Recently Casey Weldon published an article in the March/ESA Annual Review on “Height and Partner Development: The Importance of Height and Partner Education for Gay and Lesbian Youth.” In this piece, she discusses many issues that come up in youth discussions on the topic of “coming out,” as well as how to encourage your child to express his or her sexual identity. Her main focus is on encouraging young people’s and adults’ sense of self-worth and dignity. Her suggestions for enhancing the promotion of healthy relationships, as well as her recommendations for expanding awareness about sexuality and basic human rights are wise and useful.
According to Casey Weldon,” Height and Partner Education has some powerful messages for children, young adults, and couples about physical difference, identity formation, and sexuality that go beyond the narrow focus of some educators’ concerns about height and physical appearance.” Her recommendations include: “increasing literacy and writing skills to encourage kids’ emotional health; emphasizing healthy relationships by teaching children and young adults how to build and maintain them.” She further suggested that these lessons “should extend across the curriculum and be part of any sex-specific instruction.” Furthermore, she believes that the “need for height education and encouragement is important not only for physical health but also for emotional, intellectual, and social development.” She goes on to say that there is “a crucial link between height and sexual orientation,” as studies have shown that both are strongly connected in gay men. The need for greater understanding of differences in height, as compared to sexual orientation, should lead to increased support from parents, teachers, and schools.
In summary, Height and Partner Education by Casey Weldon provide a good starting point for discussion of height differences, especially those that may occur with same-sex partners. It also provides a good general awareness of such differences, as well as the importance of promoting positive self-image and acceptance in height differences. It also discusses the need for height difference specialists. Finally, it provides helpful information on how promoting the growth of taller can improve academic achievement and overall life confidence. This book is a good addition to height difference specialists’ bookshelf.