As a borderline 5'9.5"/5'10" woman (depending on the day and the level of volume in my hair), I have heard just about every ignorant height-related comment under the sun. Here are just a few of the most common things we lengthy folk have to deal with:
1. The classic, "Wow, you're really tall!"
You're joking! In all my years of living, I have never noticed that!
2. People act like you're not allowed to wear heels.
I'm sorry, where on the shoe does it say, "Anyone 5'7" or above may not wear me," exactly? I have just as much of a right to wear them as anyone else on the planet.
2. "Wow, you're wearing heels? You're really tall, that's brave."
No, I'm not "brave," they just make me feel fierce AF and my outfit looks bomb, so of course I'm going to wear them.
3. Taking photos with shorter friends is a project every time.
Either they have to go up on their tippy toes or you have to pull the sorority girl squat and bend your knees uncomfortably far to even it out.
Heaven forbid you all happen to stand in height order and you become the peak of the Cingular bars.
4. Everyone assumes you're a basketball superstar.
My height in no way obligates me to participate in a particular sport nor does it mean that I would be any good at it.
I played rec basketball for one season in sixth grade and made a total of one basket. Theory: disproved.
5. "Why are you wearing heels? You're already like seven feet tall!"
Why am I wearing heels, you ask? Because I want to, is that such a difficult concept to comprehend?! I'm wearing them for myself, not for you. So keep your unsolicited comments to yourself, please and thank you. Besides, the higher the heel, the closer to God.
6. "Guys like short girls better," said the short girl.
Quite possibly one of the most ignorant comments I've ever had the pleasure of hearing. That's cute, you think I'm suddenly insecure about myself because of a boy's preference? First of all, that is a huge generalization and there is no way that it reflects the views of every male member of the population (but even if it did, why would you try to put someone down like that?). Secondly, if a guy is complaining about my height, chances are he's too short for my liking and doesn't have a quality personality to compensate, so his opinion is completely irrelevant to me. We're not putting down all you fun-sized ladies out there, so we would appreciate it if you would do the same.
Not to mention, I've never heard a man complain about a woman being tall and leggy, but that's just me. How about I love my body and that's the only opinion that matters.
7. Online shopping can be risky.
Most of the time, it turns out great! But you can't help but have that voice in the back of your mind questioning whether that adorable T-shirt dress will actually be a dress or more like... just a T-shirt.
But rather than drone on and on about all of negative aspects, let's throw some of the many benefits to being a member of the 5'8" and up club out there:
1. You don't put on weight.
Of course every body is different, so I can't speak for everyone! But from my personal experience, it's much harder to put on weight when you have so much room for the food to spread itself out. So we can afford to have a few extra (or a lot extra) "cheat" days. I'm not gonna lie, it's pretty great.
3. You stand out.
Who doesn't love feeling unique amongst a crowd of people?
4. You always have the best view at concerts.
You know those girls you hate at concerts because they can see the stage and you can't? Yeah, that's me. Once, a woman was actually so... shall we say, bold... as to tell me to take off my shoes at a concert. (Needless to say, I did not fulfill her request.)
5. We have no problem reaching the top shelf and helping those who can't.
We're always here to lend a helping hand.
6. You've been asked if you model many a time.
Whether you actually have or not, it's always flattering and quite the confidence booster.
7. In the end, you wouldn't trade being tall for anything. It's pretty freaking great.
Bottom line: Short girls are fabulous. Tall girls are fabulous. Everyone's fabulous, so let's all just be happy with the beautiful bodies we were given and learn to love each other and more importantly, ourselves.
