“DO YOU PLAY BASKETBALL?” No? Well okay. Prepare for a world of pain. From airlines to the pants on your hips, it’s a short man’s world. The plight of the tall human is a serious issue despite what may think you know about what life looks like from the troposphere. By definition, a tall person is either a man 6’2 and above or a woman 5’10 and above. Some recent research suggests that tall people are more financially successful and intelligent than their shorter counterparts, but that is only the tip of the iceberg.
“The body will eventually take responsibility for tackling gender, race and disability discrimination and promote equality regarding age, religion and sexual orientation. The Department of Trade and Industry is involved in the taskforce for the CEHR and is responsible for the Equality Bill, aimed at modernising the UK’s equality laws. A spokeswoman said plans for the commission did not include specifically tackling the discrimination of tall people. Is equality really equal when rampant heightism is the socially acceptable norm?"
Source: BBC
Perhaps it is the perpetuation of childhood idioms that are to blame.
“Compare sayings that underscore the disadvantages of being short or small (short shrift; coming up short; short end of the stick; caught short; draw the short straw; short change; feel small) with those that highlight the virtues of being big or tall (look up to someone; big man on campus; head and shoulders above the rest; stand tall; be the bigger person; make it big). encouraged to “eat our vegetables” and “drink milk” so we can grow up to be “big and strong.”
1. Workplace Discrimination
Prejudice against tall people is a legitimate prejudice, but do these brilliant high earners really see it in the workplace?
In certain job scenarios, being tall can be “considered dangerous,” giving employers the facade of consideration for safety to veil their own personal insecurities. However, there is a bizarre loophole here. According to the Americans With Disabilities Act, employees considered “disabled” are federally eligible for modifications upon request.
“Height is actually a disability if you are spending your life banging your head off doorways – my husband must have the patience of a saint because it happens to him all the time.” Some people believe the law must be changed to take account of society’s changing shape."
Source: BBC
2. Clothes are Made for Short People
Ask any tall person about the delusional runway propaganda and the reality of clothing. Runway models have a reputation for being at least 5’10, WHEN ACTUALLY, the actual clothing being manufactured is much smaller.
Thanks to vanity sizing, clothes are getting fatter, not taller, creating a whole new mess in the dressing rooms of tall Americans.
“As more Americans have become overweight, the testing agency has increased the measurements for the standard sizes. Clothing companies, too, began using ”vanity sizing,” putting, say, a size 6 label on a size 10 in the hopes of luring a customer. Even men’s sizes, which are considered more accurate because they are labeled in inches, are often ”relaxed” to measure an inch bigger than the advertised size.”
Source: NY Times
Men often have the luxury of choice when it comes to inseam. Women are lucky to find a mystical “size long” with realistic proportions for a longer torso creating even more confusion to the epidemic of vanity sizing.
3. Height is considered a disability
Navigating a tiny man’s world is about as thrilling as Gulliver raiding a tiny fridge.
Being squished into tiny spaces can be inconvenient, but are we really squishing our nation’s tall into tiny packages that wreak havoc on their bodies?
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Every day, 34 million North Americans are discriminated against, because they’re TALL. For men, that’s 6-foot 2 and up, and women, that means above 5-foot-10. According to ABC News, recent high profile cases have sparked a growing movement to recognize extreme height as a disability, just like being in a wheelchair.
For example, one company revoked a job offer to a 6-foot-10 candidate because they said his height posed a workplace danger. Why? Because his long legs wouldn’t fit under the desk. One 6-foot-7 airline passenger was forced to stand in the aisle of a plane during the entire flight because he couldn’t fit into a seat. So, why do experts say being tall should be a recognized disability?
Because tall people suffer from major health issues. Everything from ATM machines to subway seats are designed to be within reach of people in wheelchairs. That means tall people may be hunched over all day doing everyday tasks, hurting their spine and causing chronic back pain.
Tall people say they’re financially penalized because of their height. It even has a nickname: the “tall tax.” In other words, tall people are charged more money for everything from custom-tailored clothes, to high-ceilinged homes."
Source: TESH.com
4. Tall people don’t fit in cars
Plain and simple: Tall people don’t fit in cars.
When the overwhelming majority of customers are of “average height,” car manufactures are forced to supply to the demand. But, tiny cars are at least safe for shorter people, right?
“Statistical analysis of the UK in-depth accident database has been used to establish the characteristics of the ‘small driver’ at increased risk of injury. Drivers less than 160 cm in height are shown to have a significantly higher than average probability of AIS 2+ head and AIS 2+ pelvis and lower extremity injury. Subject trials have been used to establish the seating preferences of small stature drivers together with a comparison group drawn from the population as a whole.”
Source: NCBI
Luckily one man has started a movement uniting his peers and offering advice on the trend of “Tall Consumerism.”
"4 RULES OF THE ROAD IN YOUR CAR/TRUCK SEARCH. RULE #1 No sunroof. Sunroofs lower the ceiling height by 3 inches. RULE#2 The seats. Get maximum back height and the most seat thigh support possible. The recline position should allow you to be comfortable, but not leaned back too far. Don’t compromise your driving skills and quick reaction time by being too far from the steering wheel. RULE#3 The ease at which you can get in and out of the vehicle is a big component in your search. Don’t overlook this detail. RULE#4 The center console. Most cars and even full size trucks are fitted with consoles. Yes, you get cup holders, but your legs get pinched inward and it makes it uncomfortable to drive. Find a car where your right leg lines up and can rest comfortably against the console."
Source: Tall Man's World
Vanity sizing might be ruining clothing for talls, but the good news is, obesity acceptance is making cars bigger.
“CERRITOS, Calif. — Sure, the Nissan Quest minivan that Gino Shnayderman was sizing up looked a tad bigger than the older Toyota model it would replace. But that was OK. In his mind, more room meant it will carry more people. “Wouldn’t you want to get more?” Shnayderman asked as his dad circled the used Quest on the lot of a Honda dealer here in this Los Angeles suburb.
Lots of automakers think they know the answer. Despite high gas prices, the industry believes consumers view bigger as better. Cars and trucks have ballooned as a result.”
Source: USA Today
5. Weight Watchers Doesn’t Even Want to Deal With You
Plenty of people are familiar with the existential anguish of being rejected from a dating site.. But what happens when they get rejected from a ….. dieting site?
Source: Weight Watchers
Go ahead and try it yourself here.
The algorithm just cannot begin to accommodate your massive frame, therefore, no program is available for you at this time. But hey, there’s always Atkins right?
6. Airline Discrimination
Tall airline passengers are now being forced to buy two seats.
“A while back Colby, a 7 foot tall man, emailed me asking to look into what airlines could do to make flying for tall people easier. At first I didn’t think too much about it. “Why should airlines be concerned about taller passengers?” Then I got thinking. Why not? We have heard a lot recently about the passengers of size issue, where larger passengers are required to purchase two seats. Yes, it can be harder for some people, but for almost all, there is that choice (coming from someone who is larger myself). If someone can’t help their large size, they can get it documented and then the airline does have to accommodate them at no cost to the passenger. Now, being short is considered a disability, but not being tall. Our culture seems to love tall people. From athletes to people wearing taller shoes and even having surgery to get taller. People might look up to you (pun intended), but it doesn’t make flying an easy task.”
Source: Airline Reporter
