'Heightism' Stop picking on short men, says Blackadder star

Stop picking on short men, says Blackadder star

- Caroline Davies

Dating apps using height filters prompt debate on "heightism", the Blackadder star Tony Robinson has vented his anger at women who feel it is acceptable to comment on men's lack of height.

"Nowadays, you don't pick on people's looks, do you? It's like kind of a new understanding over the last 10 or 15 years, you don't deride people for what they look like," the 5ft 4in actor, 78, told Elizabeth Day's How to Fail podcast, admitting he had seen his shorter than average height as a problem in life.

Studies over decades show heightism leads to bias, yet it appears even today to be more socially acceptable than other forms of physical prejudice.

The term "heightism" was first coined by the sociologist Saul Feldman in 1971. Dr Erin Pritchard, a senior lecturer in sociology and disability studies at Liverpool Hope University, believes much heightism is subconscious, but that it is ingrained. It has also not benefited from widespread acceptance movements.

"You had the fat acceptance movement, and while there's still issues, you would never go, 'well, how much do you weigh'? But it's perfectly acceptable for people to go, 'how tall are you?'" she said.