By Tan Yan Qi (26S06M)
The average height of females globally is 160 cm.
In Singapore, it’s a little lower, at 158.9 cm.
Me? I stand at a mighty height of half of three meters tall (it seems taller when you put it that way).
For as long as I can remember, I have always been one of the shortest, if not the shortest in my class. My place during photo taking sessions welcomes me every year as I take the walk of shame to the head of the line. Every height and weight measurement is a war against gravity as I naively straighten myself as much as possible, as if a measly extra 0.5 cm would strip away my label of being short.
The worst part is, I never had a chance. A trip to the pediatrician when I was but a young child crushed all remaining hopes of me ever being “average”. As a young, innocent, naive me read the “predicted maximum height of 155 cm” on my growth chart, I was in awe at the possibility of growing so much.
If only I knew back then how much trouble that number would bring me.
Why is being short even an insult?
Height has often been associated with power and status in history. In prehistoric times, having a taller and larger build were common traits of better hunters. In medieval time periods, portraits of nobility were often exaggerated to make them seem taller and broader, asserting their dominance over commoners.
The value that society places on “tallness” translates to language in a similar way. The phrase “to be placed on a pedestal”, meaning to idolise or revere something as important, has the physical meaning of elevating its height. In contrast, to “belittle” is to dismiss the importance of something or someone.
With this height bias ingrained into our lives, it is no doubt then that being tall has become associated with a multitude of favorable qualities, such as confidence, competency and leadership. On the flip side, shortness is often—and unfairly—associated with weakness, immaturity and submissiveness.
Despite society’s progression past the need for physical strength, some things still stay the same. Like how size translates to worth—because more has to be better, right?
The short-comings of being short
The problems that come with being short go far beyond the physical limitations of height. It is the concepts that are associated with height, and the relentless teasing that comes with the lack of it that is frustrating.
- Trust me, we know
When asked about one thing he wished people would stop doing to him, Anders Choo (26S02B) (164 cm) answers, “[I wish that people would stop] saying that I’m short. I already know that.”
The sentiment is not solely his own. Somehow, being short is the only thing tall people notice about us. Or maybe, the easiest thing to see. As if we had no other qualities to us other than our body’s inability to grow.
It might be funny the first time, but having heard the same thing over and over again for years, I think it’s about time to change up your tactics. If you want to poke fun at us, try being a little more creative.
- Short hence feisty
“[I wish people would stop] thinking I’m a Y1.”
Anonymous , 162 cm male student
Being short means that you are immediately subject to infantilisation. I’ve been asked whether I needed a kids’ menu by a waitress (in all seriousness), and trust me, it’s not a pleasant experience to explain to people that I’m seventeen.
It is unavoidable that people associate age with height, a huge marker of growth. But the issue is that when one has already made their age known, people continue to see them as a younger person and treat them as such. It may simply seem like a joke to some, but having that image can have negative consequences, such as a perceived superiority or not treating their words seriously.
The stereotype of “short but feisty” is a result of the unavoidable infantilisation. I think it should be renamed to “short hence feisty”, since the truth is that they have had to assert themselves more aggressively to make up for their lack of height. Yet, even this stereotype is reductive, downplaying their feelings to a child’s tantrum.
- Tall in front, Taller behind
“I would rather tip toe than be pushed to the front for pictures.”
Anonymous, 154 cm female student
It is undeniable that limitations in height affect people’s daily lives, like struggling to reach an item from the top of a cupboard or attempting to clean the very top of the class whiteboard. The point isn’t that short people should be treated in the same manner as everyone else. There are things that short people simply don’t have the height to do, and those are the times when help is needed. However, offering help when it is not needed isn’t always appreciated.
If you’re unsure about whether help is appreciated or not, it wouldn’t hurt to ask. After all, attitudes towards such kindness differ from person to person, and there isn’t a fixed guidebook to offering help. The key difference between getting a scornful look or a grateful smile is sincerity. If you want to offer help, do it out of kindness, and not because you want to flex your height.
The not-so-short-goings of being short
But as with all things, being short doesn’t come with just downsides. There are plenty of situations where being short becomes an advantage. Remember that trend a while back when Mala restaurants were giving discounts based on height difference? People were scrambling to find the shortest [or tallest] person that they knew.
So here’s a list of all the benefits to being short:
- Comfortable long-haul flights
- Convenient sun shade
- Will never be the first to get struck by lightning
- Environmentally friendly
- Easier to disappear into the background when the teacher is looking for someone to call on
- Staying youthful (will be appreciated in the future)
- Looking buff with less work
- Never holding the umbrella when sharing
- Not needing to duck under tree branches or MRT handlebars
- Cheaper clothes at the kids’ section
- Getting piggybacks (dependent on the person)
- Leg room
Illustrator Brisa, Part #3 of “The Perks of Being Short” comic series
In all seriousness, though, being short does have its own benefits. As with all stereotypes, there are good and bad ones that target both tall and short people. A person of shorter height is perceived as friendlier or more personable, as compared to a tall, intimidating figure. There are quite a few health benefits to being short as well, such as a reduced risk of cancer, higher longevity, and lower risk of falls.
Like how being taller is an advantage in certain ball sports such as basketball and volleyball, a shorter height is also equally advantageous in other types of sports. A lower centre of gravity is favoured in sports such as martial arts and gymnastics. Take Simone Biles for example, one of the most decorated artistic gymnasts at the mighty height of 142 cm.
Height and Attractiveness
An interesting observation to note is the differing perceptions of height between males and females. Male interviewees are more likely to view their height negatively, while female interviewees, although still viewing their shorter height as unfavorable, tend to be more accepting of their height. This again likely stems from an association of height to gender stereotypes and society’s beauty standards.
There is nothing insulting about not appealing to societal standards of “attractive”, “masculine” or “feminine”. With an increasing awareness of toxic beauty standards, it is about time that we stop treating being short as an insult. After all, how is height shaming any different from body shaming?
The short answer (pun not intended) is: it isn’t.
“[What I hate most about being short] is that I can’t do anything about my height.”
Anonymous, 154 cm female student
It’s one thing to be made fun of. It’s another thing when you’re being made fun of something that you cannot change.
To all the short kings and queens out there, let this be a sign to not be ashamed of your height, as with everything else about your physical appearance that people so love to preach.
My height may be shorter than the average height of females, but it’s not something to resent. 151 cm (yes, the 1 cm counts) is not only 151 cm. It’s 151 cm of personality—and concentrated, if you think about it.
