International Organization Established to Discuss Heightism



An International, non-profit, grassroots organization has been established to further discussions of heightism in society. The organization is named NOSSA - National Organization of Short Statured Adults. Heightism is a prejudiced attitude about human height that often results in discrimination. The membership organization will disseminate knowledge pertaining to the sociological, psychological, legal, medical, and physiological aspects of short stature as it becomes known; Encourage research by responsible professionals concerning the above aspects of short stature; To promote the acceptance of people of short stature in society; Serve as a forum in which important problems affecting short statured adults can be openly discussed in a climate unbiased by imposed aesthetic standards and in which solutions to these problems can be discovered and acted upon; Work toward demanding equal opportunity for short statured adults wherever obstacles and discrimination exist.

"This is not an organization for little people (As in dwarfs)," states NOSSA Chair, Matthew Campisi. "NOSSA serves men 5 foot 7 inches and below and women 5 foot 2 inches and below." According to Chairman Campisi, "Despite the popular misconception that heightism is trivial, our organization has been established to encourage discussions of the very troubling issues that short statured adults have been reluctant to discuss in the past. As discussions increase, we are seeing more and more studies which reveal that a bias does exist against the short statured." Chairman Campisi cites recent studies, such as a University of Florida study which revealed that on average, taller workers earn more in pay (about $789. per year/per inch). Indeed, one state (Michigan) and two municipalities (Santa Cruz and San Francisco, California) have laws which prohibit height and weight discrimination in employment. Massachusetts Representative Byron Rushing has recently introduced legislation to add Massachusetts to the list. "We hope this is only the beginning," states Campisi.





International Organization Established to Discuss Heightism