The Tall and Short of It

Posted by Nagashiko on Apr 11, 2009 in Rants |

This was me and my boyfriend 5 years ago, the only full body picture we had together.

(We were so young here)

My boyfriend is very tall. But in this picture, I think he was still just 6’ flat. He’s much taller now. And I was 5’3” back then and sometimes measured as 5’2” in some clinics… until now.

Before you even laugh, I want you to know that I am not bansot (too short), although I was wearing heels in this picture, and I won’t say how many inches high they are. Here’s another picture taken just a year ago, and I was still wearing heels. But this time, it’s just half body.

(We’re not looking at the camera because we were looking at another camera)

Let’s face it. Most of our first impressions are based on what we first see. We tend to place certain personality traits to people with certain looks. But let’s talk about height (because I’m kinda having height issues. Isn’t it obvious?).

Have you heard of the word heightism? It’s a form of discrimination based on height. This is experienced in more extreme degrees by people occupying the ends of the height spectrum. I’m not saying that I’m being discriminated by taller people. There are just times that I wish I was a few inches taller.

I find taller people intimidating, the girls I mean, especially the ones with heights ranging from 5’6”to 6’+, and moreover, if they also have a pretty face. Even if they don’t do anything bad to me, when I look at them and they look back at me… they are LITERALLY looking down on me, and I lose all my self-confidence just like that.

You might think I’m insecure. I’m telling you, I’m not. I just had a bad experience with taller girls befriending my boyfriend… which I’d rather not write about for the world to know (I know you’re curious, but I won’t tell you… XP). In short, seeing taller girls is just traumatic for me.

Okay, I think that was too much information.

Let’s go back to heightism. It seems there is a greater discrimination against shorter people than there is against tall ones. Now who hasn’t heard of the occasional, “Hoy BANSOT!” being shouted in streets, schools and basketball courts? On the other hand, has anyone ever heard someone yell to a tall person, “Hoy TANGKAD! (statuesque)” in a really, really mean way? Get the point?

Anyway, I really don’t see where this is going. I guess I just have to be proud of my physical stature even if I’m just 5’3”. I’ll just grab a pair of stilettos and work it like a 5’6”+ babe! =)