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.

I'm 5'6" and I've never experienced sexism.

I get leched on by men shorter than me. I mean, they're octogenarians, but yeah, shorter than me. That's my recent experience of sexism.

I can't think of any other examples of sexism I've experienced in last 20 years. A lot of patronising from other women, though, no shortage of that! Mostly women shorter than me.

I'm 5'6 but I have major resting bitch face and 'fuck off vibes'. My only close encounter with 'smile love' was when wearing a mask (pre-covid PPE), when a bloke in to do a job commented to the guy escorting him 'the masks are a shame, you can't even ask them to smile'. The guy escorting him looked at me with absolute fear in his eyes.

My response was 'good old masks, protecting me from allergens and you from being reported to HR'.

I can also report that when I was pregnant no-one tried to touch my bump, I think that's related too.

Maybe men are more likely to get the 'fuck off vibes' from taller women? I'd love to do a proper study.

I'm short, but when younger worked hard on developing my "fuck off field", to the extent that I didn't get much of that crap then, and don't get it now either.

Downside, people think I'm intimidating on first meeting, but outweighed by the fact that this way, I find the people who make the effort to talk are nicer, since the assholes appear to have already screened themselves out! 😂

I’m ’too tall’ apparently, and have experienced a lot of sexism in the past. Old now, so not so much. I’m also intimidating allegedly. Hah!

But my tall privilege is that I rarely feel threatened when out and about. I used to walk around some dodgy parts of London in my younger days and had very few issues, well, none I couldn’t deal with.

I am a regular swimmer and find men's behaviour in the pool often needlessly aggressive in claiming their space in a way that fellow women swimmers are not. I'm average height and it's similar to the way men almost never step out of my way when I'm walking towards them, because they obviously expect me as a woman to step out of their way first.

Great theory OP, and great thread! Not something I've thought of before but I agree.
5ft 8 here and pre kids always wore heels to work making me taller than most men. Post kids I now wear flats and I've noticed a difference. Much more mansolaining, door opening etc. I put it down to lack of confidence/sleep etc, but it may be the heels...

5.11

I have had a LOT of LMS = little man syndrome, over the years. So bored of it

@MrsDanversGlidesAgain that's a great response I may borrow that 🙌

I am short and blonde, and have had terrible men underestimate me and patronise me all my working life. They usually only get to do it once, though, given what a huge mistake it is. They swiftly learn to behave better.

I’m short but look permanently pissed off and have been told frequently that I’m scary (I’m really not). I’ve hardly ever had this, thankfully.

I'm 5ft 3 with a small frame, and often when a dodgy man wants to try something with me, he tries to get very close and stands over me with his shoulders more raised.

I have thought to myself when this happens that they are trying to take advantage of size so I think your theory does have some truth to it. I have martial arts training so they end up looking very surprised and back off when I start using that. I don't necessarily have to hit them, just move in a certain way and use a blocking technique.

Ultimately these kind of men are wimps and will only target women who they think they can easily physically dominate.

Having said that, I have got tall friends (5ft 8-10) and they still have creeps saying things or trying to touch them. Perhaps the perverts' approach changes depending on the size of the woman they're trying to harass?