Situations that happen when you're short:

[Note, not all of these have happened to me specifically…. but have happened to people I know.]

• People assuming that you can guess someone’s age by their height.
• People assuming that you’re a kid. (As in… age 12.) —- Oh, but it’s meant to be a compliment! You’ll be happy about it “when you’re older!”
• Random strangers asking you how old you are.
• Random strangers assuming that your partner is a pedophile.
• Being told that you’re “cute and adorable”.
• Short jokes.
• Being told to shop for clothes in the children’s department— even when you’re looking for work clothes.
• People asking if you’re sure that you’re ___ years old.
• Being given the kids menu.
• Being asked if you’re old enough to be pregnant— even if you already have a child in elementary school.
• People asking if you’re old enough to work. (They may ask this to you or to your managers/coworkers.)
• Being denied a job because you’re “too short”. (Military, flight attendant, jobs that may require counters, ect.)
• Being ignored when you wish to make a reservation at a restaurant.
• Waiting at a counter to be served only to have people who got there after you to be served first or be flat out ignored.
• People assuming that your friend is your mom/dad.
• People asking you if your mom or dad is home when you answer the door (even if you don’t live with your parents…).
• Needing step ladders to get into the cabinets in your kitchen.
• Needing to ask for help to reach something at a grocery store (or any store really…)
• Clothes that fit are hard to find.
• You have to spend more time/money tailoring clothing.
• You might need to buy pedal extenders to drive your car.
• You might need to sit on a cushion to drive.
• You might technically still be “required” by law to sit in a booster seat…. and people will point it out and “joke” about it. (Children under 4’9” are supposed to be in booster seats.)
• People may ask if you’re tall enough to drive.