Do you think this is true about short v tall men?

My Dad and Brother are both short - 5ft 6 and 5ft 7. They both have short man syndrome. It hasn't held my dad back financially. But both of them hate being referred to as short and my Mum and SIL cant wear heels.

Maybe the CEO title helped you with your decision.

5ft 8 isn't short. Your friend needs to stop blaming his height for his failures.

If it does exist, it’s the result of how they are treated/perceived rather than the cause.

It’s definitely true on dating sites, where people have a shopping list mentality. I have two friends who both insist any man they date is over 6 foot. They’re also quite shallow in other ways. Neither has had a happy relationship for many years and one discounted an absolutely perfect guy who made her laugh, was living the life she wanted, had property abroad and would have been so good for her, because he was the same height as her - 5’6.

I’ve dated men from 5’4” to 6’3” and and now with the latter, despite not being fussed about height, because he’s a wonderful man. Had Mr 5’4” not been such a dickhead I’d have never met my current DP!

For anyone who matters, height is of no significance, and while it may be beneficial in terms of first impressions, you still need the goods to back it up.

In a work situation, certain roles eg sales might benefit from a physical impact, but most job requirements would focus on ability and commitment, so being a well rounded and accomplished individual is going to be much more important.

I have two sons, one 5’8 and one 6’ and both are very successful. The taller one definitely has some added confidence due to his physical impact, but he also puts in a lot of effort networking and making a great impression on bosses, which he could also do as a less tall man!

I think there is a grain of truth in this!

https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/tall-man-thinks-its-an-achievement-20190215182505

I wouldn't waste time thinking about it, everyone has a mix of advantages and disadvantages but confidence, charisma and kindness matter so much more than physical characteristics so focus on helping your son develop those valuable traits. Look at people like Tom Holland, who has a successful, taller girlfriend and is considered attractive himself and exudes charisma and not insecurity (IMO)
A lot of those studies on physical attractiveness are done in the abstract. I think most of us would answer we'd rather be with someone who had more money, had a musical talent, cooked well, had no genetic illnesses in their family, or had a MIL we got on with than someone who didn't, if you're asked the question on paper. In reality none of that matters much compared to having compatible lifestyles, values and having fun together.
5' 8 is also lower end of average rather than short, so not even a height that's likely to get singled out.

Agree. 'Short Man Syndrome' is definitely a thing.

I’ve never understood the height thing. I have never had a certain height as a criteria. I think Dh is 5’9” I don’t actually know for sure. I think I’m about 5’4”. He’s a really great guy and his height has never held him back in any way.

I once dated a tall guy, 6’2” (only knew because he was always telling everyone) and he was a prick. Once blocked me in a doorway on a night out while he screamed in my face and I swear was going to punch me but didn’t. Heard his next girlfriend was attacked by him but he denied it and his now wife I saw with two black eyes a few times early in their relationship. Lucky escape there.
Dh isn’t nice because he’s a shorter bloke and ex isn’t a prick because he’s over 6 foot, he’s just a prick that happens to be tall.

I do think there is an obsession with height with a lot of women though, many of my friends ‘wouldn’t dare’ (their words) date a short guy so in turn some shorter men may feel at a disadvantage because of that, whether that creates a bias in the professional world though, I’m really not sure.

It will make him less attractive to some women in the same way that not having supermodel good looks holds many women back. I’m sure he’ll do absolutely fine in life and you won’t end up with a DIL who is so shallow she only goes for 6ft+ men.

Well at a population level it may be true but it certainly hasn’t been my experience. I don’t think I’ve actually ever met someone with short man syndrome, however I have met plenty of lanky idiots who think being tall is a personality trait. I know plenty of confident short men and plenty of insecure tall ones so I don’t think it’s necessarily an indicator.

My DH is short but confident, attractive and successful, he’s certainly never had a problem getting a partner, his ex is a (low level) model. On the other hand I have two male cousins who are both over 6’ and late 20s/30s and have never had a girlfriend (not for want of trying), so again I don’t think it’s universally true that tall men get all the girls. Tall or short there’s usually something that can be found for others to pick on (ginger, big ears, big nose etc.) and there are also lots of reasons people may not fancy someone that are nothing to do with height, there are plenty of really unattractive (to me) tall blokes. Incidentally I don’t think any of our (all male) Board at work are over about 5’10 and several must be 5’6 or shorter.

If I have a son he’ll probably be short, it’s not something that worries me and if he expresses concern about it I’ll be pointing to his father and saying height is just one small part of a person and it’s never held your dad back, focus on being a good person and doing your best as there will always be something negative about everyone so don’t let it get you down.

My DH is 5"7 with shoes on 😂He's very successful, earns well, happy, healthy, thriving social life etc.
Has the research been conclusive that height is the cause of the advantages tall men have?

On average, yes those statements are all true. However, the thing with averages is that there are always outliers.

The richest man I know is about 5 foot 6. He’s a really nice guy, he made his money by working hard and being entrepreneurial, he has a beautiful (short!) wife, 2 lovely kids, grandchildren, a beautiful big house, he retired at about 40 and spends his time with his family and travelling the world. Being short never held him back! He has the perfect life!

I'm the tallest in my close friendship group, and definitely not the most confident or successful. In fact, the shortest one is, by some margin.

I can however hide things out of sight of short people, which is useful if we have chocolate biscuits in the house.

Confidence goes a long way in my opinion.

Plenty of women aren't physically attracted to fat men. I would say weight is as much as issue for men as for women, in modern dating. With the explosion of gym/wellness culture it is expected that a single man keeps fit and active. If he wants to attract a fit, slim woman anyway.

I think most women want a man the same height as them or taller .

Height and men is a sensitive subject. Just as looks and weight are triggers for a lot of women . Watch married at first sight to confirm that .

I think average height men (5'7 to 5'9 IMO) can be sexy/charismatic as long as they do not show signs of 'short-man syndrome' 😁

I prefer tall men.

I'm 5'4 and it's very rare for me to be physically attracted to a man who is shorter than 5'10.

We like what we like. 😊

Well actually I can imagine this is true but you've also got to remember that it is just a trend- so it won't be true for every tall man just like it won't be true that every short man is overlooked or lacking in confidence. In my opinion, charisma and personality go a long way and that is in no way at all height related.

Similar here - I’m 5 ft 4 and DH is 5 ft 8. Both our DSs are slightly taller - 5ft 10/9 - but it hasn’t been an issue. Our very successful and well regarded school head is not much taller than me. I think his wife is about 5 ft 1.

I believe that the US presidential election has always been won by the taller candidate, so maybe there are certain areas where height is an advantage.

On dating profiles, I definitely know women who say they want someone 5"10 or above (even if they themselves are 5"2) but I also think there are some men who add a couple of inches to their height on these profiles, so I think both men and women are thinking about height as a "desirable quality".

That said, it is only important if you give it importance. Dont let them get hung up on it, or their insecurity or bitterness will be more unattractive than their lack of height. If your sons get their confidence in their other qualities (kindness, honesty, humour, intelligence, compassion, hobbies, talents, etc) they will be very attractive to future partners and employers alike.

I'm sure every person on here has met a 6" man with a visually pleasing face but an awful attitude who has turned out to be the most unattractive man in the world or a short person with a wonky nose who has a very attractive twinkle in their eye. Personality can either cover or create the blemishes we see in one another.

He's male, which is the biggest advantage there is.

But I don't listen to stats, I'm a 5'2" mixed race woman running my own company in an 99% male dominated industry, and apparently I should be a housewife or earning under £25k and turning up to company marketing photoshoots as the token brown woman in the company.

Of course there are some advantages to being tall as a man, noone would deny that. Just in the same way, there are societal advantages to being very naturally attractive.

There are also societal advantages and privileges in being rich, having a healthy functional childhood, being white, being able bodied, being male in certain work environments etc etc

These privileges affect all of us in different ways and contexts. However, you are unreasonable to suggest your son is now somehow doomed in life due to his height. Self confidence and attitude go an awful long way in career success so if it bothers you that much get him to work on these things rather than spending time worrying about not being 6 foot 2