On The Spot Height, by Lisa Junius; is an informative and intriguing work that tackles the subject of “body image,” or how we measure up with others. It is a timely book, written in the post-9/11 world. Junius describes her own battle with self-esteem issues, which left her closeted and fearful of her own body. In particular, she expresses frustration with how society labels those who are considered “underside” – physically short. Height is considered a factor in who is “desirable” or “not desirable.”
Height does indeed affect us in our day to day lives. We see tall people with perfect careers and beautiful girlfriends; they enjoy social power and status. Where there is an active social pressure to be taller, it becomes increasingly difficult to find a balance between personal and social happiness.
Junius’s story is not unique. She brings great insight into a seldom talked about yet important aspect of human relationships: how we deal with our height. Height consciousness can prevent us from having happy and fulfilling relationships; it can lead us to see ourselves as objects of desire and men (and women) as mere inches and centimeters of flesh. Height consciousness, through awareness and introspection, can enrich a relationship; however, the benefits are much greater than that small step toward greater understanding.