To think a lot of people assume everyone is tall?

[SleepDreamThinkHuge]

I have noticed that people seem to think everyone is tall. In their definition they see "tall" as 6 foot or over for men and over 5 foot 7 for women. But in reality, that is not the case. In the UK, someone who is 6 foot (man) is

[Foldingchair]

@midsomermurderess

I don't think that tall people are on power trips; it's just largely genetic. But as one small person said here, she has few tall friends, most of my closest friends are tall. If you're out and about in bars etc, you're at the right height to talk, hear, be heard . In my experience, the world is built for smaller people, and why not. But things tend to be lower, shorter, less leg room whatever. Many years ago I did decide to stop being self conscious, almost apologetic of my height, that I was almost too 'manly' for a woman I own it, stand 'tall', but never intend to lord it over anyone.

Yes, I've spent my whole life not feeling feminine enough, thanks to being taller than the kids I went to school with. And the fact that so many men really aren't that tall. I also have wide shoulders, which make me feel massive and hulk- like in fitted blouses. When I was younger, my body was the same dimensions as Sophia Loren. But no one cares about that when you're a teenager!

[DiamondsandSapphire]

@miserablecat

The new Prince and Princess of Wales (or Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they were at the time) looked like giants next to the Queen at the platinum Jubilee, when they were on the balcony. Although I think the Queen had shrunken in stature.

The Queen when young was 5 foot 4 but she was probably 5 foot at her death. Kate is 5 foot 10 and William must be over 6? His mum was tall

[midsomermurderess]

And people commenting on how tall William and Harry are, Prince Philip is suppose to have said of Diana, if nothing else shed 'breed' some much needed height into the family. Looks like she did. And the. Cambridge kids, well the 2 eldest, look like they may be tall. And generally, with better health and nutrition, the trend is to being taller over all.

[Gr33ngr33ngr4ss]

This is up there with one of the oddest conversations I've read! But compelling.

I'm dying to know what made OP worry about it at the crack o'sparrows on a Sunday!

[User642986540]

I'm 5' 10" and feel tall, especially in my age group of mid 60s.

[LuciferRising]

I was reading an article that said height is increasing slowly and not by inches. Here in the Midlands, women seem around the average.

[DiamondsandSapphire]

I'm 5 foot 3 and have been told I'm tiny !! I feel a little under average but don't stick out. I'm actually taller than alot of women.

[midsomermurderess]

@LuciferRising

I was reading an article that said height is increasing slowly and not by inches. Here in the Midlands, women seem around the average.

A number of years ago I read that the Spanish and the Greeks have seen a remarkable increase in height since the middle of the last century. Both traditionally, for the bulk of the population, impoverished, largely agrarian, societies, but with better nutrition and health, it's now playing out quite markedly in stature. There was great concern in the UK with conscription into the Army for WWI how essentially small and almost weedy so many of the working class were. I think that did lead to steps to try to improve some things. I do wonder if the Brits as a whole just might be a bit short. If you go to say Germany and the Netherlands, they're not countries of giants (although aren't the Dutch meant to be the tallest country in the world) they are on the whole quite a bit taller on average than us ('us' being perhaps not a great word, given how multicultural we are, and my heritage is Irish).

[Thatswhyimacat]

Your central assumption is that everyone thinks women are all 5 7 etc and I see no evidence to back up that that is true.

Surely if most women are below 5 7, they will be well aware of the heights of themselves and those around them.

[NippyWoowoo]

@Coughee

I'm probably being dense but to me your second post seems to prove people are right in thinking men are tall at 6ft and women are tall at 5ft7??

Exactly 😂 what have I missed? Although I'm still reading...

[Loics]

I wouldn't say 5ft 7 is tall for a woman. I'm 5ft 10 and "tall" ranges that state they're for women 5ft 7 and above are no use. Trousers the correct length for someone who is 5ft 7 will be too short for me! I'd say 5ft 9 is tall, anything under is not (in my opinion).

[NippyWoowoo]

@SleepDreamThinkHuge

I am saying that the reality is different than the perception some people may have. Just because you or I have people in our family that are over 6 foot does not mean that is the average. Not to mention other factors also play a part e.g. ethnicity, nationality etc. And height is more relative. So if you are a 5 foot woman someone who is 5 foot 6 (man) will be tall for you. But if you are a 5 foot 10 woman you might think that someone who is 6 foot (man) is not tall for you.

That's not what you say in your opening post

In their definition they see "tall" as 6 foot or over for men and over 5 foot 7 for women

That is correct, that IS tall.

Now you're saying that some people think that just because someone in their family is actually tall they think that most people are tall?

This makes no sense

[Saynotothefishtank]

I had a ridiculous argument with our kitchen fitter because he was very keen to put the shelves at a height I can’t reach. He kept saying it was the “normal” height ie his height.

I’m 5ft 2.

[nokidshere]

Everyone is tall to me! I'm 5ft 2 so pretty short. My DH is 6ft6, ds1 6ft, and ds2 6ft3. We have my shelves and their shelves in our house, fridge, wardrobes. Otherwise when I am here alone I can't reach anything! They still forget, drives me mad.

[5128gap]

Is this one of those short men threads? Only instead of telling people off for preferring tall men, you're telling them that short men are tall really?

[Friday123]

I'm wondering if I'm now losing my marbles because I understood you in the first place 😂

People seem to no longer think 5'7 is tall for a woman (my height) but actually I'm taller than most of my friends and definitely much taller than most of my friend's parents. I think I'm fairly short compared to the younger generation. Their average seems to have increased (so at 5'7" I'm more average, less tall)

[A580Hojas]

Heights seem to be shooting up!

My dd (38 years younger than me) thinks I am remarkably short whereas I have very many friends of my age who are about the same height or shorter than me.

She is 5'8.5" and not remarkably tall in her peer group. I am 5'2.5" and not remarkably short in mine.

DS is 6'1" and actually has loads (maybe most?) friends who are taller than him. He has two male cousins born very close to him, now aged 18 and 21, who are 6'4" and 6'8".

[HundredMilesAnHour]

I'm 5'9 so reasonably tall but how I feel about it varies depending on who I'm with. When I was younger, I used to row competitively and was one of the shorter women (and was surrounded by very tall men - who considered 6 foot as short) so never felt particularly tall.

But in my office, I frequently feel like I'm working in a miniature village. Almost everyone is tiny and I feel like a huge heifer. I joined during lockdown so everything was online and I had no idea how short they all were until I met them in person.

I should be used to it. I worked in Asia for a few years and towered over everyone, male or female. I actually sold my collection of heels (to other expat women) as I just didn't wear them anymore. I was tall enough already, I didn't want to damage my neck from looking down even further.

[TheOrigRights]

I go to Hong Kong for work a couple of times a year. I am a GIANT there.
Last week I was in Latvia where I felt pretty average. I'm 5'8"

[Wouldloveanother]

But in my office, I frequently feel like I'm working in a miniature village.

This made me laugh 😂

[TheSpringyGuyAndTheCheeseEater]

@MrsTimRiggins

i think I might be too hungover for this. You’re making literally no sense. People think women over 5’7 are tall but also people think everyone is tall… what are you on about?!

This is what confused me. These two statements in the opening post put together mean the OP is asserting that people thing there are no women smaller than 5'7" which seems a rather implausible belief for anybody to hold.

[TheSpringyGuyAndTheCheeseEater]

@Montague22

As a 5ft 11 woman I find that a lot of things aren’t made for my height:
Kitchen work services and sinks
Buggy handles
Trolley handles should be adjustable too
Beds in holiday lets with bars/boards at the bottom
Leg room on public transport
Nearly all sleeves if not in tall ranges
Actual shops never stock tall ranges to try on (of maternity), but do stock petite

These things lead me to stoop so may have an actual effect on my back over the years.

Absolutely agree with all of this. When I put a new kitchen in my house all worktops will be raised 3" from the standard height. Better cupboard space as well!

[AgnesNaismith]

@Lipsandlashes

M&S have suddenly decided that all women are giants, with a 34 inch leg being totally normal. Not sure where I’ll get my jeans from now 🙁

So rude!

[WitTanks]

Most women on here claim to be 5ft 7 and weighing 8 stone

[TheSpringyGuyAndTheCheeseEater]

@StopFeckingFaffing

@Sunnyqueen is spot on

I don't think you can use the average height in the UK to compare though can you. That average height is going to include 18 year olds. etc who especially for men haven't stopped growing yet and all the little old ladies and old men who have shrunk since they've become elderly. So the 'average' height will be short in comparison.

The official UK stats do not reflect people's heights in their 'prime'. There is no way that the 5'4" is 'average' for a UK adult female before any old age shrinkage has occurred. That would mean that if you are a 5'4" female there are just as many women smaller than you as there are taller than you which is clearly bollocks! (unless you are comparing yourself to the residents in an elderly care home)

Yes this is my take on it, too. In addition, the younger generations are taller on average due to better childhood nutrition. So 5'4" would be rather small for a young woman these days.