"Probably that I'm short, that might not be what everyone expects."

I came across an article today about Minnesota Women's Business Hall of fame and 8 women who are about to join this institution.

Amongst the eight women is Esperanza Guerrero-Anderson who runs her own consultancy firm. The article states

She climbed the corporate ladder quickly, citing just one small obstacle.

“Probably that I am short, that might not be what everyone expects,” Guerrero-Anderson said.

But while she may be short, her career accomplishments certainly aren’t.

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2015/04/07/8-women-to-be-honored-in-minn-women-business-owners-hall-of-fame/

Here it seems to me that Ms Guerroro-Anderson is highlighting societies prevailing attitude, that assertiveness is a trait that belongs exclusively to taller people.

It reminded me of an incident from my past, one which I might have spoken about before. Many years ago I lived in a block of flats and there were a number of problems with them. I decided to try and get some of the residents together to discuss these issues and I arranged a meeting and advertised by leafleting, rather then knocking on doors and speaking to people in person. No one had seen me before the meeting.

After the meeting I got to chatting with one of the men who had attended. He was a fairly tall man. He made a comment which confused me at the time, but that I now think I understand. He said something along the lines of "I was shocked by how short you were when you opened the door. I expected to look straight into your eyes."

Now in fairness I am shorter then average so I suppose my height can surprise people. But what I now wonder, in the light of Ms Guerroro-Anderson's comments is if he was shocked because he didn't expect a shorter person to behave in the assertive way that I did. Organising that meeting was an assertive act, almost an act of leadership. I do wonder if his surprise at my height was partly based on his internalised heightism? Did he subconsciously view my actions as those of a taller person? He had no other reason to suppose I was going to be as tall as him. He was a perfectly nice man and his comments were not intended to hurt me or even said in a critical matter, just said in a very matter of fact way.

I suppose I'll never know.