Does Size Matter?

      Much has been written and discussed about 'sizeism'.  It is discussed in Chapter Two, Systems of Privilege and Inequality, of our text and again in Chapter Five, The "Beauty" Ideal, and Love Your Fat Self with regard to weight.  While I cannot disagree with these notions, there is another aspect of sizeism that may have been overlooked, that being height, or the lack thereof.  There are many reasons why this is an issue we need to recognize.

       In general, females are smaller in body size than males. It's genetic, it's in our DNA.  To a man who believes his physically larger size entitles him to superiority over a woman, it is easy to see how sexual domination and oppression, both in the emotional and physical realm, can evolve in a relationship. Height is viewed as a positive feature while shortness is seen as a negative one   in other aspects of our society.       

      There is a culturally unspoken underlying disrespect for short people.  Prejudice toward individuals who are 'vertically challenged' [a popular euphemism for shortness] is ubiquitous in other aspects of our society.   Shortness can be a source for bullying behavior among children and teenagers, especially toward short boys.  Various studies reveal prospective employers prefer taller individuals who commonly  are chosen for hire over shorter people. In the United States, statistics demonstrate that in presidential elections, the taller candidate usually wins.  On a personal level, there are instances when I have  been overlooked waiting in line for service while someone taller [and/or male] is offered assistance, literally, over my head.  I was particularly appalled when I experienced this quite recently in Cafe Rachel.

      With regard to the heteroabnormality of extreme shortness known as dwarfism, Rosie O'Donnell, was quoted recently on her show as saying to Chelsea Handler,  'I'm a little ashamed about it but I have a mild fear or anxiety around little people.'  Rosie, a card-carrying lesbian, a member of an oppressed segment of our society, says she is afraid of them, while Chelsea loves them.  Both Handler and O'Donnell have become a big issue for Little People of America [LPA], a support group for Americans of short stature due to dwarfism.  LPA has problems with both O'Donnell and Handler [who also used pity rhetoric in discussing the topic], but has a bigger issue with Rosie because she attributes her feelings to heredity.  "My Nana was afraid of the Wizard Of Oz munchkins."  LPS spokeswoman, Leah Smith say the comedian is perpetuating fear-based attitudes and suggests we should, instead, learn how to accept differences.

      We need to address these issues and open up to recognizing all facets and forms of sizeism, before it bleeds over into another category of discrimination and oppression and becomes a disability.