Your height is not something that you simply cannot change. There are the very tall people, the very short, and the average. Coming from the short side of the spectrum, I can wholeheartedly say that it is not as bad as society has put it out to be. When I cannot reach an object, I grab a step stool. Who can curl up on a plane and sleep without putting the backrest down? ME! What is even better is never having to worry about a blanket being too short, hence, why I have many little kid blankets. (But really, who wouldn’t want a Little Mermaid blanket?!). There are many physical positives, but the emotional negatives can be extremely hard to bear.

If I had a penny for every time I got called, “Cute and short” I would be able to pay my college tuition. While compliments are nice, being called cute based on my height is not. Simple as that.

Now, one of the most degrading things is when a short person struggles to reach something and a person's asks, “Oh are you too short? Do you need my help?”. A kind gesture, but no I do not need your help. I have never experienced being taller than I am now and I have lived great without a taller person's constant assistance. This is why they invented step stools, so short people can be on their own without a problem.

Along with that, is when a short person is looked down upon. No, I am not talking about how people look down to make eye contact with us. I am talking about how there is the stigma that being short is almost a disability. That it is too hard for us to function on our own and that we always need help. Just because I need to take extra steps to get something does not mean I am less able. All that means is that I have the perseverance to complete what I want to do. Extra drive and motivation do wonderful things when you are a short person.

This may not be how all short women feel, but there is something so degrading about being described by my height. Being short is not the one thing that describes me. I am a person just like you. I have dreams and aspirations in life. And no, my height will never get in the way of what I want. So go ahead and comment on how cute and short I am, but just wait until I call you tall and lanky and see how it makes you feel.