Everyday sexism- help me test a theory

[MinnieMountain]

Having had a man swim into me in the pool on purpose yesterday because I overtook him (was definitely on purpose), reminded me of a theory I have:

As a tall woman of 5ft 10 I’ve only experienced overt sexism when it’s not been clear that I am tall (leaning over my bike, swimming, cycling). So my theory is that tall women experience fewer incidents of overt/everyday sexism than average height or short women.

Obviously my theory is based on a sample of 1 so far, so I’m curious what others think.

Even if the breaststroker had overtaken you (as op said she had one)? How would not allow it?!

Interesting. I am short - 5'4. I used to get 'smile, love' ALL the time, and got 'you can do it!' comments every time I went running (though I found those quite sweet and motivating, even though they were yelled from the windows of passing white vans.) I also always get ignored by tradesmen. I book them to come around for an evaluation of a job. I talk them through the job. It is clear I am the one paying for the job. They discuss it with 6'2 DH. Every time. Don't even look me in the eye.

That's am interesting theory and may have some merit.

I am 5ft.
Physically, when men are talking to me, they have to look down. When we are standing.
So, it makes sense that, for some men, they feel they can also talk down/make sexist remarks to me.

For you, if you are at the same height, when talking, it makes it more difficult for some men to talk down/make sexist remarks to you.

5’10” and I’m not sure. When younger I got my fair share of ‘smile, love’ and ‘so rude of you not to talk to me, I’m only being friendly’. Now, post 40 that has mainly died away. I assume because I’m usually out with the DC. Although I did realise last year that I feel safer at night with DS1 than alone. It’s mad because he’s only Y6 but he’s 5’4” so from a distance is a teenager boy size…

Well of course they push past women. It's because they all have Very Important Jobs, far, far more important than anything a woman would do.

I had a godmother who was 5.10 - she would be in her mid-nineties now. Once she commented sadly that my mum -5.2 - always had men offering to help carry things/get things from top shelves/help change tyres, whereas she was deemed competent to do everything because of her height. The reverse of course might be true eg my godmother, had she worked, might have been accorded competency because of male-type height, whereas my mother, who did work, had to prove herself over and over again.

I'm tall and I agree with this.

Additionally I think the way the world is built for a 6ft man obviously has less impact on the 5ft8 woman than the 4ft11 woman.

This is such an interesting subject, along with the tangential points about teams being such a leveller - I'd never thought about it in that way before.
There was a similar conversation on here a few years back about if the comments were worse, or more frequent, for curvier women than those with more athletic builds. I think the consensus was yes, but no-one was immune.

My 16yo daughter is 5'10" and has inherited my "fucked off shoebill" resting expression and she has confided that her shorter friends do seem to get hassled, barged or otherwise mistreated more than her. So I think your theory has legs, and really makes you realise just how pathetic the perpetrators of these behaviours are.

She has however noticed that boys who are shorter than her can be quite nasty to her, but in a more snide and sly way than overt. It's really quite sad.

I'm tall and I've never been told to smile or anything like that, so you may be onto something.

I have been physically lifted out of the way like a piece of furniture, instead of the man in question simply saying “excuse me”. I suspect that doesn’t happen to taller women,

I'm 5ft 11 and have experienced plenty of sexist comments, I don't think height makes any difference.

I'm 5'3" and don't experience much sexism because I don't go out socially, do sport, go places where I encounter people in general. I have been deliberately barged in to (they hurt my shoulder) three times and shouted at twice. I just blank men out really. I am quite chubby and have a face which could crush rocks so I think those aspects of me make men steer clear 😂 if one banged into me now I'd probably clock him one (stroppy older woman) as I couldn't give a shite about anything really.

Your OP reminded me of something I read ages ago (might have been on Twitter) about some truly disgusting behaviour by men towards women in swimming pools - especially those taking umbrage at being overtaken etc. One man actually grabbed a woman’s leg to hold her back.

So I’m not surprised you experienced this AT ALL.

I had a couple of examples yesterday but they were on the phone
I answered the phone and men presume I'm reception, despite having pressed the specific option (say for "I want to buy a plumbing part")
My male colleagues don't get this and the customer just starts reeling off the part they want. I get "can you transfer me to plumbing parts?"

I ordered and reserved a plumbing part (see above, it's my job, I do it hundreds of times a day) and got "good girl, well done"

You didn't define what is tall.

I must not be tall since I've never experienced aggression in the pool from males.

Sorry, it's just arseholes and culture, not height. I'm 5'6 and get comments in the UK where I'm taller than average. The other countries I've lived where I'm also comparatively tall I've also had problems. In the countries where I'm comparatively short, average for a woman is 5'7, I get no problems. Could also be taller=richer=better educated=less sexist and the uk is on the shitter side of all those things in europe.

Interesting theory OP! I'm not sure, I don't feel men in general have been sexist towards me, apart from a bad stint in a horribly toxic workplace. I'm 5 3" and always been a little overweight. I have a gentle pleasant sort of look. Men have always been quite nice to me in a non sexual way and I now believe its cos I always remind them of their mums or a kind aunt, even when i was young. I wonder if I was taller would I have commanded more respect.

Not tall=‘s not above average height for a woman in the UK @lljkk . My mentioning my experience in the pool is based on the fact that it’s not really possible to see a person’s height in the pool. You’ve misunderstood.

I am tall and used to be very fat. I experienced the least random stranger sexism when I was at my largest, but the most from people I know/colleagues/friends’ partners etc at the same time.

Teams has been a great leveller. No wonder all those male business property owners want us all back on site....

On dating apps I've been told ," oh you're too tall for a girl "
I'm
Just 5ft 8

I'm now thinking back to the rare times when I HAVE experienced sexism if I was maybe sitting down or in a position where it wasn't obvious how tall I am....

yes me too being physically removed out the way. I am 5 ft 2. Mind you that was in my thinner days. They'd probably get a hernia if they tried that shit now.

Very interesting thread, OP.

Also 5ft 8 and have been told 'you're too tall' by male colleagues. My response - 'for what?'