Height Is Just A Number
Posted by: Catherine Strawn
Filed in:
news
11:00AM, Thursday April 30th 2009
A 31-year-old Australian politician had her legs lengthened when she was a 23-year-old lawyer. Hajnal Ban traveled to Russia for the operation, where they broke her legs in four places and stretched them one millimeter every day. After nine months, she had grown about three inches to around 5’4”. Ban said she decided to have the operation because she had been called a midget in school and believed her height would have a damaging effect on her career. We think her attitude is the only thing that would have hindered her.
Annika and I are around the height that Ban was before she got the surgery—hovering just above the 5’ mark. Would we like to have a few more inches so we don’t have to ask for help when we want a box of Melba crackers from the top shelf at the grocery? Of course! But our height doesn’t make people take us any less seriously.
“I think it’s all about how you carry yourself,” Annika says. “I usually have a serious expression, so people assume I’m either about business or angry. Plus, a big mouth makes up for what I lack in height. Maybe this politician should have looked a little deeper, instead of assuming people weren’t taking her seriously because of her height.”
Your stature is more a result how you carry yourself than how tall you really are. Tyra told Fo as much on “America’s Next Top Model” last night. Tall people can appear short, too, depending on how they work what they’ve got. It’s a shame that Ban felt so bad about herself. The months of pain she went through—and possible life-altering complications—to be three inches taller seems absurd, especially when the same effect can be achieved with a great pair of heels, perfect posture, and a confident attitude. [The Times, The Telegraph]
The ladies over at Lemondrop have something to say about this too! They say, “Like the Aaliyah song “age ain’t nothin’ but a number” height ain’t nothin’ but a number, too. And it’s really all in your mind.” Click here to read more!
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Keesh Mia
wrote on April 30 2009 @ 11:45 am: [report]
I used to do this type of research (sadly our lab animal of choice were beagles.) So here I thought I knew everything about it and convinced a friend to get this done because her legs were uneven due to a car accident. I was like, beagles were not in pain so she’ll be fine.
Hell, NO! She was in sooooo much pain and was on morphin for 6 months. Now her legs have all these pin dimples in and they look kind of “my fault”. But her hips are now even and she will not have spine issues when she grows older. She is happy that she did it but I feel so guilty.
jojo32
wrote on April 30 2009 @ 11:53 am: [report]
I’ve often thought about getting a few inches hacked off. I’m a little taller than the average female, and while it did help in the high-school basketball world, it can be a little awkward in real life. I’m not ashamed of my height, but I definitely feel like it causes people to think of me as a little less feminine (my height -proportionate hands and feet dont help either). Petite girls always got that cute thing goin on.
Just like anything else, so many of us want exactly the opposite of what we were blessed with. I’ve also got curly hair and would love for it to be straight. Everybody around me has told me for years they would “kill” to have hair like mine. So be it.
idiotfactory
wrote on April 30 2009 @ 12:30 pm: [report]
Being short can be such a pain. I, too, am around 5’ tall. A few years ago, I went to a brick-oven pizza place on a date with my boyfriend. He told the hostess we’d like a table for two, and she turned to me and asked, “Would you like crayons?”.
It was so embarrassing.
retro chic
wrote on April 30 2009 @ 12:55 pm: [report]
Jojo, so true. Grass is greener sometimes (esp the hair thing).
Unfortunately, Barrister Ban will continue to think “short,” no matter what rarefied air she thinks her new franken-stilts will elevate her to, in or out of the courtroom.
Catherine and Annika, I’m 5’2” also, with little birdie bones, and had to make that work for me in school—playing basketball. I was always underestimated by the opponents. It’s sometimes a good thing to be underestimated in life—turning others’ lemons to your champagne, if you want to.
bogart4017
wrote on April 30 2009 @ 01:10 pm: [report]
@idiotfac…i hope her tip reflected her ignorance.
pecanpies
wrote on April 30 2009 @ 03:07 pm: [report]
Totally anecdotal, here, but I have a close friend who’s about 4’11” and a very successful attorney in PA. Yeah, we’ve all seen the studies that taller men, on average, make more than shorter men, but I don’t think the same double-standard applies to women. If anything, I’d say very tall women have it harder than short women do (and that’s just a guess - I’m a very average 5’6”).
Throne of Cynicism
wrote on April 30 2009 @ 08:52 pm: [report]
I agree with pecanpies. Short women have it better than tall and likely affects their life very little.
For men, however, the facts are indisputable.
Also, the way you carry yourself may affect your perception, but only so much. a 5’6” guy isn’t going to appear 6foot because of good posture. he’s going to appear 5’7”.
becktasm
wrote on April 30 2009 @ 10:18 pm: [report]
Speaking as a woman who’s 6’1” barefoot, HEIGHT MATTERS, and all the slumping and reticence in the world will not make me appear shorter.
While, like jojo said, it’s vaguely depressing that a girl my size will never be “cute”, a girl much shorter than me could never be statuesque, and I’d rather be the latter. Also, I can rock a maxi dress, and there are worse things than having everyone ask if you’re a model. Rock it, tall lady friends!
However, I am getting damn sick of people asking me, “Why are you wearing heels? You’re already tall enough! LOL” Bitch, eat me.
Yellow
wrote on May 1 2009 @ 04:26 am: [report]
Becktasm, BRAVO on your last paragraph! I’m a taller lady of 5’9”, and I love to rock the higher heels, so I get those comments all the time. As you so eloquently put it, those bitches can eat me. I’m trying to think of a comeback. Like, “And you’re as original as you are tall”.
retro chic
wrote on May 1 2009 @ 08:05 am: [report]
becktasm and Yellow, I’m short, and am totally with you on the heels thing. The ONLY people that should be wearing really high heels are the ones that can carry them—you tall girls. I, otoh, would feel ridiculous in what would be stilts for me. I’d be afraid of falling off them now, tho, I stupidly wore them in my teens. It’s all about proportion and creating a “line.” Since it’s equally ridiculous for me to be envious of a physical trait I can never have, I embrace my other assets. I think tall women are beautiful when they embrace their height and dress for it—and can work a room just by walking into it.
joyy
wrote on May 1 2009 @ 08:29 am: [report]
@Yellow: I think @becktasm’s “bitch, eat me” would be a good enough comeback.
roastchicken
wrote on May 6 2009 @ 05:37 pm: [report]
Wait a minute, I’m 5’3” and I can totally rock a pair of heels. And look sexy as f**k in them too.
jillybeaner
wrote on May 6 2009 @ 06:01 pm: [report]
Reaching my present height—over 6 feet—by the age of 16, I have NEVER once wished I were shorter. (And this was just before Title IX; I would have loved to have been coached!) I wouldn’t have minded having slightly smaller feet back then, though—it was mighty tough finding presentable size 12 shoes in the ‘70s. It’s much easier now, and thank heavens for capri pants.
Only once have I ever gone out with a guy taller than I. It doesn’t matter to me that he’s shorter—that’s what I’m used to. It’s up to him whether he’s comfortable with the disparity.
Lilypie
wrote on May 6 2009 @ 08:45 pm: [report]
Argh! I’ve spent a lifetime trying to embrace my 6 foot height, and the best I can come up with is to be resigned to it. I don’t hate it, I don’t love it, I’d probably change it if I had the option, but I don’t, so it is what it is. Maybe if I was willowy like a model with the looks to match I’d feel differently.
I don’t wear heels because I can’t imagine wanting to be any taller than I already am. Those of you who do love the height and the heels, I think are awesome! I envy your confidence…
lalaland
wrote on May 7 2009 @ 06:15 am: [report]
I’m relatively tall for a woman and have always been pretty comfortable with that. But 2 things that drive me crazy about being tall is the “how tall are you” question from men you meet and the fact that stores seemed to have decided to stop making long’s and it is a struggle to find pants that are long enough for me without paying a fortune for them!