Is it harder to be taken seriously as a short woman?

[Eurydice84]

Just that really. I was discussing the issue with another short friend and she confirmed my thoughts - especially at work, people perceive short women as less assertive. Short women can be cutesy, sweet, but rarely in charge. And we can't achieve the same level of effortless elegance that comes so easy to our tall counterparts. I stopped wearing heels after having children / back problems so that's not an option...

www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220825-height-discrimination-how-heightism-affects-careers

The evidence suggests that on average shorter women will find it harder to gain respect - even if it's not your direct experience

Nicola Sturgeon never had a problem being taken seriously.

I'm 5' - short and dumpy.

At first, sure, they probably think I'm a fluffy bumpkin - but it doesn't take long for them to find me more intimidating - TBH it throughs them off, seeing someone that looks like me but who can wipe the floor with most people technically.

There’s definitely something in it. Men in general can get away with being jolly, jokey etc. Women, particularly smaller women need to be more considered in what they say/ sterner.
I was amazed once when I realised I was so much taller than a very impressive female boss. I’d met her only on zoom and then when training- we were all seated and she was standing. I observed she spoke calmly and slowly, no giggling, she was warm but not particularly smiley.

No. Ursula von Der Leyen is 5ft 3 inches. Merkel was smaller than her

I found that as a first interaction, first perception can be to underestimate a smaller lady, but then it's the way you then handle yourself that determines the ongoing relationship, so it has never hindered promotions, nor do I think it does in general life.

So you are one of a hundred women

You , like 49 others are short

The other 50 are tall

You are all otherwise identical

You are one of 50 chosen to get extra pay
If that 50, only 10 of you are short

So you see, you can be ok whilst at the same time people who are short are being discriminated against ?

Because all your examples of so and so did well don't actually mean there is no discrimination

I think it can be a thing sometimes.

I used to work in the marine industry and had to put up with a lot of mansplaining from male boat owners and skippers just for being a female. However my colleague who was the same age, just as qualified, but 8 inches shorter than me got it a lot worse than I did.

She never had a problem with people who knew her as they respected her capabilities, but there was definitely a difference in how people approached initial encounters based on our physical appearance.

She looks like rottweiler though. I wouldn't mess with her.

I'm quite short at 5'3", slim and reasonably shy. I think people make initial assumptions about me because of the way I look, like I must be an airhead. However, I've mostly have been treated with respect. In saying this, I'm not in a job where there are lots of group meetings with everyone trying to get their points across. I'd hate that.

My personal life is a different story. I'm single and men seem to think I'm this cute little thing that needs protection. Hate it.

I’m 5”3 and my height is never mentioned, other than by me when I can’t reach something.

It's not explicit discrimination that's happening

It's just they perceive you as slightly less without realising why

@minipie ha Miranda Bailey was my first thought as well!

I'm 5ft 1 in a management role. Never really thought about my height and it's never held me back. But that's obviously only to my knowledge and I don't know what others think!

I’m SFU* anybody who regards me as a pushover is in for a very rude awakening. I can hold my own in any situation.

• SFU = short, fat and ugly.

Not at all. I'm 5ft 3in, have a very senior role at work and am assertive in general. People know I mean business! I only wear high heels once in a blue moon (and feel less secure doing so, due to having to walk in an unnatural way!)

I think short men have it harder.

I have a colleague who is 5ft. I see things that would annoy me, eg people making comments like ‘I didn’t see you down there’ 🤔 Or in a recent team photo, someone posed with his elbow on her shoulder. Bit patronising imo.

I’m short, I don’t look cutesy, sweet. I’m fairly senior at work. I like to think I’m taken seriously.

I'm 5 foot 3 and actually don't think I'm small for someone in their 30s but I have had comments. I'm good at what I do so doesn't bother me

You get comments but being shorter for a men is deemed worse. There was a study where taller men are likely to earn more. Men who are short get comments like "short man syndrome" and some stereotypes such as being "aggressive."

My sex and my height have nothing to do with how I am perceived at work.

If you want to be more assertive or be a leader go on a leadership course and stop blaming your physical attributes.

(A reply that is neither cute nor sweet!)

I think it depends on personality more than anything tbh. I’m 5 foot and I’m quiet, a bit meek and anxious so I understand what you’re talking about. But I think a 6 foot man with those traits would be treat similarly.

I have an acquaintance who isn’t much taller than me and works in the construction industry, takes no shit and half the blokes are terrified of her. But that’s her personality type. She’s loud and aggressive and it works.

I think if you’re more of a quiet soul you’re often written off in the working world.

I'm 5 foot bugger all daughter is 4'11" on a good day.

I was a boss, before I retired, daughter is a boss currently.

No one ever takes either of us as pushovers. Not in our business or personal lives.

I'm my view, it's less about your height of other physical descriptors, and more about how you present yourself.

And if anyone is wondering about other physical attributes, daughter is blond, and has big eyes. In my younger days, I was pretty, with big eyes. But folk only tangle with us once, if they are sensible, before they realise we are nobody's fool.

Yes it is. Much harder. I'm 40 and it took til I was over 35 and wore glasses and got wrinkles. I'm 5ft 1

And yes even now it's hard to command any air of authority when I'm half a body shorter than some men I've managed

Definitely, and what is the acceptable reaction to being slagged for being short? If they ignore it are they doormats? If they make a cutting remark in response, are they nasty? If they get angry they're aggressive. It's definitely a loop that eats itself.