Tall & Small Association, Finland

The Tall & Small Association of Finland is a nation-wide family organization, whose members are united by common interests stemming from the tall or small size of the members. The age distribution of the members is wide, ranging from small children to people of pensionable age. Starting from babies, it is difficult to tall and small people to find clothes, footwear, safety devices and accessories associated with hobbies and physical activities. They also lack chances to fulfil themselves in work and leisure-time activities in extremely uncomfortable surroundings. The members of the association are tall and small people, wearing footwear of small or big sizes.

Measurements, Finland	Small	Tall	Average
Women having a height of (cm)	104 – 159	173 – 200	164
Sizes of shoes	32 – 35	42 – 49	36 – 41
Men having a height of (cm)	150 – 169	193 – 225	177
Sizes of shoes	35 – 39	46 – 60	40 – 45

According to the information included in various sources, the share of oversized people of the Finnish population is about 10% (500,000 people) and that of short people is about 5% (250,000 people).

Mr Markku Heliövaara, Chief Medical Officer and researcher at the National Public Health Institute of Finland, is astonished at the fact that such a socially important project as the measurement of the population has not been performed. He writes in a Finnish newspaper, Etelä-Suomen Sanomat of February 25, 2000: "An increase of a few centimetres in the average height means a manifold increase in the number of people having a height over 195cm. The increasing number of oversized people is going to have significant social effects".

The objectives of the association

♥ To minimize and prevent disorders and accidents of the endoskeleton of tall and small people.
♥ To promote the availability of practical and anatomically well-designed shoes and clothes and other ergonomic products. This will have a positive impact on the strengthening of the ego of tall and short, small and big people.
♥ To act as a link between manufacturers, resellers and the members of the association.
♥ To act as a link between the members of the association.
♥ To prevent discrimination of people because of their physical size.
♥ To support the members in developing the positive ego.
♥ To pay attention to the many problems stemming from tall and small size and to eliminate the problems.
♥ To put the members in an equal position with other Finnish consumers.
♥ To build close international relationship with similar organizations in other countries.

The association acts as a link between tall and small people in Finland and abroad. It supports and guides the members by

♥ Putting forward initiatives and proposals in order to improve the position of its members
♥ Keeping contacts with authorities and decision-makers responsible for health, safety and consumption questions, including the EU
♥ Carrying on educational work and information services, for example, by publishing a newsletter
♥ Taking part in different kinds of research work
♥ Compiling statistics on tall and small people for manufacturers
♥ Organizing meetings, seminars and leisure-time activities