those who are short, especially in my youth group. But I really have noticed most of what you said in that essay.
I have done what I can, I have worked out and made myself stronger then many people much taller then me, and I wrestle. When I run into people in the hall ways of school I am the one to make them move out of the way. I try to use my size to my advantage as much as possible. But it still is the one thing that kills my self esteem more then anything, and my size is the most and first noticed thing about me. I feel like it will never be completely overcom-able (is that a word?) Ether way I will be fighting for the rights of shorter people always.
I do what I can at 5'1, and at 17 I expect to grow no more. But I will do my best with what I have, and I will not let myself be a victim of heightism.
