"A short guy who is sensitive is in deep shit." So begins this investigation into the relationship between male height, self-esteem and success. With humour and bite, 5'3" Howard Goldberg tackles the tall issue of heightism. A few sample facts: over a lifetime, a 6' man earns about $280,000 more than his 5'5" counterpart, sperm banks have minimum height requirements for donors, and women could be genetically hard-wired to pick the tall guy. Around the world, the bias seems to hold true. In China, minimum heights are posted in certain job descriptions. The French seem to have more enlightened attitudes-short can still be sexy, thanks to Emperor Napoleon. Most disturbing is "stature-lengthening" surgery, in which bones are broken, then stretched in excruciating increments as they heal. No wonder sales for elevator shoes are so strong. All this won't be news for members of the National Organization of Short Statured Adults, but might teach the rest of us a few things.
-Gisèle Gordon