Why are short men and short women considered undesirable?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

I would like to know.

Tall women complain about being taller than their dates.

I on the other hand have had trouble finding men to date that were less than six feet tall. I feel very intimidated by tall people in general, and especially tall men. Some of them have admitted to me that they enjoy intimidating people, which I find contemptible.

I have also felt like I was not taken seriously at work because I am a five foot three female.

I think it's prejudice in favor of tall people in our society, and against short people.

I am very happily committed to a man less than six feet tall but a few inches taller than I am. I feel far more equal to him than I would to a tall man.


I refuse to wear heels, BTW, because they are dangerous and painful.


My parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents were all tall.

My daughter, whose father is six foot six, is five foot three, just like I am.

[billyskank]

1. Why do you have trouble finding men less than six feet tall?

There are plenty of us about. :shrug:

(billyskank, five feet eight).

[Manifestor_of_Light]

2. In my dating years I had trouble finding shorter ones.

I did not make myself clear.
Now I'm in a committed relationship with one that is five foot eight, which suits me fine.

I'm still thinking that prejudice against short people is unfortunate. I think it's just another manifestation of our competitive, stressed out, control freak society.

Also Known as CHIMP WORLD. The Alpha Male gets all the goodies.

[Bucky]

46. Well, short men are harder to find in a crowd

Bucky, five foot seven. And lost in this crowd.

[harmonicon]

102. wrong country, billy

Seriously.... I'm one short mofo back in the US (I'm about 5'7" or 5'8"), but I'm just a normal height guy in the UK. I think it's all of the hormone injected dairy and meat products that people in the US consume (I'm 1/2 serious about that).

[NMDemDist2]

3. I was (and still am) a very sexy woman

I'm 5'3"

and dated men from 5'5" to 6'4"

hubby is 6'

the comment I often got (and still do) is "You're only 5'3"???? Wow I always thought you were taller"

it's all in how you handle yourself I think, people don't see me as short, I'm a presence when I walk into a room.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

22. Interestingly enough, although I barely break 5 feet in height, I too have gotten the whole

"I thought you were taller!" rap from people. Most people don't realize just how short I am until they stand directly next to me. :D

[baby_mouse]

4. EH???

I actively prefer short men.

[Mojorabbit]

109. I do too

or to clarify, I like a man within two inches taller or shorter range than I am(5'7). I like to look my man in the eyes without having to crane my neck.

[AngryAmish]

5. 'cause we are monkeys with nicer cars.

[zanne]

6. I never had a problem being short.

I'm 5"3" and I always had a decent social life. Maybe it's because I like short men. (I don't have to sprain my neck muscles to look up at my husband).

[taterguy]

7. I blame this guy for the prejudice against short people

Obviously

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NvgLkuEtkA

[TZ]

I'm shorter than you at five foot zero

and its been a long time since I felt anyone didn't take me seriously because of my height. Its happened occasionally but I've never felt like its been a huge issue in my life.
However, anyone I meet in real life. Please DO NOT pat me on the head..that DOES make me feel like you are making my height an issue...:grr:

[Cabcere]

70. Wow, people can be real idiots.

Patting you on the head? :wtf: That's really insulting, IMO. :grr: I promise I will never do that to you if we ever do get to meet in person! :hug:

[petronius]

85. I'll make you a deal - I'll never pat you on the head if you promise

to never ask me to grab something off the top shelf for you. Also, the weather 6.3' above the ground is exactly the same as at 5', and no I did not play basketball...

:)

[KitchenWitch]

107. Thank. You.

Seriously.

If I ever hear "Did you play basketball in high school?" again, I am likely to go all medieval on someone.

[Digit]

86. Signing in at the shorter than you thread...I am 4'11"

One boyfriend was 6'5"...he was my boytoy for awhile (alot younger), and lots of fun. Then again, I was just coming out of a nasty divorce and I needed some fun.

Funny, but I have never dated a man near my own height. On one of the dating sites I indicated 4' or taller for a man. I would not be opposed to a man shorter than I am. It would depend on his personality and inner qualities.

[TZ]

8. dupe

[Chan790]

9. I don't find short women undesirable...

although I do find a LOT of short women who feel the same way you do about us tall guys.

Realty is I don't think height preference is as important for guys. I do think that some women don't want to date a guy with a large height difference. I've heard women say "I don't want a short guy." and "You're too tall for me." Not a lot of women, but some. I honestly can't say I've ever heard a comment about "not wanting a short woman" from a guy. (Which isn't to say no guy has ever made such a comment...I'm pointing out prevalence/scarcity.) I do know some really short guys who only want to date tall women.

P.S. I'm six feet, four and a half inches. I'll trade heights with you. You just need to line up the surgeon for the femur exchange.:silly:

[TZ]

10. my sister is 4 ft 9 and she's married to guy who is 6 ft 2

We don't mind tall men in my family!

[mitchum]

11. Because the tastiest bananas grow higher up?

I'm tall, but I have never understood that attitude

[Bucky]

47. Well, unless you're like 14 feet tall, no one is gonna have trouble reaching your bananas.

You sick bastard

[mitchum]

49. Okay, I should have used the generic "fruit", rather than "bananas"...

to prevent other sick bastards from thinking I meant something really dirty :)
For once in my life, I didn't! Honest!

[mitchum]

48. Self delete: posting to myself...d'oh!

[Darth_Kitten]

52. And hot air rises!

;) :evilgrin:

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

12. Mr. DTBK is 5'4 1/2"

I'm 5'6. I used to feel funny about wearing heels, and I think he didn't love it, but I think we've both gotten over it.

[Maine-ah]

13. wtf? at 4'11",

I have never been called "undesirable" by any of the men that I know.

[supernova]

14. I never saw myself as undesirable

because of my (lack of) height. I'm 5 feet even.

Shorter women with really big men is the norm around here, frankly. It's kinda funny :-)

While I've heard women express height preferences certainly, I don't think I've ever heard men express them about woment. They just want her to be pretty/beautiful/sultry, etc ad nauseum.

[AirmensMom]

15. I'm shorter than you

at 5' 1 1/2". My husband is almost 6' tall. For some reason, I've always dated tall men. Or, more accurately, the men I've dated have always been tall, even though their height was not what attracted me to them. (Then again, "tall" is relative -- they're all taller than I am!) It has never been an issue ... well, except for one boyfriend who was 6' 4" and I had to stand two steps above him in order to kiss him. That was just a little too much. ;) I've actually met several tall men who are attracted to short women.

The only problem I have is finding clothes that fit. If you're 5'6" and size Medium, like most of the women in my family, there's something for you in every store. :shrug:

[supernova]

16. Isn't that the truth!

"The only problem I have is finding clothes that fit."

Lots of things I try on, even in the petites section are still too long. They need hemming, the sleeves need shortening or don't fall properly at the shoulder. I'm also short-waisted so a lot of things, the waist doesn't sit right either.

:silly:

OTOH, it is fun to shop for play/work around the house clothes in the boys' section. ;-)

[DS1]

17. I'm 5'6". She's 5'6". Nailed it

:D

[SOteric]

21. No. I'm 5' 5 3/4"

But you can nail it anyway.

[DS1]

24. I'll bring the extra 1/4"

:rofl:

:D

[Cabcere]

71. All right you two, get a room!

:rofl: :hi:

[undeterred]

18. I am a 5'8" female and if I have a boss who is the same height

or shorter (or a date) I know I dare not be taller. I will insult him if I don't wear flats. Why?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

30. exactly!! Don't want to "tower" over your boss or your date --

Heaven forbid one look more powerful:eyes:

[DarkTirade]

39. I dated a girl who was right near my height once

and while I didn't take it as an insult when she was taller than me due to heels... it did get a little confusing. :P Especially because halfway through the date her feet would start to hurt and she'd take her shoes off and be shorter than me again.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

19. I break all height barriers....at 5 feet, half an inch.

:rofl::rofl:

Never meant to be tall at all. Hilarious part of it all is that I'm shorter than both my parents, my mom at 5'4" and my dad at 6'4". You'd think I could at least split the difference, but nooooooo...

[BreweryYardRat]

20. I happen to LIKE short women, thank you.

They're easier to snuggle.

Then again, I'm 6'2" -- most women are short to me.

[supernova]

23. Where are you again?

:D

[BreweryYardRat]

25. Heh. I'm in Florida, unfortunately.

C'est la vie.

[skygazer]

26. Sexual dimorphism

Leftovers from our past. Humans are animals that are sexually dimorphic with males tending to be larger than females. Certainly culture has impacted it but I think a lot of it is basic biology with the majority of people finding themselves attracted to those who fit the biological mold, so to speak. And I believe its a tendency found in virtually all cultures. :shrug:

[Orsino]

27. Because a big guy may better defend you against attacks from the Hill People.

Seriously, I think that's at the root of an evolved preference for size. A well-fed and strong man speaks of a prosperous and secure lifestyle. This is less important in a civilization with advanced technology, but our brains still think we're on the savannah--brains, by the way, which grew so big mainly because we supplied them with meat, for which big, strong hunters are needed.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

28. It has been my experience, as a tall female, to have been

considered "undesirable" and it was taken for granted that I would play basketball :eyes:


the grass is always greener...

[pink-o]

36. Woman here. 6'1" since 1969

When I was 14 years old. I spent waaaay to much time crying myself to sleep over being the hulking amazon that the guys ignored because they preferred "petite" women who didn't threaten their dominance.

But now, at the ripe, Jurassic age of 53, having climbed the hill to ancientness and gained a clear vista of humanity, I've grown to love my super-sized self. Being tall made me think outside the mainstream, to understand that cookie-cutter people do not a society make. That expanded to understanding others who were far more marginalized than I--such as minorities and gays. And all those normal sized women whom I envied when I was younger: well the OP is correct--I've seen people pat them on the head and condescend and insult their intelligence. No matter how tall I was, I'd probably haul off and smack someone who spoke to me or handled me that way. But luckily, no one has ever tried such behavior on me.

Also, I can walk alone on a street at night, virtually without fear. The way to succeed at that is to act very confident or very crazy--but the extra inches are a real asset.

Anyway, the point I make is that we all matter, we're all worthy whether we come in big or small packages. We all have something to bring to the table, and all contributions are equally valued. (I know, what a flamin' liberal, huh?)

Now, I must admit, I still envy short people in one situation, and one only: I work for the airlines, I travel a lot and love it--but when I check in someone 5 feet nothing and know they can curl up for hours in a cramped airline seat, I rue my pituitary gland once again!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

29. i am desirable and three inches shorter than you.

:shrug:

[Darth_Kitten]

34. You rock!

:)

[Genevieve]

58. I am desirable too, and I'm 5'1

(and 3/4").

And I'm not afraid of tall people either!

:shrug:

[Ava]

69. i didn't think you were that short

i thought you were closer to my height

like someone said above, i think that people who are confident always seem taller than they are.

[NewJeffCT]

112. I can vouch for you being desirable

:loveya:

[Darth_Kitten]

31. Short women are not considered undesirable.........

by reasonable, bright people. If "some" people want to dislike me because I'm petite, cute, and will NEVER look my age, then they can wallow in their bitterness for all I care. :)

I just inwardly laugh at many of the women I know. They are "never" as small as I, yet we seem to be able to look eye to eye, and they are always 5 ft 6. Yeah, right. :eyes:

[abq e streeter]

32. This is much more extreme for short men

Statistics abound regarding short men earning much less money in their lifetimes, having fewer children etc. What's the classic cliche about what women are looking for? Tall, dark and handsome. (And notice which one is first...) Check out any internet singles site, and look at the women's profiles in the section of who/what they're looking for in a partner, and I'd say less than a tenth list anything under at least 5'8" and quite often more than that. Not from tall women either, often a woman of about 5'4' will list 5'10" as her minimum that she'll consider. "Cute and petite " are attributes that I always thought were similar to the tall and handsome cliche about men, and I know tall women that felt awkward due to their height . I'm glad you've found a good man,Perragrande,and for myself am still hoping( at a very young 56) to find a good woman who doesn't think being 5'4" makes me less of a man.

[Darth_Kitten]

35. You aren't less of a man..........

:)

[rockymountaindem]

51. Exactamundo n/t

[Manifestor_of_Light]

57. Keep looking, dude!!

Hey, at five four, you're definitely cuddly!!! Keep looking!!! :D

[last_texas_dem]

33. Short women aren't considered undesirable by me

Although it may be mostly coincidental (I really don't notice height that much), I tend to be more attracted to shorter women. Although I once said this to my ex-girlfriend (who was 5'2") and she reacted as if I'd just said that I tend to be more attracted to twelve-year-olds or something... I never really understood that. Why is it more acceptable for a man to claim he's more attracted to tall women but not short women?

So there definitely may be something larger at work here; however, in general I think it's shorter men who have to deal with being discriminated against and considered undesirable more often. I have heard, at various points in my life, unkind things said about certain men based upon their heights. Oddly, most of these comments have come from women... Perhaps there is something "biological" to it, but sometimes I think it's more of a cop-out than anything when people justify their behaviors along those lines.

As a 5'9" male, I seem to be just tall enough that I generally don't face discrimination based upon my height, however I have a lot of sympathy for those who do have to deal with it because of the ridiculousness of it all. (If the making a yourself a "presence" in a room that a couple of posters mentioned upthread is what makes a difference, then I probably project myself a couple inches shorter than I really am whenever I enter a room, due to *lack* of confidence... haha).

I feel like short men are one of the few groups in society that it's considered acceptable by many to be openly dismissive of or discriminatory against. I have not noticed this to the same extent with women, but am sorry for shorter women having to deal with it,too.

[NJmaverick]

37. I was told that size doesn't matter

Was I lied to?!?!:wow:

[taterguy]

41. Yes

[DarkTirade]

38. It's a bit worse for men than for women, I think.

Because men are just expected to be at least 5'8 or taller. Some can make up for it, some can't. As a few other people have mentioned, a lot of it is personality. One of my roommates when I first went off to college was only 5'6, but he had confidence. Last girl he was dating when I lived with him was my height, 5'10. It was a bit funny to see them standing on the stairs to make out, I'll admit. :P She'd stand one step lower so they'd be at about the same height. But he just refused to let his shortcomings (pun intended) get the best of him. He had confidence, and it showed more than his height did.

On the other hand I've known short people who didn't have that, or who were insecure enough about it to develop the whole 'Napolean complex'. They projected a very different image, and it brought attention to their size.

I dated a girl who was barely 5 feet tall a while back, and she felt the need to raise her height to be closer to everyone else's. She didn't like heels, so she'd wear really tall boots. But for some reason people seem to equate height with sex appeal, so everyone assumed she was wearing boots like that to try and look sexyier or something. A lot of people thought she was easy just because she wore tall boots. What the connection is, I don't know. I just don't get it. But she just got tired of having to look up to talk to people all the time.

On a side note though... she was pretty hot in those boots... :P

[Enrique]

40. becuase they have little hands and little feet

and little cars that go beep beep beep.

[drmeow]

74. FINALLY!

the proper reference. I was starting to feel old (and I love LA).

[KitchenWitch]

108. WE LOVE IT!

:hi:

[YDogg]

95. heh

[Starbucks Anarchist]

42. 5'3" isn't really that short for a woman.

I'm a 5'8" guy, which is about average, I believe. I think the average for women is 5'4"-5'6".

[Aristus]

43. I think tall women are sexy. I'm 5'9", 5'10" on a day of low atmospheric pressure,

and I once dated a woman who was 6'1". Have mercy, she was sexy! There was so much more of her to be attracted to. And her legs......her legs...oh, man, I have to stop this...

[LeftyMom]

44. I've dated guys who were almost my size, and I've dated guys a full foot taller.

I've never dated anybody my height or shorter, simply because healthy adult males almost always exceed that by a fair margin. I can't imagine I'd rule anybody out on that basis, were I on the market.

I don't seem to lack for masculine attention because of my height. Sure, some guys like taller women, but some guys like brown eyes or large breasts too, and I don't take that personally. In a world with a great deal of variation and where somebody loves pretty much any possible trait, I can't be everybody's cup of tea.

Then again, I really don't have a complex about my height. I'm only 5'2", but I grew up in and went to school in an area that's largely southeast asian, so I was the same height as most of my female classmates and neighbors growing up. The only real downsides to my height are that I can't easily reach tall shelves, and buying clothes can be an enormous pain in the ass. Then again, I think most women find buying clothes that fit to be a challenge for one reason or another.

[Fox Mulder]

45. I'm a male who is 5'5" tall...

and it's hard to find a female who wants to date a male of that height. x(

[PVnRT]

50. Short, chubby Latino women......mmmmmmmmmmmmm

[DarkTirade]

53. Hottest girl I ever dated was barely 5 feet tall and half Cuban, half Portuguese.

[JVS]

54. They represent the lollipop guild.

:D

[YDogg]

96. heh

[SarahB]

55. 5'3"?

I don't think that's much of a problem for women. Am I missing something? :shrug: Maybe there's other factors you need to explore.

[Zavulon]

56. Since when are short women undesirable?

I mean, if we're talking three foot six, that's one thing, but since when is being a 5'3" female a turnoff to men?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

59. Can I explain? I was not clear in my OP.

I'm talking about male bosses not taking me seriously at work because I'm short and female and well educated. I have a law degree (and two others before that) just like the lawyers and judges I used to work with.

Example:
I used to be a court reporter. I was working on a jury charge with two attorneys we were in trial with. I took the charge to the judge to review.
The judge used the word "irregardless". I told him, "Judge, irregardless is not a word, it's a double negative."

He ignored me.

Later, I was with the judge and the two attorneys and one of the MALE attorneys corrected him and told him irregardless was not a word. The Judge immediately corrected himself.

See? :shrug: :banghead:


It doesn't matter how competent I was, or how perfect my transcripts were, some judge or lawyer was always going to come along and chew me out for some imagined transgression. That's why I'm not looking for a job anymore. My blood pressure can't take it. :banghead:


Socially, it's OK to be a short female. At work, it makes it easier for them to diss you.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

60. It could have just been sexism on his part, and not an anti-"short" bias.

[Genevieve]

61. Really? Because you're 5'3?

I'm smaller than you.

At work, I have 22 people working under me -- 8 of them are men (and yes, they're all tall). I have no problems with any one of them.
In fact, I'm probably the shortest of all my staff!

[abq e streeter]

63. Point well taken---

short men are often taken less seriously as per statistics my earlier response to your OP. Probably a double whammy with small women; sexism added to the probably subconscious view by many of small people being less competent etc.

[Zavulon]

72. I've obviosuly never been in your office, but if I had to bet

I'd say this is pure sexism, and that even if you were 6'3" you'd be going through the same bullshit. I do sympathize, though. :(

[drmeow]

76. Your story about the judge

is a well documented phenomenon that does not relate to a woman's height - its strictly a gender (and, I think in your case, a status ... you were not an attorney at the time) situation.

[Breeze54]

79. That doesn't sound like a height issue... it sounds like a male chauvinist pig issue!

I tend to think it's how you carry yourself and how much you let emotions show that causes men at work and in general to treat some women as children and dismiss them. Look at Hillary. She keeps a stone face a lot and my sister (a former VP in two huge companies) has the same effect about her too. I discussed this with my sister and she said a lot of women in powerful positions learn to keep that 'game face', not divulging emotion, in order to survive in the corporate hierarchy and that it becomes ingrained in them. She said she thinks that's why a lot of people seemed to be having trouble relating to HRC and that when HRC had that 'tearful moment' in NH, she thought it was a good thing for HRC to let her 'hair down', so to speak, so that people would see that she really did care about issue's and wasn't an uncaring bitch. My sister, since her retirement and starting her own consulting firm, has been much more emotional and outwardly caring then I've ever known her to be before! She's even taken to going to a local pub in the morning for breakfast or lunch near her vacation home and talking and laughing with complete strangers! That is sooo unlike her. I guess she feels she can now let her guard down. Hang in there! Buy some power clothes and get a game face! ;)

[Manifestor_of_Light]

88. This happened many years ago.

Sexism is rampant still. I gave up on the job market quite a while ago and the arguments on that subject are raging furiously in GD.

When I was working I dressed better than the female attorneys, acted very business like and dignified, bought my suits at Macy's and was so unemotional and stifled I thought I was gonna explode.

Now I just don't give a shit anymore.

[krispos42]

62. Short women are hot

My ex is an even 5'. I'm almost a foot taller than her.

And I loved her height!

[SPKrazy]

64. I've always been attracted more often to women

that are I guess are shorter, 5' being the shortest and 5'6" being the tallest that I've ever been "serious" with.

I've dated taller women, and I don't know that I give height a great deal of conscious thought.

I'm 6', or maybe I've shrunk a 1/2 inch in height (hopefully nowhere else :rofl: other than my waist)

[Brigid]

65. I am short too.

Only 4'9." Tall people do stupid things like come up to me and say, "How tall are you?" Or they look right over me and bump into me. They also seem to assume that I want to be taller. It might be more convenient in some ways, but this is how God made me; and if anyone has a problem with it, I say take it up with him.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

67. Good for you.

I can fit into airline seats with no problem. There are good things about being little but our society thinks everybody should be big and macho and competitive. Yuck.

God made me this way too, or genetics. My parents and grandparents were tall, so it was just the roll of the dice.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

66. I'm 6'4". My favorite girlfriend ever was 4'9".

Her name was Ginny. She was a rotund little thing, and I guess it may have looked funny seeing us together, but we didn't care. We got along well, and had a lot of fun until she had a chance to move to Arizona and I lost track of her.

She was a bartender. I was a factory worker at the time.

Sometimes looks simply do not matter when you get along with someone.

[Ava]

68. i don't feel intimidated by tall people

however i do have a little bit of envy. i'm 5'6 and wish i were taller.

i don't think there is a prejudice either, unless you are talking about fashion and hollywood, in which case there are too many prejudices to count.

[madrchsod]

73. "Oh shes little and she loves me

Too much for words to say
When I see her in the morning sleeping
Shes little and she loves me
To my lucky day
Hummingbird dont fly away"

b b king..... "hummingbird"..

[Breeze54]

75. dupe

oops!

[Breeze54]

77. 'Short women more successful with men'

Huh? I'm 5' 3" female and I've never had trouble meeting men, tall or short, although tall men seem to be more attracted to me but I've dated men close to my height also. My ex-husband was 5' 10" tall and my ex-SO was 6' 4" tall. I think most men like women to be shorter than them. I don't wear heels anymore either, if I can help it but I used to when I had to wear them for work.

"I have also felt like I was not taken seriously at work because I am a five foot three female."

Now that might be true. I've felt the same way too but maybe that's just
that women in some workplaces aren't taken seriously anyway?

---------------

Short women more successful with men

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2667-short-women-more-successful-with-men.html

* 00:01 14 August 2002
* NewScientist.com news service
* Emma Young

Shorter women are more likely to have long-term relationships with men, and more likely to have children, according to a study of 10,000 people born in the UK in 1958.

The average height for a British woman is 1.62 metres (5 feet, 4 inches). But those who were between 1.51 and 1.58 metres were most likely to be married and to have children by the age of 42. This relationship held true even after accounting for social class.

The study also found that women prefer men who are taller than average. A man of 1.83 metres (6 feet exactly) was more likely to have a partner and children than a man standing at the average height of 1.77 metres (5 feet, 10 inches).

But why men should prefer smaller women is unclear, says Daniel Nettle of the Open University, who led the research. "There is no evidence that shorter women conceive more quickly or are more fertile in a contemporary population," he says. In fact, previous studies have found that smaller women are more likely to die in childbirth.

Fertility cues

"But we know that men are drawn to things that in our evolutionary past would have been a cue for fertility. And in one sense tallness is a negative cue - tall women reach puberty later and probably their secondary sexual characteristics develop somewhat later," he says.

Nettle thinks the finding that men prefer mates who are smaller than average, but women prefer the opposite, also suggests the height disparity between the sexes is likely to continue.

The genetics of height is poorly understood, he stresses. "Oddly enough, we know that the heights of mother and son and of father and daughter correlate. So it would seem that a woman choosing a tall husband is also choosing tall daughters."

However, Nettle says this choice must also select a factor linked to the sex of the child, which maintains the difference in height between men and women.

Journal reference: Proceedings of the Royal Society B (DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2002.2111)

[Darth_Kitten]

92. interesting!

wow. :)

[NewJeffCT]

111. I've always thought that about petite women

they tend to be more popular with the guys, while tall women tend to be thought of as more attractive to other women. I think men tend to think of shorter women as more feminine. Not sure if it's because we've been socialized that way, or if it is something evolutionary/genetic. Or, maybe a bit of both.

[Lorien]

78. My cousin is barely 5 ft tall, and she has to turn men away

She was dating four at a time at one point-one of them was even a shuttle mission commander.She's also pretty high up on the corporate ladder at one the most massive entertainment corporations on earth. Everyone that I've introduced her to has remarked over and over about how impressive and even intimidating it is to be in her presence. I think that it's all in the attitude that you are projecting to the world.

[Teaser]

80. My wife refuses to wear flats

cause she just digs heels.

[Darth_Kitten]

94. I'm 4 ft 11 and wear flats.........

weird but true. :)

[Godhumor]

81. I'm 5'8" and my wife is 5'2"

I think I did all right.

As someone said before, there have been height studies done that show taller people are taken more seriously, make more, etc. However, a more recent study shows that there is such a thing as acting "tall" and acting "short". Smaller people are capable of projecting themselves in such a way that they are perceived the same way as the taller folks due to attitude. Its really how you carry yourself, how you let others perceive you, and how you act within whatever sphere you're currently occupying.

[oedura]

82. Short women...

...are never seen as undesirable unless they're actually physically unattractive in some way or another. The stigma just doesn't exist.

I also find it funny (not "ha-ha" funny, though) that in spite of all the women who say they're attracted to or have nothing against short men, they somehow always end up hooking up with a guy who's at least an inch or two taller than they are.

"Attracted", but not enough that they want to look stupid by being seen hanging around with some midget.

[GOPBasher]

83. I'm a five foot three guy. I don't think short women are considered

undesirable -- it's just us short men.

[barb162]

84. Tall, thin, etc.,

it's just societal views of what's beautiful. Why are there only tall, thin models. Because clothes look better on them.

[Breeze54]

87. I don't think clothes ONLY look good on a flat board.

Advertising may tell you that but most men I see are with curvaceous women. ;)

[quakerboy]

89. I dunno.

I don't think it is always that way. I got to be taller than my sis(by over a foot). And she got away with crap I never could. She had my parents yelling at me years after I moved out. She beats me on regular occasions, and people watch and laugh. Never thinking that bony little fists hurt all the more.

Then again, at 6' I feel short. As a child, my goal was 8', and I don't seem to have made it.

[SeattleGirl]

90. I've always felt that short women were considered the ideal, especially

if they were also petite sized.

Such is the crap message we all seem to get these days.

[NewJeffCT]

113. why do you say that?

I've heard that shorter women are preferred by guys as well...

[Skittles]

91. you are too hung up on height

I am 5'4" and people never dare not to take me seriously - no INDEED

[blockhead]

93. profound revelation:

If there were no short people, no one would be tall.:shrug:

[Tektonik]

97. As long as the person itsn't taller than I am it's ok

I'm 6'5" so it would be hard for me to find many people taller than me :P

I've been attracted to both short and tall people, although I do prefer people around six feet tall :shrug:

[IntravenousDemilo]

98. But if short men are seen as undesirable, there should be more of them available than tall people.

You know, supply and demand -- if the tall people are more desirable, they should have been snapped up, leaving lots of shorter men for you. So I don't understand why you would have found it easier to find tall dates than short ones.

[kineneb]

99. well... at 5'9", I prefer a date talk to my face, not my...

ahem...bosom. I prefer guy around my height or taller.

"Hey, I'm up here! Stop talking to the girls and talk to me, instead. Yeah, I know..."

[oedura]

103. Great excuse...

Right up there with...

"I have to wash my hair."

"I just want to be friends."

"I'm already seeing someone." (when you know that's BS)

"I'm moving to Alaska."

"I'm a lesbian."

...and the ever-popular...

"Eeeeeew!!! Get away from me, you fucking pygmy!"

[fortyfeetunder]

100. My former hairdresser said "big deal"

...in bed you are nearly the same height...
:evilgrin:

[Monk06]

101. "My daughter, whose father is six foot six, is five foot three, just like I am."

So do they say to each other, "Lets get together for lunch, say at ... 5 foot 10.5 inches"

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

104. Good one!

I'm not sure what happened in the throw of the genetic dice.

The interesting thing is that even though she's petite like me, she's built like her dad. Long legs, long arms, long waisted, long everything -- so she looks much taller than she is. Lucky kid!!!!

I thought she would be a six foot tall beanpole. As it turns out, she is a miniature beanpole.

[crim son]

105. I prefer men under 6', but like them taller than me

because at 5'8" I've always felt huge and awkward. A smaller man makes me feel even less feminine and attractive. As for shorter women, I know men who prefer them. Short and petite. I'm not aware of any prejudice against them.

[billyskank]

117. Damn.

I'm five eight.

;)

[crim son]

124. I've made an exception for Starbucks Anarchist so

I can certainly make one for you. So, no high heels. I don't like 'em anyway. :hug: :loveya:

[KitchenWitch]

106. I am a tall woman (over 6 feet tall) and I never really cared how tall the person I was dating was

I paid more attention to chemistry and personality.

[raccoon]

110. I agree there's prejudice, but I wonder if it's everywhere.

I'm 5'2". I was always short in school, and it really bothered me. And people were always telling me I was short. Same when I was a young adult.

For about 2 decades, I've not heard any comments about my height.

Finding clothes that fit can be difficult. And lots of chairs are just too damn big.

[NewJeffCT]

114. I've always preferred petite women

but, I never ruled out dating a woman taller than me - I'm an honest 5'9" (meaning, I'm taller than a lot of guys who claim they are 5'10" or 5'11") I've dated a couple of women that were taller than me, but most women were in the 5'0" - 5'4" range. My ex-wife used to claim she was 5'1", but she was really closer to 4'11" - and, I don't think many guys would call her undesirable or not able to get attention.

[IronLionZion]

115. My GF is 4'9" and is VERY desirable

There are a lot of guys interested in her. She's very cute.

I'm 5'8" and would be intimidated by a woman taller than me although I wouldn't rule her out. Height wouldn't be the motivating reason for me. I am in Minnesota, the land of Nordic women who are often well over 6' tall.

My extended family is pretty short, I think the only one who is my height is my sister.

[Hand]

116. Insh'Allah. nt

[geardaddy]

118. They are?

:shrug:

[geardaddy]

119. Dupe: delete

[pippin]

120. It wasn't the height

I am five foot three and a half but it wasn't the height that was a problem when I was younger. Took me ages to get to 100lbs and as a college professor I was always getting mistaken for one of the students on the first days of class and not being taken seriously by the clowns who thought it amusing to sass the teacher. Used to also get me in a huff being referred to as "the little professor," being thought "cute" or getting questioned when trying to access faculty facilities, not to mention getting carded when trying to go for booze for campus parties. Putting on a bit more heft as I got older has helped. Not to mention the fact that I now know "the inner woman" is really six feet tall and weighs in at 190lbs :silly:

[guitar man]

121. I think short women are hawt!! nt

[MrSlayer]

122. I love petite women.

I don't know why you would think they were undesireable.

[OmahaBlueDog]

123. I'm 6'4" : Mrs. OmahaBlueDog is 5'4"

Once in a blue moon she'll wear 2" heels -- never 4"

[av8rdave]

125. I have no earthly idea....makes no sense

[bullwinkle428]

126. Hmmm...I'm 6'2", and am still awaiting that "stampede o' hotties"

to come crashing down my front door and use me for their sick, depraved, disgusting, absolutely wonderful carnal desires! :rofl:

[Scooter24]

127. my perspective

My boyfriend and I are both 5'10" and we both wish we were taller. Maybe it's that I'm more submissive, but I find tall men in general to be just incredibly sexy. I can't say for sure that shorter men are undesirable, because I know many hot short guys. I just see myself in a relationship with someone at least equal in height to myself.

One of my good girl friends is a size 4, 5'10" blonde. Incredibly beautiful and smart. Every time we are out she literally has guys, both tall and short, crawling all over her. She will not date anyone shorter than her though.