Michelle

Study says short people aren't treated differently - but diminuitive New Yorkers disagree

BY Nicole Lyn Pesce
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Tuesday, August 18th 2009, 2:23 PM

A study of children found no social difficulties for those who are shorter than average, but adults report otherwise.

A new study published in "Pediatrics" this week suggests shorter sixth graders are not victimized any more than the average student. But petite New Yorkers disagree.

"I wish that were true," Matt Campisi, chairman of the New York City-based National Organization of Short Statured Adults (NOSSA), told ABC News.

"Most of the members would love that to be the reality, but unfortunately the feedback we receive from parents is the complete opposite."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define the average American adult male as 5 feet, 9 ½ inches tall, and the average woman as 5 feet, 4 inches tall. NOSSA and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists consider men who are 5 foot, 3 inches and women 4 feet, 11 inches as short stature.

The new University of Michigan survey of 712 boys and girls of all heights found these kids do just as well socially when it comes to "exclusion, social support, popularity, victimization, depressive symptoms, optimism or behavioral problems."

This contradicts earlier reports, such as a 2003 University of Florida and University of North Carolina study which found that short people are paid less than their taller peers. In fact, each inch in height equaled about $789 more a year in pay!

Area residents falling under the national height average complained anonymously to ABC about getting carded at bars, mercilessly teased and disrespected due to their stature.

For grown men, the number one complaint about being petite is finding a romantic partner. Even short women won’t date them.

Smaller women, on the other hand, say they’re not taken seriously in the workplace.

Some experts question the validity of the new study because sixth graders are still growing and range in height enormously. They may also be too young to realize how other people see them.

"The worst thing about being short is there is nothing I can do about it," a grown respondent named Jeff told ABC. "Fat people can diet and exercise, skinny people can eat and lift weights, ugly people can have plastic surgery. Being short is more akin to being disabled."

Bliss

Heh, being 6'7" i don't think this is ever going to be a real concern of mine :P
Sounds interesting though! lol