Size Discrimination
Thinking Allowed
BBC
4.4 • 997 Ratings
🗓️ 6 June 2018
⏱️ 29 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Laurie Taylor is joined by Lynne Vallone, Professor of Childhood Studies, to discuss her book, Big and Small, in which she explores the often uncomfortable implications of using physical measures to judge normalcy and perceptions of beauty.
Tanya S Osensky is an attorney who has made it her personal crusade to highlight the discrimination faced by short people in our society and to suggest ways of changing this. In her book, Shortchanged, Tanya reflects on her own experiences of being short as well as addressing 'heightism' in the workplace, in social situations, and beyond. She joins the discussion on the line from Atlanta, Georgia.
Producer Natalia Fernandez.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of |
| 0:07.0 | Happiness Podcast. |
| 0:08.0 | For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want |
| 0:14.4 | to share that science with you. |
| 0:16.1 | And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley. |
| 0:19.4 | I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that |
| 0:25.5 | calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:31.7 | Here's a question which prompts an almost universal yes. Would you like to be taller? Why? Find out here. |
| 0:40.0 | Hello, let's begin today with a cheery song. |
| 0:45.0 | We are the Diddy Men. |
| 0:48.0 | 50 Tiddy Men. |
| 0:50.0 | We are the Diddy Men who always have a badge. |
| 0:54.0 | We're full of d'joys. |
| 0:56.0 | We make a guy and ditty noise. |
| 0:58.0 | We are the teddy men who come from naughty ash. |
| 1:02.0 | Well, to tell the truth, as the tribute to Ken Dodd began to flood in following his death earlier this year, |
| 1:08.5 | I did find myself hoping that we might just be spared the ditty men. Of course I do realize that these peculiar |
| 1:15.2 | creatures typically played by children or adults with dwarfism were primarily there to amuse |
| 1:20.6 | children who enjoyed the idea of them working in the Jam-Butty mines, but still they always reminded |
| 1:26.5 | me of a really of a terrifying childhood moment. I must have been six years old at the time is when my father |
| 1:32.1 | took me into a fairground |
| 1:33.7 | sideshow called Freaks on display and suddenly I found myself face to face |
... |
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