Many good points, but it is not the media, and certainly not a western phenomenon. Betz' team told me that a great many patients are from the middle east (Dubai, Saudi Arabia etc) and China. In my cohort was a guy who flew in from Nigeria, too.
Height is important because it projects strength, which homo sapiens - in particular females - are attracted to. Remember we are apex predators, "civilised" ones, but still apex predators, at the top of the chain, territorial and quite aggressive. Only 100,000 years ago there were other homo species, like the neanderthals, rudolfensis, denisovians, erectus etc. You know who ended them? Homo sapiens. We are naturally territorial, assertive and highly competitive. Compared to a sapiens' desire and ability to plan, conquer and win, a lion or tiger are all but fluffy little pets.
On top of that we are imperatively social beings. Working in teams is what gave us the competitive edge and allowed us to move from the middle of the chain to the top at incredible speed. Being respected by other sapiens therefore is as basic a need as food and water. This is why people get depressed when they're isolated or feel lonely. Height is a way to display strength, a collectively desired trait, and gain respect from the herd, a deeply imbued need. This makes height absolutely essential for a great many sapiens out there.
The book "Sapiens - A Brief History of Mankind" has some good points about our nature if you're interested.
The connection between height and strength is very real by the way. The average 6'0" boxer will usually win against the average 5'10" opponent and likely also against a significantly more skilled 5'8" boxer. That is why you will usually see them divided into classes where competitors are more or less of similar height and weight.
Pardon me, but everything you just mention is B.S. I have heard many t imes the argument that back in the day, our ancestors had to survive on things like strength, in order to hunt, and blah blah blah. This is just a rationalization to mistreat people. Its no different when people tried to justify racism or sxxism by using pseudo science to justify why its okay to mistreat people.
Human beings are not just merely animals. We are MORE than that. If we were just merely animals than why is public nudity illegal. If we are more than just animals than why arent people deciding to sleep on the streets, have sxx in public or have a bowel movement in the middle of the street. Thats because WE ARE NOT JUST animals.
In my opinion the rationalization of us being animals whenver we want to justify our negative behavior towards others etc. Human beings have dominion over all the animals and mammals etc. Despite the animals being stronger than us we still have dominion over the earth. So no its not just about animal instinct or size or strength.
its because we collectively do have the capability of higher thought. And have the capability of higher emotions than animals. An animal doesnt have the capabillity of building an airplane. an animal cant create military weapons. An animal cant create various dancing styles. An animal cant create computers.
Not everyone believes in the idea that human beings evolved from apes. There is argument both for and against evolution. Alot of people are religious, and believe in a Creator. I myself do not believe that we came from animals. I believe that a very intelligent entity created this physical dimension. And it does not serve us no good to limit ourselves and reduce ourselves or put ourselves on the same level as a dog or a bird. Because we are not. Our higher intelligence, and emotional capabilities makes us higher than animals.
Its funny because all the points that I mention are never truly refused. Because the things that truly matter in life, doesnt require tall height.
As far as Western media, Western media for better or worse because of technology and history, the Western world also known as the new world has a wordily impact on the entire world. So yes just because someone is in the Middle East or China it doesnt mean they are not impacted by Western media. A good example of that is hip hop culture. Hip hop culture has permeated all races of people worldwide.
Tall height is important because human beings have been conditioned to treat people based on apppearance. That is why racism, sxxism, homphobia etc and all that exists. It is a character defect and it seems like we havent learned from it.
Even if short height is a flaw. If it wasnt for heightism, and people thinking in terms of superior people or inferior people it wouldnt be such a big deal. There are far worse ''negative traits'' in the world to be than just being short.
Thik about people like Nic vujicici, Stephen Hawkins, Kevin Hart, Ariana Grande, Peter Dinklage, Danny Devito, Pablo Picassso who made such a great impact on the entire world and they were of short stature.
Tall height is important because of lack of representation in the media and in the world of short people. Short people have had in the past contributed to society. And humanity works better when it is more inclusive than denying access and opportunities to others just because they look different.
You mention about the connection between height and strength that a 6 feet boxer will win over a 5-10 average skilled boxer or a five feet 8 highly skilled boxer. Your statement is not 100 percent true. There are many videos on Youtube where very short men were capable of beating their tall opponent.
i do agree that being treated with respect is important for humans and animals. And lack of disrespect can cause personal trauma. But being short is not the problem. The problem is heightism. The prejudice, ignorance towards short people by others.
When it comes to fighting, I would argue that at time short people do have an advantage. There are men who are short but have a broad building. As well as short people centre of gravity does give them an advantage in fighting. Even in professional boxing, and same weight class I have seen many shorter opponents beat their taller opponents.
Human beings DOES have the capacity to be compassion, empathetic, merciful forgiving, inclusive, And its time that we live up to our divine potential.