So What If I'm Short?
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Hmm... / Life

By Alexandra Smith, Journalist


I
have finally been weirded out with society’s secret obsession with height. Unfortunately, I too am guilty - very guilty. I guess I should start off with the fact that I am 5’4, well maybe I’m closer to 5’3. But I am not shorter than that! How tall (or short) you are can affect aspects of your life that should be independent from your aesthetics, but that is not always the case. Let me share my issues with height. Beware - they used to be pretty deep!


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It started when I was really young, probably 6 or 7. I shared a dream like every young girl, and that dream was to be a model. I know, pretty sad, but it only lasted for a short time. I got up the guts to tell my parents that and knew they were going to be against it. They told me the sugarcoated version of why I would never be a model. “Honey, you are beautiful but you are not going to be tall enough” was pretty much what they said. Right then and there I knew I wanted to be tall. Every child wants what he or she can’t have so it really makes perfect sense.

I got over wanting to be tall after 4 years, then it started all over again! It would also be appropriate to tell you that some of my family is absolutely obsessed with height. This special someone (not my mom or dad) has pretty much tormented me and everyone else with this special topic. Anyway, I had become a very serious tennis player. At that time, I wanted to become a pro which again was foolish. Anyone who follows tennis knows that the women are Amazons. Few pros are shorter than 5’8. No way in hell was I going to be that tall! So, I did what any resourceful person would do.

I had found these products that were supposed to be make you grow. I thought I might have stumbled onto miracle growth enhancers on the World Wide Web. I was so excited! Maybe, I would grow into a giant! Now, I was only 11 at the time, so there was no way I could afford these things, so I asked for them for Christmas. What I discoverd in my stocking that year might freak some people out, but I couldn’t have been happier. I received vitamins with the right potency to make you grow. I also received a book on exercises that would stretch you out to the last possible inch your body is capable of. Also, how could I forget the torture foot pads. They were foot pads that you put in your shoe that had a 3-inch triangle in your arch area. Needless to say, they hurt like hell! I used these products for about half a year, and when I saw no difference I did the American thing -I quit!

However, I did not give up hope. There was one last resort I had to try and that was God. Yes, I did have issues. So, I started praying every night to grow 5 inches. He must not have heard me. Throughout this whole time I dealt with the torture of everyone telling my younger sister how tall she was getting! I was dreading the day when she would pass me. The day turned out not to be that bad. It was actually kind of a relief. I stopped standing on my tiptoes in pictures and just got over the fact that I wasn’t going to be tall. My sister is now 5’7 and never forgets to remind me that she is taller. In my humble opinion, I think she has a severe inferiority complex with me, and that is the only thing she has over me. Maybe that’s not so humble, but who cares!

Most people probably don’t understand this obsession but most still facilitate unconsciously. Did you know that almost all CEO’s are over 6’0. No, that does not mean that height makes you a more capable person. It just illustrates that humans, no matter how advanced, are still animals. The taller you are the better suited you are. Whatever! However, this mindset pervades most people’s psyche. In fact, tall people have higher salaries than shorter people of the same job and capabilities. Totally unfair! Maybe I was right to want to be taller.

I have to admit, though, I am just glad to be a short girl and not a short guy. They have it a lot rougher. At least I can wear heels! Let’s take a moment to thank God for heels. Heels really are miracles. Unfortunately for guys, the platform shoes are out right now. Who knows, though. They could come back eventually. Until then, we short people can stick together and cheer on the other shrimps!

I have never really been a fan of any celebrity, but I got to admit I definitely cheer on the shorter athletes, models, and even actors! You go Amanda Coetzer and Kate Moss! There is truly a role model for everyone.

I do not expect to change your subconscious, but maybe you can be more aware of your prejudices on height. If you have children, I suggest instilling in them that looks are superficial so you can avoid seriously afflicted kids that drive you nuts. My parents tried, but it never really got through. For the record: Not all short people are as psychotic as me.




AUTHOR: Alexandra Smith

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pearly




pearly says on 2008-08-22 18:25:05 about being short
I like the article and everything rings true to me has well.Having a twin sister and being shorter than her doesnt right true but it is.My mum used to measure our heights every year on our birthday.At the start it turned out she was bigger in weight and length to me.I apparently didnt get much nutirients inside.Now when we started school together Trisha was like 4 ins taller and alway proud about it.She was always showing off saying how much taller she was.She continued to grow has she got older i never got a chance to catch up.I had some good friends who were also quite short and i tend to keep with them.When we had a height check before we went ot high school it turned out Trisha was a whole 6 ins taller than me.Mum took me to the doctors to check me out he said that i was gonna be a slow grower and if i am lucky i may reach 5'0.Now i was 14 yrs old and my growth spurt was rather slow i stopped growing at 16 yrs old with a height of 4'10 Trisha was 5'6 a full 8 ins taller even to this day she will mention my height and say things about me.WE live and learn i suppose just accept what we have and use it.






moonfire




moonfire says on 2008-08-08 15:34:09 about height
I have this same complex. Not only am I only 5'4", but small boned so the guys reject me for the not only taller, but THICKER women!!! P****S me off!!! They also look at me as delicate and unable to defend myself, so they don't take me seriously. So I act tough and rude with aggressive gestures to make myself look bigger and tougher. Nobody in my family is as small as me and I hate it.






meli




meli says on 2008-08-06 11:35:19 about height
yah i feel the same way! I used to really want to be a model for the longest time and i just will never be tall enough. I am 5'' which probably beats every one one a shortness level. i am short. but ive found guys like to be talling then girls and that its easier to get around. im less clumsy then tall people. people who are short will one day rule!






:S




:S says on 2008-07-04 10:27:24 about Height
I'm 16 and I'm 4'11 too, there are a lot of people in Indonesia with this height and even shorter...

The official height of being a midget is 4'10 but there are people shorter than that that have proportional bodies here.

so don't feel too bad.

I want to be tall too and yes I suppose it's hard, I dread going overseas where I'm positive people will tower over me.

But this discussion has made me feel better knowing that I'm not alone.

Now I REALLY want to reach at LEAST 5'2 !!!

I never did really pray, but I guess I'll give it a shot.

I'll pray for all you people too :D






The reble




The reble says on 2008-05-23 08:27:53 about being short
Being short used to be a problem when i was younger but has we all grow up lol lol it does get abit easier.Take it from me.Now being 45 yrs old i have taken alot of hassle being short and male.My height used to be 4'11 i just couldnt make it 5'0 which was a shame.The point is that i was measured for work about 3 months ago to be told i was 4'10.Now either i have always thought i was 4'11 or i am shrinking boo hoo.Now i didnt expect to be a giant has my mum was 5'1 and dad 5'0.My 2 sisters are all younger than me and their heights are Janine 29 yrs old and 5'3, Julieann 32 yrs old and 5'2, then Marie 37 yrs old she is 5'5.I have 2 brothers Michael he is 40 yrs old and 5'0 then there is Richard 42 yrs old he is 5'2.Okay so i am only a couple of ins shorter than my family.Being young i was alway saying to my family why i didnt get to be over 5'0 like all of them but after noticing that we were all mainly short anyway did matter in the end.I remember having my great grandmother around and thinking what a great woman she was has being a rather short person she had so much respect from us all.I remember she was around 4'10 up till she died before she went into hospital she had lost quite abit of height by the end i remember her to this day she was the only person shorter than me which i wasnt proud of she ended up around 4'8.She used to tell me stories and say about her life growing up.She told me about a wedding she went to one of her brothers and she was quite abit shorter than everyone and one of her grandchildren mentioned her height to which she wasnt too pleased has the remark was not too nice in the first place.Her comeback was pretty good and put her grandchild in her place.So no matter how hard life gets there are always people worse off than you.






haley<3




haley<3 says on 2008-04-25 15:16:44 about wanting to grow taller
i am 13 years old and im 4'9 the doctors say im going to be 4'11 but i wanna be taller and i have the best boyfriend in the world and im scared because of my height he will dump me for a taller prettier girl. my mom is 5'2 my dad is only 5'5 and i have a little sister who is 11 shes 4'8 but yet shes going to be taller then me it sucks but when my mom was younger she was told tht she was only gonna be like 4'11 but now shes 5'2 hopefully i grow taller! and i have the dream of being a SCENE model lol i know really weird but yea if tht doesnt work out i want to be a singer. the thing is in this world theres this fasination with tall people and tht they are the ones who can only be leader and have bigger hearts they get all teh guys and the money its retarded! i wanna grow taller so if nayone knows a medicine tht they have tried and it actaully makes u grow please email me at : haleycakes468@yahoo.com






Brint




Brint says on 2008-04-18 21:43:44 about Height problem
im 18 but im only 5'7" and EVERYWHERE i go people think that im 13 or 12, For a woman that height is tall and good, but for a guy its so annoying and i wish i could grow just a little bit more... 3 more inches, that would be perfect. Its really annoying because mostly everyone else is 5'11" and up, i feel stuck like im a little kid. I heard that men stop growing at age 21 and im a late bloomer so im crossing my fingers, but my parents are around 5'9" and 5'5" so im sure thats just wishfull thinking. Anyone know if drinking milk and playing basketball will help? Cause if not, please tell me so i can stop wasting my time.






jessica




jessica says on 2008-04-14 08:33:01 about being short
I am a short student at collage i am 19 now and i stopped growing when i was 10 yrs old.I know when because i was in primary school and still the shortest in class.I had reached 4'8 age 10 now being 19 yrs old, i was measured when we did a project at secondary school i ages and sizes it was.I was 16 yrs old and measured at 4'10 with shoes on that wasnt too bad i thought then people had to take their shoes off we had to stand near our first marks and i turned out at 4'8.Has soon has it was finished i put my shoes on straight away has i was shocked at our short i was compared to my class.The nearest was 5'2 and she stressed about her height has well.I used to say just be grateful for what you have.I mean you have a good 6 ins on me.Some people went like AAHH aint she cute whereas some was very rude.Like quite put your shoes on before you disappear.Out of the boys they where rather taller than the girls and they didnt have to take their shoes off to do it.I noticed that there were 4 boys shorter than the rest.I hadnt taken any notice till this task came.The poor boys measured upin who was the oldest to youngest in class and then the height.The four shorter boys were embarrassed has 2 of them were actually the oldest in class and about a over a foot shorter.The other 2 were youngest in class.Now these 4 boys always hung around together has they were good friends anyway.The boys were like bookends 2 were 4'10 and then 4'11.When we had an end of school disco there were 2 boys could get a date with a girl has they were knocked back.I was asked out by Justin who was 4'10.He explainned how his mum had to alter the suit he bought.The other guy was with a girl who was around 5'5.We let the other 2 guys hand with us.I was also kind enough to dance with them has well has Justin.
Being a collage was very daunting has i hadnt seen Justin for 2 years then he was on a course at the same collage.I knew him straight away has i went to talk to him i was still wearing my 2in shoes and Justin was now exactly has he was.He didnt grow another inch after school so he stayed at 4'10.It was nice to see him has we were still eye to eye with eachother lol lol.
We are still great friends.Justin's 3 other friends managed to grow abit taller they are 5'2 5'6 and 5'7.Poor Justine didnt grow but to me he is great has he is.






Mike




Mike says on 2008-04-14 08:03:01 about being short
Being short is the pits especially when even your own younger sister is taller.Being 22 yrs old and 4'9.5 i couldnt even make it to 4'10 unless i have shoes on.My sister is 18 yrs old and 5'6.I got my height from my mum has she is 5'0 and dad is 5'7.Even now i am the one mentioning my height has it still gets me down.My friends think it funny me being shorter than my mum and sister.My sister is always told she look alot older .Whereas i am always looking younger.I cant go to a club with the bouncers asking my age.Sometimes when i am turned away my friends stay in the club.I would love to be at least my mum's height i mean 5'0 isnt too much to ask for is it.If i could have had treatment i would have i mean my body is the size of like 10 yrs old who always point this out.My cousin is 18 and he is 6'2 i dont know know what happened to me in the height gene.Can anyone spare any inches for me lol lol sorry for moaning but it is annoying.






mini me




mini me says on 2008-04-10 15:29:09 about so what if i am short
I a short female my height is 4'7.I knew i wouldnt be a giant has my dad is 5'7 and mum is 4'11.I have a younger sister who is 5'5 and a younger brother who is 5'8.I am 35 yrs old now and being 3 yrs older than my sister and 5 yrs older than my brother.I just didnt expect them to grow that taller than me.I always thought that being the oldest would be the taller one or that my brother would be taller which was fair enough.I remember growing up and my relatives would always point out that my sister and brother were getting taller.It always made me feel quite bad and i would go off in a huff.My sister would always say dont take any notice of what they are saying.I couldnt handle having to always look up to my sister when we spoke or went anywhere.I was always thought to be the youngest when we went out.The last time we went to a club together i would wear my shoes with about 3 ins on them so it still didnt take me to 5'0 i was always around 4'10.My sister when she wore her shoes she was about 5'8.When i was a teenager i used to always wear shoes indoors to give me a little height.I was in good company when it came to our height has mum used to be such a help has she was always rather shorter than alot of people.I have a nan who is 4'10 tall but she did start out at 5'0 she is now 90 yrs old.I also have a grandad who is 4'9 now he started out at 4'11.






dan




dan says on 2008-03-22 04:48:11 about short
i'm 5'9..i'm an indian...so i'm not short...infact i'm tall for an indian....but it really feels bad when i see myself..i mean i used to be a tall kid but i havent grown since i was 15....feels bad...






Eva