Is His Height A Deal Breaker?
Famous couples aside, some women won't date "down" when it comes to a man's height.
Blame it on Jimmy Choo. More and more women are towering over their male counterparts these days.
While the average height for a man ranges between 5'8" and 5'11", popular high heel styles are stacked at 3, 4 and even 5 inches which means that if you're a stylish single woman on the prowl, chances are you might be looking down at your next date. Read: Tall Girl in Love
Rest assured, you're not alone. The Huffington Post just published a list of 14 Famous Couples With Taller Women and we must say, things are looking up. Many attractive and successful women have paired up with men who are, let's just say, vertically challenged. Janet Jackson towers over Jermaine Dupree, Mick Jagger is minuscule compared to L'Wren Scott and Sophie Dahl stands at least 3 inches above her beau, Jamie Cullum.
These women didn't stop themselves from falling in love just because they towered over their man. But they appear to be the exception and not the rule.
For years, women have been conditioned to believe that tall, dark and handsome is the only way to go. Breaking that mantra, specifically when it comes to height, is harder than it sounds. Ask any of your exceptionally tall friends why they are still single and they're likely to blame it on the fact that they refuse to date a shorter man. And by short, they mean anyone below 6'2".
What is it about being with a shorter man then that traditionally makes a woman wrinkle her nose? Is it her own self-consciousness or simply a matter of attraction? Are taller men simply more desirable? Photos: Discover The Psychology Of Attraction
Being tall usually gives a man self-confidence. Likewise, snuggling up to a taller man usually makes a woman feel better about her own proportions. There's nothing worse for a woman's self-confidence than realizing she weighs more than a man she's about to get naked with. Read: Sex & The Curvy Girl
Height has traditionally been a turn on because it can signal strength, power and point to other physical attributes as well...
So call it shallow. Call it short-sighted. When a woman sizes up a man, she's likely to drop her gaze if his head doesn't clear her shoulders. Read: Short Man in Love
Discussion
Height has always been a problem with me. I am about 5'9 and it seems like evey guy was always shorter than me. I am very self-consciousness about my height anyway, but I started dating a really short guy his is proably about 5'6" and I was always kind of attractted to him, but the his height was a problem, so I use to push hime away. I gave it a chance and I was really happy throught out the whole dating experience, and I did find myself some what falling in love. So my advice is not to be so hung up on minor things, that can allow you to miss out
I'm 5'8" almost 5'9" and I dated a guy that was half a foot shorter. It was fine at first because I (and everyone else around me) told me that if I didn't make a big deal out of the height, it wouldn't be a problem. And It wasn't... at first. I focused on how similar we were, all the things we shared, all the great conversations we had, how well we clicked. Hell, besides the height thing, we were physically attracted to each other. We were really good together, for about two months and then the OBVIOUS height difference started creeping up.
The first time we kissed each other standing up... it never happened again. The weird looks from people passing by. Friends side comments. Friends who just looked the other way. The first night clubbing we went as a couple to.
Hell, I even had a close friend tell me later on (after we broke up) "He always seemed to bounce a little while walking next to you, like he was walking on the tips of his feet..."
Yeah, it's hard...
I'm 5'6" and I don't like to date men who are shorter than me, but I also don't like to date men who tower over me (6'2" max). It's personal preferance, but maybe if Mr. Right came along, I'd look past his height (no pun) and make sure we were sitting most of the time.
I have been married to a 6'1 man, 175 lbs and we have 2 children. I am 5' tall weighing 90lbs. with a slenderly toned built. We have known each other for a few years before we became lovers. All my life, I've always been attracted to tall men......and now that I have been divorced I met a guy who's 6' tall. Oddly, we met at a store randomly, by mistake I thought he worked there seeking for his help. Then when he turned around I guess the "cupid" aimed at us. So goes the story....we went for cup of latte, dinner, window shopping, the movies, walking, or sitting at the park.....then one day I went with him on a one-night overnite trip. For some odd reasons, I have been becoming nervous and was not able to sleep 3 nites before that trip....I can not pin point why (but I came to guess that it's been a while to sleep with a man you like and worries & nervous that what happens after that one night with him...I asked myself, "will this be a deal breaker or lucky uniter". We both enjoyed each others company and even our one-bed sharing.
Then 2 days later, we emailed and said hello to each other. And in a week time, when we met and talk, then he said that there's a couple of differences that bothered him, our height differences, and he said I snored when i sleeping. Upon hearing this, I did not what to say, whether to laugh or flip my middle finger.....but I responded graciously. NOW THE QUESTION IS....why is he telling me about my height now while in fact the first time he saw and met me I was wearing my tennis shoes.....I was even looked shorter then! AND NOW tell me folks, what was that all about....would you put up with a man like this??????? thank you
He's either shallow or using any excuse he can think of.
I don't think you need to be too gracious to someone he tells you he doesn't like your height. It's certainly not something you can too anything about.
Check out this piece on dealbreakers.http://www.yourtango.com/200684/relationship-red-flags.html
I refuse to date anyone under 6 foot for several reasons: First, I'm a small girl (5'- 5") and I like to wear heels and still feel like a woman not an Amazon. Second, I don't find short men desirable, which is strictly a preference thing and not to be judged (thankyouverymuch.) Third: Some short men have complexes (Napoleon, anyone?)
I used to be kind of a bitch and when a short guy would ask me out I would raise my hand about 6 inches above my head and say, "Honey, you need to be at least this tall to ride this ride."
Of course, I would never say that now. I am sure there are some very nice short men out there who would make a wonderful boyfriend or husband. Like I said before, it's a preference. I prefer taller men. I also don't like red heads or blonds, and I am totally attracted to big noses.
two thoughts; first, I'm not sure if that was a typo or not, but 5'5" is definitely not short for a woman - I believe that is a solid inch above average.
Second, sure some short men have complexes, but In my experience, short guy complexes are no more common than tall/medium guy complexes. Only when you are tall/average height, he doesn't have a "napoleon complex", instead he is just "an a*****e".
Of course, you are entitled to your preferences; but it is good to know that preferences can change. I didn't think I was attracted to asian guys, and then I gave one a chance and now I prefer them! Same thing with short guys. You never know what you might like till you try it!
Well, I never had an 'Amazon Complex' , but probably quite the opposite. While I'm 5ft 9-1/2", I was always short in H.S. school. I was at least a year or more younger than my classmates. I graduated H.S. at age 16 and never stopped growing till I was over 21.
Oddly though, I can remember liking a girl when I was about 12, but "I" was uncomfortable with HER height. SHE was tiny---I think I didn't want to end up having kids that were real short. (ha, and you women think you're the only sex of the species that shops for genes) What a fool I was--kids are dumb..Who know's--it could have worked out to be a wonderful relationship. I have dated women taller than me. It never seemed to bother me or them. I think Dudley Moore and Susan Anton cleared the way for shorter men with taller women. And then there's Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise. He's so short ALL his former wives have been taller than him. I guess you can appreciate this one 'Scarred Heart' : When they finally split up, Nichole Kidman was quoted as saying," Thank-God, Now I can finally wear heels again".
Finding a compatible personality in a mate is much more important than who's taller. I wouldn't care if she was 5ft or 6ft2. So long as she wasn't terribly overweight -ha, I guess we all still have our physical ideals.
I cannot date anyone who is shorter than me. This is not any issue because I am only 5'4'', so there are not a lot of men shorter than me anyway. But the idea of kissing someone shorter seems akward. i would have to bend down instead of them, and maybe I'm just shallow on this issue, but I like the feeling of being on my tippy toes to kiss my boyfriend.
Height is definitely a BIG ISSUE with me! I am 5' 8" AND I like to wear heels occasionally! I have dated guys just even with me or an inch shorter and I can't help it, I feel like I'm with a BOY not a MAN! I towered over classmates thru out school, constantly hear remarks about "being tall!" and most of my co-workers are shorter than me. I've had guys repeatedly comment "What is it with you Tall Chicks wearing HIGH HEELS?" My answer - "Because I can!"
It is sooo nice to be with a TALL MAN and NOT feel like an Amazon Woman for a change! I won't consider dating any man less than 6 feet tall! I'd prefer taller! I have nothing against OTHER women being with a shorter man, it's just me. I guess I like to feel "shorter" for a change. I'm sick of the tall jokes and comments!
