Do you think this is true about short v tall men?

[Agogog]

I had a conversation with a male friend who is about 5ft 8. Very successful, by the way, both professionally and with a lovely family.

He said that tall men are at a key advantage:

1. More likely to be considered for leadership positions
2. Higher self-esteem
3. More successful on dating apps
4. Study shows that women would rather be with a tall man (over 6ft) who earns £30K less than shorter man

This really unsettled me. The reason it came up is because we were both discussing our sons. His is a year older and is having, finally, an adolescent growth spurt - and looks likely to be his height or taller.

My son is small, no spurt in sight. My husband is 5ft 8. I'm a few inches shorter. DH was a late developer, so i'm not worried yet. But who knows, he might not even be 5.8. I can't control that.

ANYWAY, I was upset last night. I kept thinking - I know my son will never be a giant. Is this really going to hold him up in life?

My DP is 5 8 he’s solid muscle with big shoulders and arms. There’s no way he is in any way inferior to a taller man. He’s gorgeous and successful and lovely. He’s also the tallest in his family by miles

Nope op. I haven't assumed any of those things. But you have told us that he's male, that you're married and the fact you e posted on mumsnet about a very minor issue, that he has a mum who cares about him. Massive advantages already.

I didn’t say they were nice people but they got alot of votes in general elections and a lot of success career wise which shows they don’t get passed over for leadership positions. But whatever, people just love to nitpick over anything on here.

I would say it's true. I've seen the way that tall men in our family have to do very little to attract women...I mean they literally stand there and women approach them all the time, people also generally defer to them in an argument/confrontation type situation.

I was about to say similar.

Met Cowell once and he had the waistband of his trousers almost up to his nipples…

5'8" was average male height until recently. It's not short.

Personally, I find shorter men more attractive. I don't like having to crane my neck and it's really not great having your nose at nipple height during sex.

The shorter men I've known seemed to be the ones with multiple girlfriends, very popular with women and certainly not less successful in terms of career/earnings (professor, CEO, civil service, racing driver).

Generally, however, stereotypes tend to rule, so taller men are more respected — just as men are more respected than women. Shorter men have to compensate.

At a population level it does seem to be true

Even if you think you don't do it, even if there are lots of counter examples , the sad fact is that tall men are seen as better - that initial instinctive fast brain response sees tall as well fed and healthy and so good

Just like men are seen as better than women , white better than coloured, physically able better than disabled - even though it's shouldn't matter and we are no longer living in the Stone Age at the end of the day they have a head start

Well this tall man seems to be attracting the ladies...

...he did die very young though (22) 😔

Height is not a personality.

Yup in the same way beautiful women get promoted and have an easier time on dating apps.

I didn’t say they were nice people but they got alot of votes in general elections and a lot of success career wise which shows they don’t get passed over for leadership positions. But whatever, people just love to nitpick over anything on here.

But their personalities are pretty awful and I think their height could well play a part in it if it drives any kind of insecurity but they've been able to channel it, so it somewhat disproves the point that height doesn't matter, I very much believe in the concept of 'short man syndrome' NOT saying it affects every short man, of course not, but I've seen it enough in action to know it exists.

My teen son is tall and definitely not confident or drowning in girls.
Lots of shorter boys in his class who are very confident.

I worry about my son being tall and going out at night because my dh had lots of problems from short guys challenging him on nights out.

I think as a parent you always worry.

As with everything on MN, generalisations will be played down despite being backed by statistics.

You'll have women with short men saying they're wonderful, successful, ladies men, etc, but they are the exception.

In reality, women DO preferentially go for tall men, tall men are seen as stronger and more authoritative, and they are statistically more successful, but it's true for women too. The blonde stereotype still persists, beauty still attracts success, and female business stereotypes are encountered by virtually all women.

My advice is to really push the adjacent qualities. Get him out socialising so he's not shy, push his education so that in interviews he is the best qualified candidate (even if he's not the most 'stand out'), encourage gym visits, reading, the whole lot.
You hear similar things with penis size. The big ones get the girls, but the small ones are often reported as more caring/enthusiastic/considerate lovers to make up for it.

Yes tall men are more ‘traditionally’ successful than short men (whatever that cut off it). It’s been shown statistically.

There’s no point getting upset about it. Statistics are statistics and we’re all subject to both good and bad ones. My DH is 6ft, but I’m only 5ft. You can quite accurately predict the height trajectory of children from 2yrs old and my son (7yrs) is only set to be 5ft 7/8. He has many good outcomes statistically likely for him for other reasons.

I think it really does depend on personality and confidence. I watch a YouTube channel where one guy is over 6ft and the other one 5’9 and I find the shorter one way more attractive, his shorter height is irrelevant.

Overall it’s true but there are always outliers and people that do not fit population trends.

Plus you are saying 5ft 8 while it’s not tall it isn’t tiddly. One of DS mates is 5ft 4 at 22, now that is short. My ex at uni was around 5ft 8, I’m 5ft 4. DS mate said on dating apps with height requirements he doesn’t do well.

Overall this is more about initial attraction isn’t it finding out someone is nice isn’t immediate unless you see someone doing a noble deed first time you meet them.

My DS is very tall and women fall over themselves for him, I can tell you now his 5ft 4 mate is one of the nicest guys I have ever met, mature for his age, very thoughtful. He is just as good a catch as my DS but single.

So, @Holotropic what was it that first attracted you to the CEO of a major organisation?

It's the same as pretty privilege isn't it.

No idea why short women want men over 6 foot, but I'm 5'8 so prefer partners to be tall enough so I can wear a nice pair of heels, so that's 6' minimum.

Careful guys or Labour will tax the height advantage given to some people….

😁

You assume he had that position when they met.

Probably true but so what?? Its the ‘big dick energy’ thing - men respect and like big blokes… but many women don’t care…
it’s like life can be easier for good looking people.
Personally, I think it’s the energy you bring that gives advantages and that isn’t dependent on height… unless you make it

Hi op , I'm 5'11 dh is 5'8 I dated 1 guy taller than me and found him overbearing and chauvinistic. My past guys were between 5'3 and 5'9 and I only ever had 2 both 5'6 ish that had an attitude about it. And yes I wore heels on my wedding day my dh loves me and doesn't give a fig what people think of our height.

I've always preferred men around my height, 5ft 6. I don't get the height thing at all. I also think there are a lot of other more important factors in being successful than height, a good education for a start!

I think it’s more to do with personality than height. My husband is 5’7 which suits me as I’m shorter. He is a CEO & is very successful in everything he does.
I prefer his height than those 6’ and over. Hope that helps.