The Mouse Project
“The latest research showed employers have a systemic bias against short people, rating them as less effective and rewarding them accordingly. Every 2.5 centimeters (or one inch) adds an average $1139 to a yearly pay packet.” (2004)
What validation, to feel so ineffective for so long, and then discover this information.
It has become impossible to move in the world with a sense of authority and ease when at any moment someone could invade my space, my world, and take something from me. I look like a child. I am small, tiny, petite, cute. Because I look young, people feel justified in talking down to me, ignoring me, asking how old I am, (so they can decide how to treat me), asking about my family genetics, not looking at me when they speak, instead looking at someone who appears to be the “authority” (older-looking friends, my husband . . .), expecting less of me, paying me less, expecting that I am incapable of doing things.
I brace myself in anticipation. I can tell by the look on someone's face, their body language, that they think I am a child. Then come the questions: “Why aren't you in school?”; “Where is your mom?”; “Children can be dangerous with knives.”
My footing falters. I am still the same, but somewhat deflated. I wonder how this effects me on a subconscious level, and I know that this has molded me into the person I am.
