NOTE: This post is for Body Image Warrior Week, which I am participating in. Many of the points in this post have been written about before on this site, so regular readers, please bear with me 
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As a short, slim woman, sometimes I feel like I’m not considered “real.” I’ve freaked a lot of people out when they find out that I generally wear a 0 (or 0P, since I’m short and buy petite sizes whenever they’re available and not too matronly) and I feel that a lot of people are tired of me talking about height issues – especially height issues. It’s just not addressed enough. From so-called “diversity” runway shows that still look for above average to tall women to the general dismissal as an issue, I often feel like I’m preaching to a choir. And to make matters worse, some people (especially body image activists) nod at my issues at best, and consider me some sort of radical at worst.
Height should very much be in the forefront of body image talks as much as dress size, especially when the average runway model is a good five or six inches taller than the average woman (5’10″+ vs. 5’4″ or 5’5″). Not to mention that many brands cut clothes for women who’re above average in height – many pants have a 34″ inseam while most women who’re 5’5″ have an inseam that is closer to 31 or 32″. All I want to do is get people to discuss body image issues that aren’t necessarily related to the number tagged onto a article of clothing, but how it’s presented and its length and proportions. I want to be taken seriously when I encourage designers to make things for shorter women or use shorter women to present such designs. However, I’m dismissed whenever I bring that up. I mean, does one really have to be an average-heighted woman who wears say, size 12 or 14 to be taken seriously as a body image activist? Do they only see me as a size 0-wearing woman, and therefore, shouldn’t be complaining? Or do they simply not want to talk about height because they want to keep their models tall, regardless of dress size and consider petite sizing “unfashion”? If it’s the latter, it’s a bit hypocritical, don’t you think?
