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Childhood (Ages 7–13) n=7+8 parents |
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4/8 parents noted that their child was teased at school due to short stature and a physical appearance that differed from their peers.
“[S]ome of the boys from the classroom, they [say], you are short, you are fat, you are not as normal as we are.” (Parent quoting 12- year-old daughter)
More than half of the women reflecting on their past recalled cruel teasing during elementary and/or middle school.
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Adolescence (Ages 14–19) n=18+10 parents |
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7/18 adolescents cited short stature among their largest concerns.
“Trying to reach things and always having to ask people. That can get really boring and tiring. Also, when it comes to, like… dating and stuff. It might hinder it a little bit.” (Age 15)
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6/18 teens mentioned they currently endure teasing. Most either ignored the jibes or fought back, described the banter as playful teasing or maintained they simply do not care what is said.
“I personally don’t have a problem with people’s comments on my height, but some people would. But I don’t have a problem with that because I know I’m short for my age and I don’t really mind it.” (Age 14)
13/44 women recalled being teased during all or parts of high school and college.
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Adulthood (Ages 20–39) n=39 |
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9 adult women addressed stature as a primary concern and greater obstacle than infertility, citing reasons which included: the fear that men would perceive them differently because they were short or a personal desire to achieve a balanced weight.
“I think the hardest thing is probably the height thing, because, you know, you always get a little self-conscious, you know. Is a man going to like me because I’m shorter?” (Age 25)
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Adult women perceived height either as a functional difficulty or source of social stigmatization.
“As an adult, I guess being short does interfere with doing certain things, like even just little things around the house…I don’t think as an adult its really interfered with my relating to people a lot.” (Age 35)
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Mature Adulthood (Ages 40–59) n=29 |
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Short stature also concerned the mature adults, as they claimed their height challenged them daily.
“I’m really terrified of being in big crowds because I’m scared I’m going to be trampled.” (Age 42)
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Ongoing frustrations at rude comments made by children, adults, and even health care providers were also relayed.
“[A doctor at work] says to me, you know where you came from? I don’t know if he was asking me to respond, what he was doing. Finally, after silence, I said, yeah, my mother. He said, no, you came from munchkin land.” (Age 56)
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