Jo Bartosch's personal experience of growth hormone

[Lamahaha]

An extremely insightful piece by a woman judged "too short"; society's expectations of outward appearance, and how she dealt with it.

thecritic.co.uk/issues/july-august-2020/short-changed-by-society/?fbclid=IwAR2Ss5eb9HR_I5XVTvjtsTaeqOefizYpd1ZrH2C8uZIZesFvsBSsVQIFc1k

There's a parallel to own experience. Growing up in a racist society, I was forced every single day to face society's judgment that people with dark skin were inferior; that those of white skin were automatically treated better, that they were more desired as partners.
I would have wanted nothing more than to be white.

Looking back, like Jo I couldn't be happier that there wasn't a magic pill to change my body, because dealing with reality made me so much stronger.

From the 1950s onwards in the US, tall girls were given high doses of a drug called diethylstilbestrol (DES). From debilitating short-term side-effects to devastating longer-term consequences (including increased risk of cancer and infertility), the justification for stunting female growth was essentially that tall girls might struggle to find husbands. Interestingly, as opportunities for women began to expand the height at which DES was deemed to be necessary rose; from around 5ft 8in in the 1950s to 6ft in the 1970s and 1980s.

This really stood out to me.

I agree about the parallels OP.

I love Jo's writing, sharp and insightful.

My mother wisely rejected the hormones offered to me aged 11. They came from the pituitary gland of a cow and it was abit before CJD. I'm a pocket rocket at 5ft1 and took great joy in getting into the house via the cat flap for years when I left the house without my keys.

Will have a proper read later OP. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for sharing, like PPs I really admire and value Jo Bartosch's journalism and insight.

I’m 4’11” people treat me like a toy.

I went to see the doctor - even went as far as a consultant because I'm short (5') - the possibility of hormones of some sort was suggested, but I looked into it all and decided that the risks weren't worth the benefits (figuring that there's no way I'd get enough more height to make it worth it)

I thank my lucky stars now that I came to that decision rather than going the other way.

Health over height any day.