Would you date someone shorter?

[radiateforme]

I'm going for a socially distanced walk next week with someone I met on tinder and have been chatting to for a short while, (yes it is allowed and he lives round the corner from me!). Problem is I think he might be shorter than me! I'm about 5ft8 so not small. I've always dated tall men. I'm not sure if it will bother me but I'm nervous it'll be awkward! I haven't asked how tall he is as don't want to turn it in to a thing but he looks short in his social media photos. Has anyone here ever been on a date with someone shorter? Am I incredibly shallow to worry about this?

I would really prefer not to. I went on a few dates with a man who was a good 6 inches shorter than me and to be honest, walking next to him I felt like I was his mother. It's not the best foundation for a romantic relationship.

No I wouldn't.
And totally agree with what @OlympicProcrastinator said above about attraction - yes it is annoying if people are criticised for not giving someone a 'chance' because they are not attracted to them physically. We all have our preferences and can't be forced into feeling otherwise.

I'm 5ft7. DH is 5ft8. So just a bit taller. I never realised people have an issue with men being shorter than average until recently on MN. Always found our relative heights rather convenient.
Ourelder DD will likely be taller than DH in a few years. I was taller than my dad at 12. That is unsettling.

@Whocutdownthecherrytree

As life goes on, some of the most sexy, fit, kind, interesting guys I’ve met have been shorter than me. It doesn’t matter and often they are more humble because they’ve felt judged for their height over their life.

As some tall men can be smug and arrogant because they’ve been desired and positively judged for their height over their life.

@MaudebeGonne

I have - I am 5ft6 and my husband is about half an inch shorter. He has no problems with me wearing heels if I want. I have enormous hair and a fondness for big boots so I quite often look taller than him. Doesn't bother either of us at all. We look fabulous together and he is always the perfect height for a quick kiss.

Our bodies and looks change so much in a lifetime, I think it is strange to make it such a central part of the appeal of another person. Aesthetically most men (and women) have something beautiful about them if you look closely. To not even consider a connection with someone because of something that they have no choice or input into seems very limiting.

Admit it, @MaudebeGonne, you are a towering six-foot-one goddess revolutionary with a 'stature so great she seemed of a divine race', according to your biggest fan.

Im 5'10" so I'm already above average height for men in this country, which I think is 5'7" - correct me if I'm wrong. Therefore if I was to insist on only dating taller men I would be ruling out the vast majority of the population. Height is attractive, sure, but it's not the only attractive attribute a man can have. I'd rather have a lovely man who's 5'4" (thinking back to raving office crush) than one utter moron of an ex who was a whole foot taller.

I've happily dated shorter men in the past. I only dumped one because he made the height an issue, not me. He didn't like me wearing heels. None of the others had a problem.

If you're secure enough in yourself you won't care what others think of you for dating someone shorter.

I met my partner online , I also had only dated guys taller than me , he is probably an inch shorter than me .Does it bother me ? Honestly no ! He is a pretty amazing guy and I cant ever imagine being without him I'm glad a minor detail like height didnt affect the person he is and the way he makes me feel x

I'm 5'6" so a shorter man would be pretty short which I personally wouldn't find attractive. My husband is only 5'10" though so not exactly towering over me.

I don't think it is fair to blame womens dating preferences on male suicide though. There isn't some moral obligation on women to date men so they feel better about themselves.

Two schools of thought?

Tall women and men of average height who are shorter than them and shortarses like me who would end up with a hobbit 😆

I hope that those of you who are bothered by height difference don’t have short sons or tall daughters.
They may have difficulties meeting a partner if everyone they are attracted to are not attracted to them due to something they have absolutely no control over.

No. I'm 5'1, so no.

I’m also the same height as you and for me it’s a no, I don’t like to feel like the big one, or that a man has to stretch up to kiss me, it just doesn’t do it for me at all.

Everyone is different, snd for some this doesn’t remotely bother them, but for me too this is my red line.

I'm only 5ft tall myself so no.

I'm 5'3 so No.
5'8 is tall adding shoes if I was 5'8 I would.
SIL is 5'8 Dbro 5'9 she wears heels no problem it isn't an issue.
Thinner = no
Fatter = yes
Skin colour = yes

I would like to think it wouldn't bother me if I was taller. I'm under 5 foot tall so I think shorter than me might be a bit too short! DH is not a tall guy but he is taller than me (probably about 5'6?)

DH and I are both 5 foot 7.

When I first met him I was instantly attracted to his eyes, smile, forearms and smell. 5 minutes later I realised he was intelligent, compassionate and funny. When he got up to leave the room I was too busy gawping at his arse and trying to work out how to get a date that I didn’t notice his height.
That was over 30 years ago.

Our height has never bothered us. I always wear heels if I want.
Other people have had a problem with it though. A relative was aghast that not only was I going to wear high heels at my wedding but I was having my hair up with a fancy headdress and vail.

I'm 2-3 inches taller than my perfect DP. He's a great little spoon and I love him to bits. Wouldn't swap his short little legs for the world.

@Clawdy

If the smaller guy was good looking and nice, wouldn't be a problem for me. DH is 5ft 6. When I met him, he had had several girlfriends all a bit taller than him. I'm 5ft 4. He was very popular at the time. I do remember my dad saying "He's a right titch! " to me, after he met him!

Apparently my dh was

‘The catch of the village’ 😀

I Got told this by someones mum 😱

Honestly if head swelling counted to height he’d be 6 ft tall

Yes absolutely. I'm 5'9 and it wouldn't bother me. I've dated shorter men in the past and honestly they've been absolute Kings who treated me like a queen. Why they get overlooked makes no sense to me. The worst part about it was other people's ignorant comments.

@Therunecaster

I'm 2-3 inches taller than my perfect DP. He's a great little spoon and I love him to bits. Wouldn't swap his short little legs for the world.

Does he know you compare him to a spoon?!

No, I'm 5'3 so that would be very short.

No I wouldn't. An ex of mine lied about his height by several inches and he definitely has short man syndrome. He is the most unpleasant nasty absusive individual.

@50shadesoflunacy

No I wouldn't. An ex of mine lied about his height by several inches and he definitely has short man syndrome. He is the most unpleasant nasty absusive individual.

So you’ve tarred all short men with the same brush?

6' and partner is 5'7

So I guess yes, but no shorter. If you click with someone you'll make allowances. I never found it awkward to my surprise.

You mean would I have turned down Tom Cruise, Michael J Fox, Billy Warlock (does anyone remember him from Baywatch?), Mark Owen back in the day? Hell no. Bonkers reason to rule out a partner, for me personally.