to dislike being called tall?

Oh of course. I just don't understand how people define femininity by height. I am a tall woman myself and find it disheartening that some women want to feel feminine but don't because of their height.

@Illegally18 appalling GP response.

See also tall children being expected to be more mature and academically advanced than shorter classmates.

I took my DS to see father Christmas just after he turned 6 - declared this on the booking. The elves had run out of age 5-7 toys and gave him the 8-10. When I questioned they just said he was a "great tall boy". Doesn't mean had the motor skills for fiddly knock off Mecano.

So surely highlighting that its not universally desirable will help those people stop commenting on other people's bodies? It should be universally considered rude to comment on other people's bodies unsolicited no matter what feature it is they are commenting on, or what their rational behind it is. I would never dream of commenting on a strangers physical attributes but am subjected them multiple times a day!

Maybe it's personal life experience as a tall woman?

Nobody is questioning whether these comments are true. We're meant to apparently take it as some sort of compliment (for stating the obvious?!) when in fact it is pretty rude and tedious to comment on people's appearance.

Be aware that it can be 'othering', disconcerting and unwanted.

I'm tall and I get you, OP. It's wearing. I'm 5.10.. Being shorter or taller than average are both difficult to navigate, especially depending whether you're a man or a woman. The constant comments. Speaking as a woman, the assumption is that as a tall woman you can take anything, that you're somehow less vulnerable, emotionally and physically, that it's somehow less 'feminine' the more physical space you take up. You're less likely to be accompanied home from an event because it's assumed you can fend for yourself or less likely to be assaulted because you're tall. I told my GP that a man had tried to assault me once, and he was surprised because 'you're so tall!' Then there's those who are against you BECAUSE you're tall, BECAUSE the think you're not vulnerable, they want to take you down a peg or two, not understanding that you're just ordinary person who happens to be tall. You didn't pinch their fair share of height, you just happened to be born tall.. Who cares about looking like a model?! Or a queen?! Or those men who 'love tall women!. Just like me for myself!

You're being sensitive. I'm 5'9" it is tall compared to the average in the UK of 5' 3". It could be worse. I've been told I was too tall to be a woman in India and a giraffe in Thailand...

Yes people are sometimes passremarkable and it's a bit rude. I'd honestly be more annoyed at being called a "tall girl" since you are clearly a grown woman if you're attending the wedding of your partner's son.

I find this thread so weird. I'm tall. People sometimes comment. We then make smalltalk. I'm really surprised at how many people get angry or upset by this, pp describing it as 'draining' etc.

You mean ... society thinks ...

The same as society thinks being handsome or beautiful is better than being plain, slim better than fat etc. They are just societal beliefs.

Some cultures believe being fat is a positive, as an example. Some probably value shortness more than tallness.

It's just the societal norm. Western societal belief is that tall is positive, short is negative. We can still individually believe the opposite but that's an individual thing. It doesn't change the societal norm.

I don’t see it as a negative, and I don’t quite understand why people do. To me, people who think being short is some misfortune are extraordinarily shallow and, well, lacking in imagination.

I don't understand the logic of some posters views that shorter women are seen as more "feminine". One's perception of femininity is so much more than their height. You can absolutely be tall and feminine, just like you can be short and perceived as masculine or lacking in femininity.

It's a compliment!

Ah I didn’t see this post before I added mine.

I often get called a dwarf or a Smurf or worse as I am not even 4ft 11!

Tall and slim are seen as positive attributes so saying to someone “aren’t you tall” or “aren’t you slim” is mainly deemed acceptable whereas “aren’t you short” or “aren’t you fat” is unacceptable. Not saying it’s right but I think a lot of people do think like that.

Same, I'm 5' 8" and a half, and I rarely get tall comments! I didn't think it was that tall 😂

"Explain how “you’re a tall girl” is even remotely comparable to “you look amazing”, “your hair is beautiful” or “I love your dress”?"

Because they are all compliments

Being tall is considered a positive.

Conversely, being short is a negative and so not mentioned. A bit like you wouldn't point out someone is fat (breaking news - slimness is also considered a positive feature). I guess we will now get obese posters upset and saying people go out of their way not to mention their fatness because it's just a normal every day descriptor and we don't comment on any aspect of a person's physical body.

Yeah, that's why I said it's seen as a desirable physical feature, which is why people think it's OK to comment on it, whereas commenting on someone's short stature is universally considered rude.

I'm just under 6 ft so wouldn't consider your height tall to be honest.

I get it OP. My DD is about 5’7.5” not extremely tall but definitely taller than most women. My sister is 5’0” (I’m 5’6.5”) and she always has to make a comment about how tall my DD is. She even asked her how did she get so tall. And none of this would bother me too much except she’s always going on about how short she is, how she’s barely 5 feet, how her son 9yr old son is almost as tall as she is. And now she’s worried about him being tall and is taking him to an endocrinologist. It’s annoying.

Luckily it doesn’t bother DD but it bothers me as I hated being called big and tall and I still have a problem with my height. I think it’s very rude because some people can have insecurities around their height and you never know how it will affect them.

YANBU. I just don't comment on anyone's appearance, it's the safest way.

I'm 5ft 1. Often referred to as short, petite, bijoux. All very accurate. I'm not so keen on being called a hobbit or a leprechaun!

Tall is a reasonably accurate description of someone your height. It isn't an insult.

It's not always desirable though is it? Other than models, women being petite and tiny and taking up less space is considered far more feminine! I dislike being tall and it makes me self conscious. Just because someone else deems it desirable, doesn't mean i should constantly (and I mean constantly) be open to hearing remarks about it. To me, being shorter is desirable, but I have the good manners not to point short people's height to them because I have the awareness that they might not like it!

I've never had anything other than positive comments about being tall.

Being fat's a different matter of course!

I love being tall.

You're a perfect model height OP.