Thinking that women would benefit if they were more open minded about height in a potential partner…

[Moonfishstar]

… and not write off the majority of men who are under 6 foot (85%).

Women seem to be fighting for a small proportion of men - with the disappointment that will inevitably bring to the many who inevitably won’t succeed. Of course, it’s even crapper for the good,
but short, men out there.

Of course, we all fancy who we fancy, and I’m not saying we should date shorter (or even average!) men out of pity or a “sense of fairness”, but how much of women’s desire to bag a tall guy is actually societal, and down to how they think other women will view them?

Agree with ‘fussy but not too fussy’. My shallow non negotiables were hair (no bald men or receded hairlines - I just can’t go near it!), well dressed (no skate style clothing or naff logo t shirts), and NO dad bods. Hair colour, height (as long as not really short) I was happy to judge on a case by case basis and see whether I felt attracted to them.

I agree @Moonfishstar This is MUMSNET though, where all husbands are 6 ft 5, and everyone has very tall and athletic children. 🙄

They might actually be 6’5 but it’s equally likely they look like Steven Merchant rather than Jason Momoa.

If we're going off online dating-sure, many women may select that their preferences are for tall men.

Just as if you look at male preferences- many men may select that their preference is for slim women.

I don't see anyone telling those men that they ought open their minds and start dating overweight women because slim women are in short supply. (Pun absolutely intended).

Online dating allows people to select their absolute preferences-both men and women, and is a peculiar tool to measure human behaviour/attraction. Of course, if we're given a form to complete and told to put down our ideals-we may all say "Oh, I'd love a tall, dark and handsome man with muscles for days," but that doesn't mean that we wouldn't date or consider someone an option if they don't meet that ideal.

And even if a certain woman is fixed on getting that 6ft+ man, so what? That's her choice. She may or may not succeed in her aim. Time will tell and presumably, she'll adjust her expectations accordingly if she's unsuccessful.

I do know a very sweet couple...she's six foot and a burlesque dancer and model, he's 5'6" and a bit weird looking and awkward. He's a photographer and takes beautiful pictures of her all the time. They're madly in love and it's like Roger and Jessica Rabbit.

😆

Awwwww LOL they sound cute! 😆😘

Yeah, but all these men longing for a slim woman who is drop dead gorgeous with ample pert boobs, legs up to her armpits, and a peachy arse, have as much chance of getting such a woman, as the women wanting a gorgeous, 6 ft 4 Jason Mamoa lookalike have of getting that! 😆

I would love a tall man but haven’t managed to meet one yet. DP is 5ft 9 to my 5ft 8. He’s broad and muscular and has a physical presence and doesn’t make me feel like an elephant. I couldn’t go out with a man that height who was slim and slight, it would make me too self conscious

Wasn't there a famous quote by Onassis where he said something along the lines of women not noticing his lack of height when he was standing on his pile of money? I think that still applies today 😊

I like a really tall man, but I'm 5ft 5ish and my husband is about 5ft 9. I've dated 6ft 6, all the way down to 5ft 5. I'd probably pause at shorter than me.

The only women I've known who have been really hung up on this have been MUCH younger than me (41). Back when I was in my 20s we might have preferred a taller man but it really wasn't the be all and end all.

When you date organically you don't have filters to flush out people you're not interested in.

🤮

Why are half the women on this thread telling OP she’s ridiculous and this isn’t a thing, and the other half saying - well I date tall men but only because I need to be smaller than them. Why do women feel such a desperate need to be smaller than their partners? Can’t anyone see how patriarchal this all is?

People like what they like. If you could persuade people out of their preferences, conversion therapy would work.

Ever heard of short man syndrome? it does exist in some short men, they overcompensate with bad attitude..

Plus im 5ft 11 in bare feet, dated a bloke 2 inches shorter once and i felt hideously huge.. so no ta!

And that is their lookout.

Maybe if they find that they're unsuccessful at it-they'll need to make their adjustments.

My husband is shorter than me, just. As an extremely tall woman, I have spent all my life being told over and over again how big and tall I am. Clothes never fit me and people used to stop me in the street to point this all out. If I date someone shorter im just constantly reminded how different and huge I am.

If I was 5 foot tall I probably wouldn't care about height though.

Benefit how? Whats the benefit of dating a man much shorter/same height?
And if short men think they are truly missing out, how about they find a different way to be attractive to women.
I suspect its not true, mainly because there aren't that many super tall men or super short men.
But if it is in fact true, its genetics. We all want our offspring to have the best outcome.

If only people compensating for things with bad attitude were limited to short men...

I've dated a couple of guys who were shorter than me and never really thought anything of it.
I prefer to be with someone slightly taller than me, but it's not really a massive issue for me.

You can’t make yourself attracted to someone that you’re not attracted to, so what do you suggest?

Taller people die younger and their brains work slower and they're prone to more life limiting health conditions than shorter people so the genetics don't stack up

Do they really. I have never heard that. Where is your info from? Out of sheer curiosity.

Bet more postmen/women get bitten by Jack Russells and Terriers, then larger dogs

I would date someone shorter than me absolutely. I find they don’t want me as I’m pretty tall and I think they get weird about it.