I’m in bare feet, my beautiful friend is in heels.
Ever felt uncomfortable about your appearance? Your weight, your hair, your skin? What about your height?
I am a tall woman. Not ‘out of this world’ tall, but 6ft 1inch. I’m curvy as well, but for now I’m leaving that out and focusing on my height.
As a teacher, I like to dress in a manner that allows me to stretch when I’m writing on the board without flashing my midriff. This is tough because finding shirts/tops that are LONG enough for my torso is a mission in itself.
“Why not try plus size, Maree?” I hear you say. Because I am not plus size. Sure, the tops may be longer but they are also wider, leaving me looking like I’m wearing a poorly constructed sack for a top. Then there are the skirts: a maxi length skirt or dress hangs around my upper ankles, which is not how they are supposed to look. Instead of elegantly sweeping across the floor, they leave me looking like I shrunk my clothes in the dryer.
Try buying size 11- 11 1/2 shoes, which are stylish and comfortable. I gave up on this years ago and decided to wear street sneakers and Doc Marten boots, both of which are gender neutral: yes, I wear men’s sneakers. I own one pair of heels and roughly 30 pairs of sneakers and basic ballet flats.
This isn’t the worst part. I have been accused of being physically intimidating due to my height. I have worked in 2 different fields. I have had a colleague complain that my physical presence is intimidating in itself and that I ‘use’ my height as a ‘stand-over’ tactic to get my own way.
How is this long enough, Mr Backpacker manager?
This is grossly unfair. I would never bully a colleague, I would never be anything less than professional: this includes the fact that I’m a well mannered person who understands the concept of personal space – I don’t get up in peoples faces or stand over them to get my way. But that has been a complaint I’ve had to face.
What should I do? Shrink a few inches and lose the last 15kg that apparently confuse people into thinking I’m a bouncer, not an educator?
I have female friends who are taller than me. A couple of them are substantially taller, they will tell you what I’m telling you- when it comes to fashion, LONG, TALL women are not being catered to, nor are their feet. In a backpacker hostel I can’t get a doona to reach my feet, I shudder to think of those poor basketballers in the Olympic village!
If you bump into me on the street just remember that as I measure in at 6ft 1, I may come across as physically intimidating. Or not.
Have you experienced discrimination based on your appearance? Do you find it hard to buy clothes?
