Siz Ism

Sizism: is making a judgement of someone based on their size. Dissing someone because they're "too fat" or "too thin." Not being attracted to someone due to their weight/size. Not treating someone quite the same based on their size [whether consciously or subconsciously]. Feel free to add experiences, definitions, commentary, and rants.

(see also: FatPhobia)

Well, I don't know about the weight aspect, but I am continually being sterotyped because I'm small. Four foot eleven, to be exact. I can't count the number of people who have come up to me and asked "If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?" I usually answer "Eighteen" (not honest, I know, but I feel like I get more respect when people assume I'm adult) and I always get the same answer: "Oh! But you look twelve years old!" Thanks, I really needed to be reminded about that! People assume a lot about me based on that, like that I'm fragile, and less intelligent. When I'm around friends who look older/bigger, strangers almost always get into intellectual conversations with them, and when I try to join in, I am met with indifference or pats on the head. Am I exaggerating? Sadly, no, not really. All of these things have happened to me. I am pretty strong physically, but I have to work harder to prove my physical endurance because, as one guy put it, "We better not put you on combat duty, dear!"

I like my body, and I like what it can do, but being this small and young-looking grates on me a lot. I'm tired of constantly being sterotyped because of how I look, and I wish everyone would stop rubbing it in that I look twelve years old when I can't do anything to change that.

ps. Who started this page?