The Power And Politics Of Height
Posted by: Ali Jawin
Filed in:
style
8:20AM, Tuesday July 7th 2009
I was intrigued by the amount of interest and opinions voiced in last week’s posts about height, which led me to think that there was more on this topic than is usually discussed. When I think about height, it is usually in terms of style. As the fashion industry tends to favor the long of limb, I am not always thrilled by my lack of inches. What I found particularly interesting was that most of you who said you were short did so with pride and without fashion phobias. Clearly I was not on the same page as everyone else, so I began talking to women in all ranges of the height spectrum to see how they felt about their height and why. The results were staggering: women viewed height in the context of power and politics.
Many women I talked to didn’t see their height aesthetically. If they lamented their tendency toward the tiny, it was that they would be seen as only having the capability of a child or would somehow be considered less responsible. Women have been in the workplace for decades now, and one would be hard pressed to not have seen some article on how to dress appropriately for the office. Indeed, women are no strangers on how to present themselves in a professional manner, but the problem arises when there are uncontrollable physical factors at play. Professional hair and makeup, easy. Professional clothing, a cinch. Professional height…what does that even mean?
I asked women why they felt shortness was a hindrance at the work place. The common answer was surprising: the male Napoleonic complex and obsession with height rages on and women felt their height didn’t match the professional and powerful ideal. For some undecipherable reason, power is still equated with height. The women I spoke with sensed an awareness that male colleagues registered their height, or more accurately, appearance. While few could pinpoint any specific point when there height was mentioned or made an issue, most felt that it was floating in the background, or at least in the employer’s subconscious.
The greatest fear seemed to be that in a snap decision, a shorter woman would be overlooked or not get chosen for a certain task. Any boss worth her salt wouldn’t actively discriminate over height, but some wondered if the height bias was unavoidable. Do we use height as a way to size people up?
Right as I was getting ready to froth at the mouth over the injustice of it all, I spoke to a tall Irish girl. She and a few others I spoke to complained that they were discriminated against because their bosses felt threatened by their imposing presence. Yeesh! Short girls feel that their height makes them seem weak and incapable and tall girls felt that their height makes them too intimidating too approach. At the end of the day I am inclined to write off the connection between height and power as more of a personal insecurity issue than a work place discrimination one. We all have crippling insecurities that we are positive the rest of the world must see and judge us by, except, of course, no one but ourselves ever notices. I think height fits into the same category as our other physical traits we are less than thrilled about, and while your boss will probably at one point notice your height, I would be surprised if it ever became a real issue.
Previously:
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becktasm
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 08:55 am: [report]
At 6’1” almost everyone I know has told me I’m the tallest girl they’ve ever met, and trust me, there are downsides. My height, paired with my outgoing personality and perhaps over-eagerness to vocalize my opinions, is, apparently, REALLY intimidating. In fact, almost every one of my closest friends have told me that when they first met me, they thought I was terrifying. Tall women aren’t given respect for their height. They’re either fetishized (Do those legs go ALL the way up?) or vilified (She’s so tall! So SCARY!). It’s not an advantage, like it is for men. And, despite the fashion world adoring tall women, do you know how god damn HARD it is to find a pair of jeans with a 37” inseam? My height is definitely a handicap, in all arenas. Except for grocery shopping. I can reach all the best produce.
Shotputter
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 09:12 am: [report]
I agree with you backtasm. I am 6’3 and get noticed where ever i go. I embrace it and love it. I have often wondered if I am as outgoing as I am because of my height. I get noticed where ever I go, I don’t blend in so I embrace it. I get the vilified thing a lot, I am not tall and thin, but tall and broad shouldered, kind of built like a football lineman which made me good at, well, Shotputting. Every one just assumes I could beat them up which gives me a a false sense of security.
I truly enjoy all of the attention and other benefits my height gives me, like the ability to control the attention of a room, but the finding pants stuff and shirts long enough to go to my waist does really suck.
40yrolddad
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 09:14 am: [report]
being short is DEFINITELY a liability for men (I’m 6’ so am not a short person crying discrimination - I’m also a highly-specialized techno-serf not trying to climb ladder anyway) but I don’t think it is for women - I’ve known PLENTY of petite (& tall) women who’ve occupied director or higher-level jobs @ fortune 100 companies. there definitely _IS_ WEIGHT discrimination for women that men generally get a pass on. there’s also attractiveness discrimination for sales jobs in certain industries (especially medical/pharmaceuticals where they’re affectionately known as “sales bunnies”). not saying any of it’s right, just my observations from 20+ yrs of working for some really big, well-known companies…
snap
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 11:02 am: [report]
i’m short, and i love it. i think my female-ness detracts from my power and authority more than my height does—being a man gives one more power. that being said, i think short men really suffer across the board. they lack the appearance of power and authority and masculinity. and it’s unfortunate, and i hate to admit it, but i have to say that i buy into it. i don’t date short men because i’m more attracted to the masculinity and power that come with being at least (male) average height.
saramarie
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 11:42 am: [report]
Unfortunately when it comes to the perception of women who are tall as having “more power” I think it’s moreso because they’re percevied as being bitches. I’m usually fairly softspoken and shy in the workplace, which at 5’11” has caught people offguard when I first talk to them. I’ve been told numerous times that before someone met me, purely based on the way I looked, they thought I was a bitch (holy #&@$% I stand up straight and don’t slouch, I MUST be an #&@$%!).
Now that I think about it, I’m not sure I’ve actually met a woman in power who has been very tall, although I’ve found the majority of them to be very aggressive and what could be considered ‘bitchy’. This doesn’t surprise me in the advertising industry - it’s definitely a boys’ world and very rare that the girls get to play.
@um no - maybe there is a parallel to what you said…tall men are viewed as more masculine and therefore powerful - so maybe women of a tall stature are also viewed as more masculine (since it’s more feminine to be shorter?) and therefore assumed to be more powerful?
musu
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 02:11 pm: [report]
I still assert that height and power is a state of mind. Each time I am told that I am short (you know who you are) I am taken back because I feel totally empowered in my life and strong. You make your own reality. That being said, it does not hurt to keep proportion in mind when dressing.
sailor_girl
wrote on July 7 2009 @ 03:21 pm: [report]
Height has always been an issue for me. I was always the tallest girl in my class and eventually the entire school. At 6’3’’ I’ve grown accustomed to rude stares and comments. Its an odd day if I am not asked a question regarding my height. Since I’ve been in the military it has seemed to be a lot more difficult. Working in a traditionally (and primarily) male dominated field is challenging in itself but my height is like adding a target that reads “All of you sexist pigs that disagree with women serving in the military: teach me a lesson.” It also can cause individuals to see me as intimidating which is completely false. I may often complain about unnecessary rudeness but honestly I wouldn’t trade my height for anything even if it does mean sucking it up and explaining why I’m not a WNBA superstar every other day. One aspect of the military that sort of works to my advantage is uniforms; they’re made for men so there are no worries about length.
Karmatir
wrote on July 8 2009 @ 03:27 am: [report]
I’m 6’1”. If I had a nickel for every statement I have ever heard that follows along the lines of: “god when I first met you I thought you were downright scary and intimidating”. Sigh. I would be very very rich. It does happen.