A friend and I were discussing this very issue today while having lunch in an outdoor cafe. We decided to count couples and see how many had a taller man and shorter woman, and how many had a shorter man and taller woman.
There were over 20 couples and all of them was of a taller man with a shorter woman.
This is all fine and good but not very scientific. What does science say about this important issue?
A study by Gillis and Avis in 1980 found that for every 100 couples, only 2 are likely to have a taller woman and shorter man. This suggests that in general, men tend to choose women who are shorter than they are and/or women choose men who are taller than they are.
Source: Short Girl Pictures
Do Men Really Like Shorter Women?
The Gillis and Avis study shows that couples very frequently consist of a taller man together with a shorter woman.
However, this does not necessarily mean that men like shorter girls. In fact, one can argue that the height preference largely comes from the woman’s side. Perhaps the man has no height preference, but simply dates shorter women because shorter women find them more attractive.
To get a more comprehensive view of this tall vs. short women issue, I also examined data from Yahoo Answers!. In particular, I did a search for “tall vs. short women” questions.
Source: http://thinkdrawart.com/short-girl-pictures
I collected a total of 54 responses over about 20 related questions. 29 of the responses were from men, and 25 from women. Of the men,
- 52% said that they like shorter women,
- 31% said that height is not an issue, and
- only 17% said that they like tall women.
These figures seem consistent with the results of my Attractive Women Survey which showed that only 19% of voters like tall women.
Of the women,
- 24% said that men like shorter women,
- 36% said that height is not an issue,
- 40% said that men like tall women.
What is especially interesting about the Yahoo! Answers data is that the woman’s view differs so greatly from the man’s view. Upon greater examination though, we found that of the 10 women who claimed that men prefer taller women, 7 were 5’8”-5’9”, and 1 was 5’5”. Therefore, the relatively small data-set and abnormal height distribution of respondents likely skewed the results.
Data from more rigorous scientific studies also support the hypothesis that men have a preference for shorter women.
“We found that shorter, slimmer females with long slender legs, a curvy figure and larger breasts are more attractive,” said lead researcher Dr William Brown of Brunel University.
~~[The Telegraph]
Nettle’s study on 10,000 people born in the UK in 1958 also showed that –
Shorter women are more likely to have long-term relationships with men, and more likely to have children …
~~[New Scientist]
Why Do Men Like Shorter Women?
Most female models are very tall. Based on this female ideal, it seems that all of us have a preference for the tall, thin, and willowy look.
Therefore, why does the survey and scientific results show that men like shorter women? It seems that here, at least, there is an inconsistency between the media feminine ideal and our real-world feminine ideal.
Certainly tall women have the following advantages –
- Clothes fall and drape more naturally on taller women.
- Tall women can handle extra weight much better than shorter women.
- Tall women get noticed more easily because they naturally stand out in a crowd.
All of these attributes make taller women especially suited for the modelling profession. We want models to stand out from the crowd and we want them to look especially good in a wide range of dress styles.
However, a woman’s greater height becomes more of a liability during mate selection because height is often associated with strength and power. These are traditionally traits that are highly regarded in men but less so in women. A tall woman may therefore have an emasculating effect on a shorter man.
In addition, while women frequently select mates based on strength, success, and power; men are more likely to select mates based on fertility. Nettle further pointed out that –
… girls with late sexual maturity will be taller than those who mature early, because they are growing for longer.
According to Nettle, taller women become fertile at a later date when compared to their shorter counterparts. This could also be another contributing factor to a man’s preference for shorter women.
Don’t Men Want Tall Sons?
What’s strange is that I would like to be taller and I would like my future son(s) to be taller. So it would really make more sense to choose a tall mate with genes that will produce a son who is tall. And yet I’m attracted to short women.
~~[Yahoo! Answers]
Another related factor to this tall vs. short women question is the height of our resulting children. If men do indeed select based on fertility, it seems that part of that fertility question would involve the strength and power of the resulting offspring. As was pointed out in the comment above, selection of a taller woman would increase the chances of producing a taller son.
However, based on all the data it seems that the attributes of our offspring are less significant than the social effects of having a taller female spouse, as well as possible maturity issues as related to height.
Are Tall Women Out of Luck?
Finally, it should also be mentioned that height selection and preference is a relative thing.
Most men like women that are shorter than they are and most women like men that are taller than they are. Men who are over 6 feet tall will have less problems dating tall women because they will still be the taller one in the relationship.
However, the distribution of heights for men and women follow the usual bell-curve shape. This suggests that tall women will have a smaller selection of men to choose from.
Related Articles
Long Hair or Short Hair - Which Is Better on Men and Women?
Is long hair or short hair more attractive on women? What about men? Here we consider the results of scientific studies on hair length and attractiveness. We also consider religious, political, and financial factors.
Why Do Women Look So Good in Heels?
Why is a woman wearing heels so beautiful? In fact, we often dont even have to see the woman, but the sound of heels alone conjures up an image of graceful beauty - as if by magic. Here we consider womens legs, heels, and beauty.
Submissive Women vs. Assertive Women - Which is Better?
Would you rather be an obedient woman or an assertive woman? Would you rather have a relationship with an obedient woman or an assertive woman? Obedience vs. assertiveness - Which of these roles, do you think, is more suited for the modern woman.
I’m 15 and just barely 5’1. To me, any guy taller than me by a few inches is tall and amazing. Maybe guys like women SHORTER than them, not SHORT women?
I think tall girls are super attractive, like OMG. I’m only 5’2.5″ but damn what i would do to be 5’11
Ikr ..they’re just so naturally notice
able and attractive
I also forgot to say that (in my opinion) I think clothes look better on us because our arms and legs are longer, therefore outfits look nice and make us look like models. I’ve seen that men like long legs in a skirt or dresses. I was sitting on a train once and a few guys sitting across just kept staring at my legs because they were longer than other peoples. 😀 I can wear 1 inch wedges in the summer and just that alone will get me even more attenion. 🙂 I’ve never felt ashamed about my height. Kids used to bully me in school about it, but when I got out, it all changed. People draw to me like a magnet does on a fridge. Lol. Besides all the other things, I like the power I get that comes with being taller. I just never liked being seen as cute, or vulnerable, or like someone who constantly needs help. I like when people call me beautiful, or lovely, or pretty over cute, which they do. I haven’t been called cute since I was under 10. But to each his own. People might also be intimidiated, which is funny but also annoying. I wish they weren’t but it comes with the territory. Has any taller women noticed guys seem to be competitive with you as well? Like they have something to prove to you? I have noticed that.. I will also conclude that being a tall woman weeds out shallow insecure men easily, which is an important bonus that most don’t realize will play a good role in finding a boyfriend/husband be it he’s shorter or taller. You’ll notice it real quick. So be happy for that reason at least if you are tall. Short women might not find out til much later…and those shallow and/or insecure men might find other issues to harp on about.
I could not agree with you more, I’m 5″11 (my measurements are 34-25-38) and frequently get approached by men in the street saying hello, asking how I am and telling me how attractive I am or how long my legs are. But the thing is I am only 16, and most of these men are at least 25, so my message to any girls who are still in school and struggling with their height is: just wait until you leave because the older guys will literally be all over you. Over the past 3 years I have found it really difficult to come to terms with my height because I am taller than a lot of guys in my year and all of my shorter, bigger boobed, cute friends used to get soooo much more attention than me. I basically just felt like the awkward, lanky girl that hung out with them. But then I started to figure out which clothes suited me best, how to wear my hair nicely, how to walk with confidence and how to flaunt my assets (which pretty much just consists of my long legs and tiny waist), plus all of the guys grew at least 5 inches. And that’s when everyone suddenly started telling me how ‘stunning’ I am and how I should be a model and that all the guys are obsessed with me. So, I’m telling you, it really is all down to the way you carry and present yourself. I’m not saying you should go and slap on layers of make up and wear slutty clothes, because that’s literally the opposite of what I do, but it really will help if you walk confidently i.e don’t slouch and wear clothes that you feel comfortable and attractive in. But remember, if guys continue to ignore you, just hold onto the fact that when school ends, you will have the opportunity to completely rebuild yourself without fearing what all those judgemental teenagers think of you. I am very lucky in the sense that i figured out what looks work best for me quite early on, but before that I really was miserable. I still have days where I feel incredibly insecure about my height because of one tiny comment I overheard someone say or because I see a really nice dress that I know i can’t wear because I don’t have the really curvy body for it. And on those days i really do feel awful about myself and just want to shrink into a ball. But i also have days where i feel like my height gives me so much security and confidence.
Youre just saying that because youre tall…..face it people have preferences, some like short more than tall, and some like the other way around. Maybe one day you will find a guy that wont care about your height.
Being tall can be helpful because you don’t have to put up with a lot of peoples crap. A few shorter friends of mine always have the fear of being attacked or mugged or bullied, and I’m don’t really have that fear because people tend to avoid messing with me because I’m naturally intimidating. It doesn’t really help you in the friend department because I have noticed that many other girls have avoided talking to me because they think I’m scary.
People have the tendency to judge a book by its cover, or in this case by it’s height. Sometimes it works to your advantage, and sometimes it doesn’t.
i guess they cant ride by on the assumption that theyre strong and manly, so they have to prove it to tall women to ‘earn it”. it being attraction to perceived big strong manliness, feeling safe and physically protected, etc.
I’m 5’11” and despite the fact that a lot of people say tall women aren’t desirable to most – I find what people say online is not reality for myself. I get attention from men more so then my shorter counterparts….wherever I go…and sometimes it’s even annoying. I see men giving me “the look” [when they stare at me like they either like me or just want one night with me] and some women will just stare at me like tall women aren’t common, even though they are. Some women have even been mean to me for no reason when I was really nice towards them, and I take that as a sign of jealously/self esteem issues, and avoid those people. I love being tall because even though I like blending in with the crowd sometimes, it’s nice to be noticed and ogled like a little celebrity when you go out. I was even surprised at the amount of tall men who noticed me more than shorter men. Soon as a tall guy notices me it’s like they are shocked to see a girl near their height, but at the same time they seem to like it. The coolest man to date who I got attention from was this 6’0″ muscular guy with a tasteful tattoo on his lower arm. His hair was a little longer (probably shoulder length) but braided back, and his skin complexion was a nice bronzed color, plus he had these big dark brown eyes that stared with intensity at me. He’s latin. 🙂 I haven’t thought about any other guy since. The thing I love most about being tall is that I can command attention easily, and I don’t have to be worried about being seen as weak, and people not taking me seriously…plus we may get paid more in the workplace.
Dont be mad that short, petite women are getting the men quicker. It not their fault men want them and average size women (waves hand) in general. There are pros and cons for everything. Yea smaller women might be considered cuter, vulnerable, and “weak” but hey many men like that. It brings out their protective instincts. Men love being the big, tall strong ones in the relationship. But i dont blame them after all those are masculine traits..
Agh tall women just sound perfect I’m 18 years old and I’m 5’2 female! I’m very insecure about my height I feel like I don’t get taken seriously and that if I was taller I’d look even better :/ everyone tells me I should be a VS Model if I was taller and I really wish I could too! I haven’t found how to embrace my height, hopefully one day I will but whenever I see a girl who’s taller then me I feel like crap they look so confident and beautiful. I mean I know I’m a very attractive girl but just my height makes me think otherwise. My bf said to his sister one time that he would never date a short girl BC his mom is short (4’9) & that just makes me feel like I’m not good enough. My bf is 5’10
Is 5’7″ tall for a girl?
I’d say it’s on the tall side, although not really that tall, but it’s considered a great height for a girl. Most guys are around your height or taller.
I would definitely say so. I’m 5’7 and used to love wearing heels but my bf now is 5’11 and I stick to low heels and flats now because I don’t want to be taller than him. He says he doesn’t care and I know I shouldn’t either but I just can’t. There are about 15 beautiful pair of heels I haven’t worn in a long time because I never really have an ocassion to. Heels just look so much cuter on short girls but I’m coming to terms with and thanks to some of the comments, I’m going to try to figure out and wear what works naturally for me and for my height.
Im 5’3″ and in my country avg height of women is 5’1 something, so short means below 5′ so only 3-4 girls are taller than me in my class. In contrast guyz seem to be vry tall, most of them are above 5’8 and lot of them are above 6′.
hi everyone…. im 15 and im 5’8…..i hated my height so much and wished i were shorter because all my friends were shorter an they had no problem getting boyfriends….i however was always taller than most boys my age an never had a boyfriend…i wa always insecure about it an didnt considere myself beautiful… i change the way i look at myself because if i dont love myself the way i am then who will??…..ive learned to love myself the way i am and be proud in my own skin…an some day in d future i would find the ONE!!
@Tall says… are you sure? I am 17 in High School and i can swear that no guy I have met has had any interest in me
I’m a shorter than average guy, and i would do anything to be with a woman who is taller than me.
however, there is something to be said for a well proportioned, but miniature lady – rappers don’t call em shawties for nothin. a smaller woman is more easily perceived as a plaything, and what sane guy doesn’t like a new toy to play with?especially if she wants to play with him..
I can say the fertility/puberty thing was not true for me. I am almost 6ft, and i started my period when i was 11. Which means i have been dealing with aunt flo and her montlhy visits 10 years now. Ugh.
As a tall woman, I prefer tall men. I had a shorter boyfriend once and my oh my how they laughed 🙁 and my man who was 6’7 and a rugby player I still dream about. Even if he was a turd! Hahah.
I have to agree with you! I am 15 and 5ft and have barely grown since i was 12 however mother nature made sure she blessed me each month for the past 4yrs haha. Puberty hasn’t been good to me i seem to blessed with all the teenage curses but unfortunately have barely grown for years, just my luck!!
I’m between 5.1 and 5.2 and my boy friend is 6.2. He is very good looking too, but he’s always been dating short girls. Two if his recent ex’s where shorter than me.
He’s also not into skinny girls. I sometimes wonder why he’s not into tall girls? He likes short curvy women with long hair 🙂
To be honest, i think no guy likes shorter girls. They just like girls shortER then them, so it often gets mistaken. Because honestly who doesnt want a tall, long legged, petite, graceful feminine woman as long as they are shorter than the man. I for one if i was a man wouldnt want a short chunky child with stumpy thunder thigh legs for a girlfriend.
I am a average height man and have no hang ups at all about height, but as a builder and regular pub goer a lot of chat with the lads is about girls and whilst some men prefer tall girls and some prefer small it is easy to notice that smaller petite pretty girls get far more attention than their counterparts and we definitely talk about them more. sorry to burst the bubble of the taller girls but whilst you are very desirable to a lot of men most of us prefer the attractive petite lady.
I’m guessing your tall and you’re mad because men prefer us shorter girls
Do you know the definition of petite? petite means short AND skinny. So you cant be tall and petite? that doesnt make sense…. And yes plenty of men love short, petite women as much as they like tall long legged women.
I thought the bit about tall girls getting periods later was off. Granted I’m sure it may be true statically but, on my own anecdotal basis, I got mine at 11 (5’10 and 3/4″over here)*. Also I’m not sure the when you get your period thing as being relevant since most all women (assuming no problems) have most likely started menstruating by 16.
*Sidebar: I’ve made the observation that if I was male I’d probably just round my height up to 5’11”. As a female I usually round that down to 5’10”. Heck, I’ve had men try and say i must be taller in an effort to fudge their own heights.
When i was younger, i did wish I was shorter because shorter girls sometimes seem to be doted on more by society (seen as helpless) whereas my height must convey an air of competence and just not needing assistance. But I’m sure the big drawback for shorter women or even women of average height is they probably feel it as more being patronized by men rather than pampering.
I also feel my height has put me outside normal gender roles in the sense that I never got the memo that I was supposed to hide my intelligence/knowledge/defer to the man’s opinion if I either knew better or disagreed. In that regard I know my personality is a bit off putting for that reason and can make men feel uncomfortable. But i encountered enough men (after high school) who found that alluring enough so I never saw the need to change.
I will say though to any woman that the only really strange but true fact in this world is whether tall or short, fat or thin, big chest or small, smart or dumb, normal or abnormal, there is someone who will find it to be a turn on.
I think it does happen though. I mean I’m 17, 5’11” and I started my period not too long ago.
I’m 15 and I’m 6’1 tall with a VERY athletic build (broad shoulders, 6’5 armspan, long legs with “thunder thighs”, and practically no chest) and weigh 160 lbs.
I’m going to be a sophomore this coming year and all of the boys still haven’t completely matured so I’m still tied for the tallest kid in my grade (but hopefully that will change over the summer).
But I wouldn’t be the same person I am today if I wasn’t tall.
When I was young I was always tall (I was 4’11 in third grade and I grew eight inches in a year, resulting in me being 5’7 in FOURTH GRADE) so people generally thought I was older, making me more mature than all my friends. Even to this day I’m more mature than everyone in my grade, so the majority of my friends are older than me. Which, gives me plenty of oppurtunities to hang out (and date) older guys. So that is one plus to being tall.
And tall girls have advantages in almost every sport, except maybe horse racing or gymnastics. I play basketball, swim team, tack & field, and soccer. So, the volleyball coach is always hounding me to play. But, because I grew that eight inches in a year, I have horrible knee problems (I’ve dislocated both knees at least three times, have arthrits in both knees, have this weird bone inflamation/fluid pouch below my left knee, and have had surgery twice on my right knee) and playing volleyball probably wouldn’t benefit me in the long run. So that’s a downside to being tall.
Another downside to being tall though is with my height, comes my huge feet and hands. My fingers are really long and my middle finger alone is (I kid you not) 5 inches long, so that makes holding hands awkward. I also wear a size 14 shoe but I’m not going to go too much into that other than that I wear a lot of Men’s shoes and have to do a lot of special ordering.
So, there’s a lot of good things and bad things about being tall, but no matter your height, you should be confident and make it work.
I’m 5’7″ and my boyfriend is 5’8″. Before me he only dated shorter girls, anything 5’3″ and below. He said he was attracted to shorter girls but he never made any of them his girlfriend, I’m his first and only real girlfriend. So, maybe it really doesn’t matter what height someone is. Maybe guys just like the girl for who she is, not her height. I know I personally don’t care how tall or short a guy is. The shortest guy I’ve ever dated was 5’4″ and the tallest was 6’4″. In my opinion, some positions were very uncomfortable with a taller guy. But when I was younger I used to wish I was shorter because I always thought short girls were cuter. Now I’m happy with myself and height.
I think we all wish we were different in some way. I’m 4’11 and always wanted to be tall. Now I finally am happy with myself now that I’m 22. We all just have to work with what weve got. 🙂
Part of the height issue between men and women may also be partially mathematical. 2/3rds of the male population are 5’8 (173cm) or taller, and 2/3rds of the female population are 5’7 (170cm) or shorter. In a random pairing, most of the couplings would have a taller man and a shorter woman. I’m not saying the sociological or psychological factors don’t contribute, but I do think the mathematical reasoning should not be ignored.
You can’t change your height, but you can change your perspective.
I’m seeing comments from tall women that say they have trouble attracting any men, then comments from other tall women saying they get a lots of attention. Perhaps height isn’t the sole reason a man would or wouldn’t be attracted to you? There are many short women who have trouble attracting men, too. And then there are tall men who have trouble attracting women. And short men who get lots of girlfriends.
If you think height is the only thing you having going for you, or against you, you need a closer look in the mirror. I’m not just referring to your appearance.
Btw, I’m a 5’6 woman, so I don’t know what it’s like to be on the extreme ends of the height spectrum. I haven’t had the best luck with men because of my shy, sometimes awkard personality. The current guy I’m dating says he likes that I’m skinny. No mention of my height, though.
Not saying “height doesn’t matter”, but if you find yourself being rejected, you can’t simply blaim your height. Lots of tall women and short men have successful relationships.
Anyway, why would you want to be constantly oogled by creeps? A successful relationship is not a shallow one.
Hey,I think height has little to do with it, it’s all about who’s attractive and who’s not. Short girls have an easier time being attractive cause their bodies don’t need as much fuel to keep going at a healthy rate so we can eat less and not get hungry fast.
Taller girls have an easy time staying thin even when eating much so that could make them more attractive for men. Short or skinny guys would probably like tall women. I also see lots of white men go for tall women so maybe it’s a culture thing. Who knows, I’m not tall and I wouldn’t know if they have it hard in life.
it’s all right . I am taller than my age and tall and short boys go crazy for me so being tall is very cool.
As a tall girl, I would like to explain to the short girls the reason for other tall girls’comments in here- No one is trying to be mean to you guys. We are trying to boost the confidence of that insecure 6′ reading this. I have been made fun of by countless people (5’4″ and under, mind you) for being tall. I’ve been called a freak, a giant, you name it. We are merely trying to justify to the other girls out there that being tall is wonderful. When short girls get in a group, they insult me, but individually, they all admit they wished they looked like me. The most popular girl in my grade even said how cool it is to be tall and she wished she were my height. This just goes to show you that even the girl it seems everyone wants has insecurities. Some of old so called “close friends” have made rude comments about my height being less than feminine and weird. This one girl is very competitive with me in particular. She was trying to take a picture of something and I was standing nearby, assuming I was out of frame, and she turned to me and snapped “ya know what, you don’t have to stand there like a freaking model!” The girls who make the rude comments are most likely just jealous. Some short girls really just think that short girls are more attractive, which is fine. But the ones who go out of their way are probably insecure about something with themselves. Don’t listen to them. I am 5’10”, and the guy I like is 5’8″, and let me tell you, he is amazing. He’s witty, athletic, smart, RESPECTS WOMEN (very old-fashioned), and a very compassionate person. Well at our junior prom, I was wearing a very figure flattering cocktail dress with stilettos (yup) and he was singing along to the song that was playing. When he turned around and saw me, he stopped singing, his jaw dropped ever so slightly and he looked me up and down quite obviously (not in a pervy way, though). He started blushing and smiling at me, and he kept coming near me trying to dance quite a few times that night. In other words, if they like you, they won’t care about your height. If your are insecure, guys will read that. Keep your head held high, and learn to embrace what you were given. 🙂 xoxo
I am 17 and 5’9 and reading that just made me feel so much better about myself! I’ve never viewed it in that way! So thanks! Xo
You are awesome! Im 6foot 140 pounds and love my height. Slim trim and attractive! I have short friends that are beautiful and very few tall ones! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
I love your perspective!
I’m 5’8, slim hourglass with a slight athletic build (meaning a slightly defined shoulders and a bigger shoe size). I definitely stand out in a crowd, it’s both good and bad depending on my mood. There are days when I just want to be unnoticed, I play down my assets by wearing flats and slightly less pretty clothes, even to the point of having that trendy tomboy style that’s going on with a lot of thin fashion girls. On the other side, when I am in the mood to look like a bombshell, it is quite possible. Clothes hang better, it’s easier to shop. Jeans are cut in better proportions, can play with shapes and forms, trends, can even pull off the flat shoes with pencil skirt pretty well, etc.
I understand the pain tall girls go through at times, like you have to hunch a little bit when taking photos with petite friends, wearing flats to slightly even out the obvious height difference in the group. It sucks to conform to such ideals but somehow it’s those little bends we do to fit in. I’m only 29 and I don’t have a problem attracting men, on the contrary I’ve realized a lot of guys are intrigued by a tall lady who carries herself pretty well, and can pull off a totally different attitude than those damsels in distress kind. I’m not saying being tall is better than being a short/petite girl. I’m sure there are guys into tall girls, or so I hope it’s more of the personality and the kind of person the lady is than her physical attributes that dictates a man’s interest for a lady.
.. And what better way to celebrate this given height than show the world that the view up there (especially in stilettos) is way better. Rockin’ my 4’5 inch heels and I won’t be sorry for it!
You are very hypocrite, so i guess its ok to be downright rude to smaller girls because the smaller girl were mean to you and they desrve it? right…. Everybody gets their fare share of hate. And let me just say smaller women get bullied too, if anything by a larger scale than taller women. You want to know by who? by the media. The media has made sure to put tall, blonde, model type figures in higher pedestal than shorter, “darker” women. Making us feel like we are not beautiful or feminine enough. Talk about being constantly bullied. And no im not trying to downplay the harrasment you received. Its wrong no matter what and it shouldnt be tolerated. But dont try to make it seem like taller women have it harder than smaller women because its clearly not the case here.
You’re perspective is awesome! I’m not really considered tall or short but more in-between(5’5) to be exact, but never the less whatever height the way you think is the way more people, both men and women should think. Confidence is the most attractive trait anyone can have! 🙂
I love your attitude! 😀 I’m 5ft 10in but I’m only 14 yrs old 🙁 Reading all these comments really made me feel better about myself but I don’t feel like I’m getting that much attention. Actually, shorter girls get the spotlight (even if media is bullying shorter women which I’m disagreeing with). Lol media is just making beautiful people famous. Not all the tall girls are ”perfect” as you see on your TV. Also, my friends often make fun of my height and toll me that I’ll never be able to wear heels or find boyfriend. My crush is shorter than me and once he mentioned how tall I am and how awkward it is to him… but he also said it’s sometimes good to have a tall girlfriend because she may look like a model. But I’m NOT a freaking model! My face is pale and not ”cute” at all. And my imperfect skinny body… urgh. I saw many pictures with a skinny model and boobed, a little bit fat short girl and guys comment how skinny is shit… So I tried to eat more, to workout and build muscles… but nothing works! It’s so much easier to get ‘curves’ if you’re short and the worst of all is fitting in clothes. Let’s imagine this situation: you see a pretty girl with those amazing jeans or shirt and the next day you see them in one store… you want to try them, but guess what! There’s no your freaking size!!! Same thing with shoes… My younger sister gets all the beautiful clothes I want but can’t fit in. You may feel confident with who you are, but I don’t. I certainly don’t blame my height for everything, but if I was just a little bit shorter… 🙁
I’m 15 and I’m 5’9. I’m a freshman and the guys are short and stuff like 5’7 or 5’8 and the girls are all like 5’2 and there are a lot who are tall, but the ones with boyfriends are under 5’5. Reading your comment makes me feel more confident about myself. When I wear heels I’m 6′ and I’m self conscious. This is embarrassing but my mom says, “Why not wear heals, strut in there with your heels like a model and just be confident. When you get a date to the dance then worry about the height. But while you’re single, be proud.” I try to take in her advice but it’s kind of hard.
I’m a gal n i’mm really short with height 4’11” , for me tall gals are amazing, as i always say it to my fellas who most of ’em are much taller than me, but i myself always grateful with what i have, for me being a shorty or taller its not a big problem, because god always gives us thing for reason and i never dating guys that shorter than 5.11″.
anyways, short or tall doesn’t really matter as long as they bodies , faces in the right proportion.. everyone will look beautiful just the way they are.. 🙂
I just finished writing my comment about when I, a tall skinny guy at 6’1″ and 125 lbs., had a girlfriend who was short and fat (more fat than stocky) who stood only 4’11” (your height) while she weighed a massive 190 lbs. and how embarrassed I became after she out-lifted me in weightlifting by easily lifting a big heavy (fully-loaded) barbell over her head that I failed to lift even above my knees!!! I wrote that comment in response to what I read on this page about how height is often associated with strength and power and how I found out (after my girlfriend’s victory over me) that this is not always the case, even when there is a male vs. a female. It was hard for me to accept being such a tall male who was so easily out-lifted in weightlifting by such a short female but she (my girlfriend) saw that I was embarrassed after being so easily out-lifted by her so she walked over to me and while she and I stood in front of each other, I was looking way down at her while she was looking way up at me when she and I suddenly began kissing each other tenderly and passionately. It was early in our relationship so that was the first time she and I kissed each other. After that, my embarrassment disappeared. After that, I had no problem accepting the fact that she was way bigger and stronger than I was even though I stood way taller than she did and even with my being a male and her being a female. She proved that there are instances where a short female is way bigger and stronger than a tall male.
I stated (above) “…that I failed to lift even above my knees!!!” when I meant to state “…that I failed to lift even above my thighs!!!” However, either way, she still proved to be way bigger and stronger than I was.
im 5’2, I have all kinds of different men tall and shorter looking at me. Ive been on a dating site and lots of taller guys texting me. They like short women
I’m 5′ 3 1/2″…I never really paid much attention to height but I do end up end up with taller men 5’11″+ long term and shorter guys as friends. Weird that the height never really attracted me at all. there is a fine line between strong and oaf. I notice tall guys usually have fat sons…I don’t want fat genes, unpredictable mutated genes are enough to worry about. I just want an average to slightly above average male that will give me good strong looking boys. Strong jaw, good hair line, good face shape, nice frame. Simple, sort of…. Too bad we can’t test genes. Unfortunately good looking men don’t always give you good looking offspring.
I like tall women better hands down because they just look better plus long legs are powerful I love it when a women can easily wrap her legs around my whole body and i cant go anywere im average height and about 170and skinny but I like tall women anywhere from around 150 to 200 I pliers to know that she’s not fat but a lot to handle also I’m just different so its nothing personal to the shows women or average women but I hunt the titan women with long athletic powerful legs because long leg women represent power
I can tell you ladies right now that I would love to date a tall women. In a nightclub it’s always the tall women that I notice first and I’ve always found them to be somewhat more attractive than shorter women (sorry to the short girls out there). I think its because I don’t feel like I am dating a child, I can kiss them easily(than a shorter women).
It would not even matter if she was taller than me. That being said if I thought there was a connection between us, her height would not matter at all
It is so sad that pretty much every comment is a egotistical tall girl trying to validate herself by attacking shorter girls, or even the author. Get over yourself, however beautiful you think you are on the outside and just realise that people come in different shapes and sizes. Height is a small issue compared to personality and how ‘pretty’ a girl seems, and most real men and women will also tell you how shallow and petty most of these comments are.
Also, I’m not a short girl on the attack, I’m quite tall at 5’8”.
Well I’m screwed! lol. I’m a 6′ female. I love being tall. yes, I enjoyed standing out in the crowd and it made me have to have more confidence. As far as clothing hanging on us better. Have you tried shopping as a tall woman. Not much is offered to us- we can’t buy cute clothes off the rack. That point is irrelevant and not true. Tall models get specially fitted so they may look good on the runway, but that’s not reality. very few choices in clothing.
But to my benefit, tall women have easier labor. I am married now with two kids and doctors will tell you tall women were made for child birth.
Being tall myself, I love tall women. To me if height is the only issue in the relationship, you don’t have any problems. What difference does height really matter?
I’m about 5″3′, which I guess is average or whatever. Any way, I think that tall slender women are gorgeous! I think in my opinion, most shorter women are not as proportioned. I don’t find short stubby legs attractive. Now however, I have seen women a wee bit taller then me or so more on the average side that have high waist lines and longer slim legs which, gives them the illusion that they are taller.
Crap. I accidentally hit “post” before I was finished.
I found your article quite informative, and definitely an interesting read.
I tend to prefer women who are tall, curvy, and tomboyish. Personality is important as well, and I love women who are affectionate and make me feel safe in their warm embrace. If that makes me seem effeminate, so be it. I like somewhat masculine women, so that makes sense.
amshort girl so i have no problem no man is shorter than me
most of the women who wrote a comment on this article tried to show the advantages of being tall and the disadvantage of being short or vice versa, it’s really sad that till this very day and age people feel confident out of bashing others who are different than them. I’m an Average height 5’5 i say every women is feminine in her own way tall, short..etc just love yourself without putting other women down it’s pathetic seriously.
p.s great article, lovely pics
A really funny topic hhhh, short vs tall !!, I am 5’3″ (160 cm) and beleive me I ve never been called short why?? The answer is simple I have a very beautiful face,look like Indian actresses everyone compares me to aishwarya rai that feels great because I don’t if I should feel embarrassed because of my height , I don’t en envy
I’m a tall girl,5ft8 precisely and I have enjoyed the admirationand attention that comes with my height from guys and ladies,especially when I’m on heels. I choose who I date,could be taller or a bit shorter.its all about the persons personality. Tall girls,people love and admire you,the short ladies wish they were like you while guys wish they could have a girl like you. My advice,stop feeling awkward and live your life,dress the way that suits you. We rock.
That’s where you are wrong! I am 5ft tall and proud that I am, because we short women actually look like real women. We have feminine features, smaller hands and feet, and as you can see from the poll survey, men prefer us more because of our more feminine features. We rock, you all suck.
im 5’7 and mostly it doesnt bother me. I get chased by men all the time and have over the years found it extremely easy to meet and date men. some rare ones say im too tall but their opinions get drowned out in the noise of all those who dont feel that way. maybe its not just my height, i have extremely curvy hips and long legs as well as an exotic eastern european face. so for me height is a minimal problem in life.
anything under 5’8” is considered a little girl 5’8” or taller is a woman same with blondes they either look too young or too old and when they turn middle age 30’s they look really rough that’s why guys prefer dark haired women or red heads just the truth call me a liar but why do guys date blonde’s and marry dark haired women
5’8″ or taller is considered a man, everything shorter is considered a natural feminine woman.
I’m 5 feet 5 1/2″ and when I was younger, I always wanted to be shorter! I always thought the short girls were cuter – whereas I am, alas, just average. Oh well…I think you have to just accept yourself, no matter what. My sister is very tall for a woman – 5′ 9″ and she’s been married a long time and has 2 kids. Confidence, personality, choosing happiness – these things contribute more to a good relationship than a person’s height, I think! But it is an interesting article!
I am 5.11 and athletic. I should say I have been practically spoilt by increasing men`s attention throughout my life. I never liked very tall or very big men though….so my husband is 5.10, an inch shorter than me and we have two beautiful children:)))
This is so funny. Most of the guys I’ve met quite frankly don’t care. Its usually women who tend to place importance on things like this.
I’m 5’10” tall woman, and I always loved being tall and those who say we’re less feminine it’s like only imagining tall women with broad shoulders &no curves eh wrong impression :). I don’t mean to brag, but I always got loads of attention and compliments about the way I look and my body; because I’ve got an hourglass figure, small hands and feet, big attributes and a narrow waist since I’m tall and I don’t pack much fat easily like a shorter version of me would. My hubby is the same height as me, and he just likes how long and how propotionate a body of a tall woman like myself is. It makes me admire how manly and confident he is, because he doesn’t need to be taller to feel manlier 😉 So tall women out there, don’t listen to others, we’re as beautiful or even more than shorter versions of ourselves just imagine you had to choose between a short or a tall you lol that’s why models are tall, I don’t like skinny figures, but a curvaceous tall model is just perfection 😀 and short men, don’t think that tall women will eliminate you, if you’re cute with a good personality and so confident, any woman will fall for you whether tall or short (; .
In terms of true feminine beauty, what seems far more important than height is proportion, health, and vivacity.
In terms of proportion, studies have shown that the hip-to-waist ratio is the most key indicator of fertility and attractiveness. Other aspects of proportion are symmetrical facial features and limb length.
So, if a woman is proportionate, confident, charming, and takes good care of herself (fitness, hair, skin, nails, grooming), it is guaranteed that many men will find her attractive and want to date her, no matter what her height.
Having said that, most women insist on dating men taller than them, so especially tall women have a much more limited pool to draw from.
My advice to tall women who feel self-conscious about their height: stop thinking so much about it. Take care of yourself and develop an attractive personality instead.
I’m 28 and have been 6’1″ since high school. After grade school I have yet to meet a single man who refused to date me over height. Although I have been with men taller than I am, most of the population, albeit male or female tends to be shorter than me. horter guys seem to see a tall woman as a challenge. They have this idea that bringing satisfaction to someone tall is more difficult, like if he manages to acheive his goal, it’s something to be proud of. So advice to some of my leggy ladies, if you pretend height doesn’t matter, so will they. If not, then that guy’s a loser and doesn’t deserve your time and affections anyway.
I am six feet tall and sixteen years old. It’s actually kind of nice, because I can see over crowds, but it is hard to get a date, and let’s be honest here, I’m just not that attracted to any guy who is more than a few inches shorter than me…
I am 5’8 and i love it! I love the attention i get. Especially with heel’s. Tall women embrace it.
In a world where it is so difficult for two people to find each other, fall in love, and maintain a healthy, long term relationship, I don’t understand why anyone would put barriers up- especially about height. I’m 5’4″ and I’ve dated men shorter and much taller than me; if I can date someone shorter than ME, a tall girl certainly can give an average height guy a chance. I understand people have types, and I’m not saying that you should keep seeing someone and string them along after a few dates if you truly aren’t attracted to him, but why not give someone outside of your “type” a chance? I have found that being more open and accepting has made me more attractive to others than I have any right to be just based on my physical appearance.
I’m 5’11” and I hate it! Everyone says they wish they were as tall as me and that I look like a model but what’s the point in looking like a model when guys can’t give you more than a second’s worth of attention. My height intimidates men and has been a problem in dating. I’m 17 and have never dated simply for the fact that I am taller than most men and they prefer shorter women.
I’m 20 years now, when I was younger I hated hated hated beig tall because of guys. Then I realized the guys that wouldn’t want to date me were young insecure men. Now that I’m older mature confident men could care less. I get told all the time wow she’s tall like a model. I love being tall now. It just was those few years where I hated it! I’m sure your gorgeous and I promise u will love your height when your older.
i really don’t like my height because it make me uncomfortable and i think my friend too. but i get over it beacuse there is this elven year old that is around 6’0-6’2 so that makes me feel good that i know i am not alone.
I’m 5’0 never had trouble with dating guys who are taller than me. The only problem is that as an artist, I never get the big roles because of my height…that sucks
well i’m 5 ft tall and 18 yrs old. but now i realized that it doesn’t matter b/c i have a curvey body. therefore, i automatically capture attention from most men. i would never date someone shorter than me.
To all of the girls who believe that they are too tall:
I was 5’8 in fifth grade. I’m now 5’10 and going into eighth grade. Not only did my height sprout at a very young age, but so did my physical features. By the time I got into 6th grade, I was already a C cup. They continued to grow. I stuck out like a sore thumb, let me tell you. But I’m not ashamed of my height, even when guys/girls make idiotic comments. Trust me, I’ve heard them all. From the corny jolly green giant to being related to Shaq. I would rather be 5’10 any day than be short and stocky, plus it only gets worse as you get older because as you age you increasingly put on weight. My brother is already 6’4 and is 16. My father is also 6’4, my mother is 5’8, and my uncle is 6’7. So basically I come from a very tall family all together. I get mistaken for being sometimes 7 years older than I am, and my boyfriend, who is 16 and is 5’7, doesn’t mind me being taller than him in the slightest. Even though his dad cracks jokes on him for being such a shorty and me being so tall. I’m not the thinnest tall girl you will ever meet, however. I’m actually kind of medium boned, but I’m very curvy and busty as well. Which I don’t think is a bad thing, because its proportionate to my height. Girls, don’t think of yourself as being some freak for being tall. Think of it as more of a blessing. Embrace your height. Have self confidence. Theres nothing wrong with it. The only thing thats kind of a downer to me is that I find high heels to be very cute, but I don’t want to be 6’2. I’m comfortable with my height, whether or not a guy finds it attractive. Finding a guy that loves you for who you are than being with some douche who judges you on outer appearances, ESPECIALLY height.
I’m 6′ 4″ and my most recent girl friend was only 5′. It was fine for most of the time as she was very fun although at some points I felt odd dating s girl that shared such height difference between me. I don’t think hight really maters.
Great article. You really have a knack for logical thinking, for finding and organizing material and presenting it in a optimal and easy-to-understand way. I also found the subject matter fresh, informative and interesting. The only slight issue that I had is when it came to what exactly constitutes “short” and “tall”. In the Yahoo answers, for example, I’m guessing that each of the respondents had their own different views on what is “short” and what is “tall”. I know this doesn’t apply when talking about relative heights between men and women (e.g., the couples–was the woman taller or shorter than the man?), but when talking about just “short” or “tall” it’s hard to really draw any conclusions without defining what each is.
I’m 5’6″, and I’ve been called both short and tall, depending on who the person is. With men–and talk about unscientific, I know but–guys who are about 5’10” have called me average. Guys 5’9″ or under tend to think I’m tall, and guys 5’11 and up have sometimes called me “short”. Women tend to think I’m “tall” or “short” depending on how much shorter or taller they are than me, and I think the same when it comes to men (but I think of it more in terms of my height preference when it comes to dating). To me, any guy 5’9 or under is “short”. Guys 5’10 or 5’11 are average. Guys 6′ and up are “tall”. What all this is getting at here is just that the terms are relative unless the people answering the questions are given specific guidelines–e.g., for women 5’4-5’6 is average, etc.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed the read and the style in which it was presented. You’re definitely getting a follow from me. 😉
It goes both ways. Women will not date a short guy like me. I like both short and tall women but short and tall women hate short men! At 5’2″ I simply have to accept that there simply are no women who find me attractive. I can’t stand being alone and have even considered suicide! Everybody needs companionship but for short men this isn’t even possible!
i ‘m 5’7 and 17 years old and i’m taller then my mom, my sister and almost tall as my dad but his family are all tall my feet are a size 9 but all my family say i am done growing so i am ok how i am=)
Being 6’1 at 19 is rather tall and presents alot of problems for me. I struggle to feel comfortable around people knowing i stand out as much as i do. I’m naturally blonde but dye my hair dark to try to blend in. Im not skinny either just average so i don’t have the modelling advantage. I wouldn’t date a shorter guy (below 6’0) not because i don’t find them attractive but because i don’t want the attention i recieve. I would definitly prefer to be 5’9.
well im 15 and jst completed being 5’6. im the shortest in my family bt i think i would loom nice in heels, lol guys above 5’10 r a dream for me cuz i think i luk rilly short and tiny infront em. bt dis article has changed my view bt seriously think tat end of the day,its ur personalitu nt ur height! haha
I am 5’9 and i do not get any attention from men. My sisters are shorter, cuter and more desirable than me. Even though they are already moms they are still followed by men. I have felt so lonely over the years. Now that i am approaching 30 years and still alone, i am seriously thinking of adopting a kid to show it with this love i feel inside of me. So out of experience being a tall girl sucks. It’s so sad not to find love because of our physical appearances.
I am a shorty 5’2″ my 6’6″ uncle told me when I was a teenager that I could date anyone. And yes height has never been a dating issue by my intimidating men with height only umpalumpa’s.
I am a tall woman. The tallest woman on my maternal side. Thank God for my mother who always told me to walk tall, embrace it it’s who you are. I never wanted or desired to be short. I never felt awkward around shorter women or men. I have NEVER had a problem with relationships. My longest relationship being 11 years, I left him he didn’t leave me.
All through grade school, boys were attracted to me some short and tall. Now, I would be telling an untruth if I said I never heard the she’s too tall saying. But it didn’t bother me, because words like those come from people with insecurties. If you have insecurties then, this confident person can’t sooth those over for you. Only theraphy would help with that.
For so long I thought I was 5’10 and happily told anyone who asked my height, how tall I am. A doctor visit a few months ago where I was measured revealed I am 5’8. Not that anything is wrong with 5’8, but I enjoyed my 5’10 theory. Anyway, I never shy away from heels, I’m a woman no matter what, I love being feminine in every elimate.
There are men who are intimidated by height, but I say there lost. Why limit yourself? I don’t. I date short, tall, black, white….I am not about limits.
I loooovvveeee being tall! Great article!
I LOLed at the comments where tall girls say the short ones envy them. Personally I find tall women interesting and I look at them from the same reason as why I look at a rare car. I just dont see much of them. I find them interesting. Its hard to miss a tall girl and its a reflex to look at what stands out. Dont get all excited about it. For me the most attractive woman is the one that actually looks like a woman. She must have curves, be feminine, have nice hair, beautiful face.. And usually the short girls have those attributes. Which is why they get all the guys.
What does having a feminine face and nice hair have to do with height? And you can be curvy at any height as it’s just about hip to waist ratio, cup size etc, I’m only 15 and 5’8 and have been catcalled and groped by men so I dont think height puts them off 🙁 some of the prettiest girls I know are taller, also ofc both heights can look good, but to me really short women tend to look kind of compressed and stocky sometimes lol
I’m 5″2 and my boyfriend is about 5″5 he’s still going to grow a lot though I’m fine with a 3inch difference or a foot difference. I don’t think tall woman or petite woman are more attractive I think it just depends on your preference of looks.
I’m 5’9” girl. I hate it…Never had a bf because of my height x( Every dude just says I’m simply too tall to date and that I should play sports…I really envy short women. They are stealing all the tall, handsome guys!
I am a 5’11 girl, and it definitely isn’t easy. Since I’m so tall and skinny (I’m not anorexic, I can’t help my natural body type), girls of all other shapes and sizes constantly are jealous of me. One girl told me straight up that I’m a waste of height. Other just say the typical, ” gosh it must be wonderful to be so tall”, and I try to explain it isn’t all fun.
Whenever I walk through the city, guys stop and stare. At the very least, most give a glance back at me. But sadly, when it comes to true relationships with them, they have a ‘look but don’t touch’ attitude towards me. Constantly, people complain that I give awkward hugs (yes, I get the point I’m not squishy like other girls, deal with it!). I’m not manly by any means, but I just intimidate most guys away naturally largely due to my height.
But whenever I go to the mall and try on clothes I smile because I realize that most other girls couldn’t pull off the long, elegant summer dresses that I wear without some very high heels. And
I’ll have less worries about foot pains from them than normal girls. And some girls could only dream of all the attention being tall gives you effortlessly. So to any tall girls like me who will ever read this, being tall has some great pros and cons. Now grab a pair of flats, some skinny jeans or a long, elegant skirt (actually anything you want to wear, there’s little off limits to you flattery-wise) and own your height!
I live in New York City and let me tell you.. Forget about getting into celebrity nightclubs and lounges if you’re under 5’7. Only the super tall modelesque girls can get in anywhere without paying and knowing someone there. The most exclusive places look like the land of the giants! I guess because this is a fashion capital they put so much importance in height for women and men. If the girl is beautiful and on top of that over 5’9 she’s definitely a hot commodity.
All this stuff about short and tall women needing a taller man to feel petite, feminine and protected from danger seems purely American to me. I find more women who were raised in western civilizations have serious reservations against dating shorter guys. They are socialized into believing that height is everything in a man and they focus less on character. Other women have genuine fears of embarrassment if they suddenly fall for a short guy or find themselves attracted to one. Tall women can’t handle the public making noise about the shorter guy beside her especially if she towers over him. Short women simply avoid shorter guys because they have more choice of the tall guys who refuse to date a taller woman.
I’ve met women from other parts of the world who don’t seem to garner the same amount of animosity towards shorter guys. Some actually like being taller than the man and it’s not a strange fetish either. Yeah it may sound freakish, but there are tall women in other parts of the world who like guys a lot shorter and will date them. Futhermore, I believe a shorter guy is more likely to have a better dating success rate with foreign ladies.
Great hub, I’m 5’9 and I definately like taller guys because I like feeling small next to a big guy, but I believe guys like small dainty women because it makes them feel macho.
wow i used to hate being tall that i actuly used to cry about it, but after a while of people always tellin me they jealous and tht being tall is so awsum and lots of guys liking me and askin me out i began loving being tall. but now afta seeing most of these comments my confidence has just dropped again sooo much:-(
I’m just a shade under 5’6 and I encourage the tall 6’0+ guys to keep on dating the short girls. You can have them! A lot of them live in their high heels, focus way too much on height and don’t like short guys to begin with. Personally, I like taller women better, even if she’s well over 6’0 herself. I’ve had better experiences with them and a lot more tall ladies have accepted my height than the shorter ones. Don’t get me wrong, there are tall ladies who hold the same reservations against me. The ladies who aren’t afraid of dating a shorter man are the ones I like.
I’m a 6’1″ girl and I do sport too so I’m quite strong. Men in the street all stare or whistle at me but when it comes to dating or relationships, most boys back off.
I am about 5’9-10 and it just bothers me so much when short women date the tall men. I like tall men, and when you take them, only the short men are left!
IM 4’6 my boyfriend is 6’1 and i love it !! i had boyfriends in the past . in the taller side 6 feets and they love petit woman .they said petit girls are the best!!!!
Im a 6’4″ male and I looove women that are between 5’9″ and 6’0″. I find it very attractive, and quite frankly if you’re any shorter than 5’9″ I won’t even notice you unless you have an amazing personality. For one its just comfortable having a tall girl and two being with a tall girl I feel like the power couple in a way.
I can understand why some guys wouldn’t want a tall girl because they are intimidated. If a girl was my height it would scare me too.
Tall people have a harder time finding relationships because generally speaking they are seeking someone tall as well, which is much harder to find than average height people. However, when you do find someone good, you will be extremely happy as it doesn’t happen everyday.
My boyfriend is about 6’2 and I’m 5’3. I love the difference in our height. I think it’s cute. According to the bf taller women can be attractive in photographs because you can’t gauge how tall they are, but when they are standing next to him it’s another story entirely. But, that’s just him!! I’ve also met tall men who date tall women exclusively. But,love your height no matter what! Tall or petite. But, for shorter women who are insecure about their height, it’s very beautiful and feminine to be a petite woman. Elizabeth Taylor, Isabelle Adjani, and Natalie Wood were very tiny women….All under 5’4. Infact, Natalie Wood was only 5’0. Isabelle Adjani was recently voted the most beautiful woman in cinema….EVER!
im only 5’2 and for the longest time i thought because of my small frame no guy would want me =(
I am a 5’8.5″ tall man and I think that tall athletic women can be very hot. Toned legs on a tall woman are very attractive. I would probably date a woman who was maybe an inch taller than me. However, I would normally assume she wasn’t interested in me unless she gave me signals of interest at which point I would go for her.
I am short (150 cm) It was never a problem in my life before.. but now if only I could be taller. I fell in love with this guy and he seems really tall.
I prefer same heights or a little taller then me.
I’m 5’2″ and of medium stocky (a few pounds overweight) build. I’m cute, not hot, and in times past I would have looked like a reasonably attractive peasant woman. I’ve been attracted to guys for a lot of reasons, some have been nearly my height, not shorter than 5’2″ though and of varying body types. However the type of guy that turns my head is a tall, thin, muscular type. (isn’t that the same for every woman?) I have been in two long term relationships with that type of guy.
My current bf is really tall compared to me at a whole foot higher. That was an accident. He sat next to me in a class in college and I really liked him and fell in love sitting there. I didn’t realize his height until I started dating him. He also didn’t realize I was so short. It causes some issues. I wish I could be taller to kiss him for one thing. Also gay guys flock to him and taller women have treated me like I must be his little ugly sister or one of those ugly women with inexplicably hot bfs. Yep that’s me! Good for me! He’s one of the “beautiful people” and I am not so much! I think my personality was what really got him though. I’m very persistent when I want something so whether I was too tall or even shorter than I am now, I would have got to him! (not that I feel that way about every man!!) Not only am I older than him but I am a single mom so I have bigger things working against me than height! Being a single mom is a huge relationship obstacle much more than height!
I know I might feel weird about dating a guy shorter than me but it’s hard to find an adult male under 5’2″ anyway so I wouldn’t know. Using logic, I would prefer a man who is nearly equal in height to me (being an equality driven Libra may be the cause of this). I’ve never heard of women as short as me preferring men above 6′ over a decent height of 5’6″! Fortunately, height is not a determining factor for me in relationships which is perhaps why I have been blessed.
I think tall women are beautiful as well as short and I envy many tall women. I envy the power they exude. Men aside, I feel like my demure height robs me of personal power so I wish I were taller. If I’m standing in a group of people, I find my comments get ignored because I have to look up and speak loudly the whole time. I can see why shorter people are usually poor. We get less attention unless we work harder to be heard and even if we are heard, there are forces at work that cause us to be taken less seriously. All that may cause someone to get bitter and frustrated, hence the “loud, aggressive short person” and the Napoleon Complex. I think tall people should stop blaming their relationship issues on short people and vice versa! Despite the stats, you can find love! Don’t be so picky about height! Personality, despite the cliche, is the most important thing to find a quality mate!!
I am 5’0 tall and have never had any difficulty getting male attention no matter what height the male. I am in a long term relationship and get hit on by others often. Tall women only look good in photos
I am 5’6 as of right now, and I’m supposed to be 5’9 or 5’10 soon. If I can get a good date being that tall, I’d be satisfied):
Im 5’2 and 23 years old, and planning to do hardcore exercising/dieting to grow another 2 inches, at least.
Men might like shorter women, but I’m not happy with my height.
I want to be independent, so height will help me seem more capable at work, plus, I don’t like guys who are more than 4 inches taller than I am.
Seems I’m doomed At 5’9 120 pounds due to weight loss never realized how hard it’s to put weight on so ladies trying to lose us skinny gals are having a tough go at gaining as well I’ve been told by both men and women my long legs are my attribute and eyes but I honestly think looks are just wat attracts , it’s more personality that men find attractive just my opinion but if I’m wrong I’m single and kinda looking lol 🙂
Well I’m 4’11 and for some reason all the really tall guys seem to be into me. I just have no idea why. I used to feel so insecure about my height thinking no guy is going to like a girl this short, but that’s not true I get hit on by the tallest guys and most of my bfs have been really tall. my current bf is 6’3. It’s the craziest thing. It’s not that big of an issue, I just always try to wear heels and wedges when we go out to not appear so damn small next to him. Haha!
I’m really tall (187 cm) nd I’m still a teen!! I think men (and boys) generally prefer shorter women as I always have a hard time getting dates and stuff… I think most are intimidated by how tall I am… It sucks… I hate being tall!!
I don’t care what this says I’d love to be taller! I’m tiny at only 5’0 and I personally feel I can’t go out with really tall guys as I get self conscious the vast height difference will look ridiculous.
While this might be statistically true, what this doesn’t say is that this smaller pool of men will also be limited to taller men. As a taller (5’10”) woman myself, I have no problem having a smaller pool of men to choose from if that pool is from the best and most desirable men available 😉
Taller girls rules!
what a nice subject i am very short 150 cm n mu bf is 168cm he is short as well but he do sometimes make fun of my hight
I’m 5’2 very short and petite buy not skinny. My bf is 6’0 and I would go for shorter personally. But I think that’s just because I’m
So short. The comment about confidence is true, I just have none and I’m convinced if I wasn’t looking up at everybody I would be much more confident. I just feel so small and unimportant especially at work!
i’m female and tall 6’0 and i have few kilograms more than i should so it’s not exactly the perfect combination men are looking for.. also, it’s really hard to find anyone that is at least my height, and about dating smaller guys – well, their height isn’t that much of a problem for me, but the thing is that they don’t want to have some giant as their girlfriend and they would feel like i’m gonna crush them any moment.. and every guy friend i know prefer short, midget like women (no offense to short women 🙂
Im tall:/im 5’6 grrrrr…
i don’t care what boy prefer…im 1.51 and i would love to be even 1.80
wow ok some people are shallow just because someone is tall doesnt make them successfull lol i can actually intruduce you to a few if you would like that will wham bam thank you mam. hasnt any one heard of good things come in small packages. the love of my life is 5 feet 8 and iam 5 ft 6 in a half so i put heels on that by the way i wear all the time iam beyond taller than him.i also dated someone who was 5feet 4 and he was a sweet guy we are still friends. maybe you should give the shorties a chance you never know maybe you will find the one.
Im a woman and I’m 5’7″. I don’t know if that’s considered very tall, but I love my height. I think being taller makes you feel more confident, and I truly think people give you more respect when your taller. And Blue Lady, I think your right… Taller women are usually more successful than the average woman. Its rare that I see a Tall woman with a dead-end job and no money.. especially if shes pretty too.Taller people (men or women) tend to get better jobs, make more money, and be more successful in general. However, the dating part is true. Short men have more trouble attracting women, and tall women have more trouble attracting men. I’m not even really all that tall, but I still have a harder time finding dates. If he’s under 5’10” then I wont date him. I just cant. Taller men make me feel more protected, and despite my taller height, I still Love to wear high heels!
see this is a double edged sword here, there are short women who weight 100 lbs and than there are short women who have curves and weight 140lbs than there are tall women who are 100lbs or a tall women who weights 160 lbs. and then there is the face some women have a cute look and some are plain or exotic. so alot of factors play in. i mean i wish i was taller iam 5’6. i wish i was less exotic looking and had smaller lips and smaller eyes but i dont, i guess we are who we are.
You kidding me big lips are more desirable to men l love them
I don’t the no matter nan date a women without them
I’m 5’9” when i was younger i would atrract men when i went out to the bar. However, they were not substanical realtionships.My short counter parts would have more meaninfull realtionships! When i got middle aged i married a physician, but i found out later he had mental health problems.I find other tall women that do tend to get quality men have money,or a good job!If your a tall woman without money you will only get the less diserable men!That’s just my opinion.The quality men like short women.
Interesting. Majority of high fashion models are tall. I believe that shorter women should have it much easier attracting men, however, anywhere we go with my shorter girlfriends, I am the one who attracts the most attention from men. I am 5’11” tall. We are all pretty women, but somehow men do appreciate my never ending tight legs…
How tall you our really does not matter to me. Being healthy both physically and mentally is much more important.
I am quite tall especially among the asians (5’10) and my height identity has made me a confident person among the general population but has also been depressing when it comes to finding a life partner. I could safely say that less than 10% of my male friends (mostly asians) are about same height or taller than me and even those that are will be at high demand with other female counterparts. I keep telling myself that height isn’t an issue and I personally don’t care about height at all. But I think the guys care a lot about it and it’s very frustrating. I wish people can learn to love each other based on who they are and it’s stupid that height is such a great concern physiologically.
I agree Jenny.
I think we are slowly growing out of these ‘evolutionary effects’ that are no longer very applicable in our modern society.
awww Aya, you must be a little midget, so cute. No wonder you went through all this trouble to write this. Did you little fwingers fwall off while typing little girl?
Dear Michelle,
There is no need to personally attack me. I am simply presenting results from scientific studies I have found on this interesting question.
What matters most is how you view yourself and not how others view you. 😀
Well done Aya_Hajime! I was wondering about the height issues on dating, because according to my observations, many men are attracted to tall women, but few men actually date them. Shorter women seemed to be the ones getting many suitors. You have explained well behind this phenomenon, along with the comprehensive and interesting statistical data. Voted up!
Very interesting hub.. I’m very short, most men are taller than I am and I definitely prefer that. Thanks for sharing your findings.