Little People, Big World and the tyranny of the average

This weekend I watched a couple of episodes of a reality show on The Learning Channel called Little People, Big World. If you haven't seen it, it's about the Roloff family, in which the two parents and one of the sons are little people (there are also two sons and one daughter of average height.)

This show is interesting from a design standpoint, because it shows the ways in which people at one extreme end of height's bell curve make things work in a society built for people of average height. For instance, the fixtures in the Roloff house are lower, step stools are always at hand, and cars have pedal extensions.

But one of the episodes I watched showed how dwarfs* can run up against problems that are not just dimensional, but legal. The Roloffs installed a deck, and its railings were the perfect height for the shorter members of the family. Unfortunately, local building codes dictated taller railings to protect people of average height, such as the three average-height children in the family.

This was pretty disturbing, because the show is all about how little people have to adapt to a world built for the average-sized person. For them to have to construct their own home to accommodate average-sized people was too much.

But the episode got me thinking as to the tyranny of average size. Even in my own apartment, there are a few examples of items designed for an average-sized person that don't work so well for me. I'm tall, but not exceptionally so, but for me the sinks are too low. So are the shower head and the peephole in the front door, and my mattress is a bit too short. But at the same time, my petite girlfriend can't reach the glasses I keep on the top shelf of the cupboards (I just moved them further down for her).

In this world of mass production, it is deemed infeasible to customize, so we all live in a society designed for the average-sized person. And if that doesn't seem so bad, check out this chart I whipped up without the benefit of actual data-- while there may be a lot of people that can live comfortably in the average-sized world, there are many more for whom that doesn't quite work.

So what would be the solution? Well, if you're able to design your own surroundings-- say, you're building your house, and local codes don't restrict you-- you can make your sink whatever height works for you, and make your spouse's sink whatever height works for him or her.

As for apartments, well, I would love to see such fixtures be adjustable. I would love to be able to raise my sink to whatever height is comfortable for me, and let my girlfriend lower it when she needs to. Hell, my car is adjustable in a dozen ways: I can move my seat up or down or further or closer, I can move the steering wheel in or out or up or down, I can even adjust the pedals to be further away or closer with the press of a button.

Of course, I can think of a cheaper, easier solution-- Just make sinks at the appropriate level for someone of exceptional height, and then have everyone use the step stool of their choice to make up the difference.

Okay, that's not a great solution. But I guess it helps illustrate my point, which is that anything designed for the average person is not going to work too well for anyone who's not average-- and there's more of us than you think.

And as for the Roloffs: They dumped a truckload of dirt under the deck to get around the railing-height restriction on a technicality. It was inelegant, but when you're discriminated against in the laws themselves, you have to do what you can.

* "Dwarfs" is the appropriate term... "Dwarves" refers to the mythological creatures and "Midgets" is derogatory.

Comments

[Stephen]

I was thinking about this same thing the other day but in the way that clothes are built for averages. It annoys me, large shirts are different by store and country. I mean can we just all get along.

[Eric Siry]

Exactly. I was just reading a Wired piece from 2002 by James Surowiecki called "Turn of the Century" that begins like this:

"We live in a standardized world. Whether made by the Gap or American Eagle, a pair of khakis with a 32-inch inseam and a 34-inch waist will fit you just about the same."

And I thought, man, he must not shop for pants much.

(Good article, though. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/10.01/standards.html )

[ashley]

i love this show it owns my life forever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! jermey is so gorgous ahhh i cant explain my passion fr this show my honey moon ids going to be at the roloff farms visiting mama and papa roloff

[Shay]

I was just thinking how hard it would be raising Children and taking care of a farm at the same time while your dad is at work often. It must be hard work doing all that buiessness. I think that Amy is doning a great job with all this so you go girl.

[Shay]

Also I Think Jermey is mouth watering.

[jeanne harris]

I love to watch the roloff family. I think one of their next adventures should be in learning to make handmade boots. I'm looking for an adventure at my retirement in april 2007. I made boots in oklahoma for 11 years. I'd love to be the one to help in this project. I also taught shoe repair at OSU in okmulgee,OK . I hope to get an answer about this idea.
Thank you, Jeanne

[Sarah Layton]

I Love This Show It Is Sooo... Awsome I have never missed a eposode and i never will as long as the show this show!!

[Laura Mills]

I love this show and would like to know when is resumes. I live in Canada and hope this will still be showing.

[stephaniiie]

yea i was really wondering when season 3 was going to start? i live in canada too and i can't wait lol when is it?

[Michele Creel]

when will the new season of Little People start? wWe enjoy this show so much I hope it will be comming soon to a TV set near me!!!

[latoshastills]

Name is LaTosha Stills. I like your family a lot,and I wish t.v and I talke to friend.

[jimmybob]

i love the little hot chick (mom)....i can't wait for the next episode to air. I think that I am moving to Oregon so that I can be close to them

[Christine Urquiola]

NEED HELP. I have a wedding dress size 10 child that will fit a little person perfectly on their wedding. It also have a train. Please let me know if you have a site where I can sell this beautiful dress. Also have pictures. Honestly I do not mean any insult on the contrary I respect little people because they are people just like any other with feelings, emotions and problems like everyone else.

[Katelyn]

I absolutley Love this show!! I think tat it is the best show in the word. I hope it stays on forever. Jeremy is HOT!!

[leanne collins]

O.M.G! i luv dis show sooo much! im im luv wit zach! es sooooooo sexy! aw i luv him! will u please try to get back to me if u can, tnx! lots of luv...leanne xxxxxxxxxx

LUV U ZACH!!!

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻

[rschroeder]

I really enjoy the show but does anyone but me think that if you're going on national tv you would clean your house once in a while?