Do women really rule out average height men, or is it online talk?

[Uravinalaugh]

My younger step brother who is 19 [I am male btw], told me that women only want to date much taller men, he's roughly the same height as me, 5'7 [5'9 in thicker soled trainers lol], and is very introvert and hasn't had any dating experience, he has a few friends and I have noticed girls in the past being nice to him/liking him when I have seen him socializing. I was aware of this height bias which shows up quite a lot online and on social media, even here on mumsnet I have seen dating related threads where many women appear to be very dismissive of dating shorter men [used to nose sometimes using my OHs old account ,she didn't mind ahaha]

Because of this, I have been noticing often when I am out in public the heights of men to see if this is true, and it very clearly isn't. Last weekend I went to a well known seaside town for the day, due to the weather it was packed so millions of people and I would say literally the amount of couples of all ages where the man was average/slightly shorter than average height was the majority, it very clearly isn't the case that most women are not attracted to men below 6ft, 5ft10 or whatever. I myself have also never had a huge issue dating in the past, I never even knew I was particularly short until seeing this height related stuff online, and where women are concerned my height has never been mentioned

Was curious if this is only me that's noticed this, I think it could be more of a gen z thing than millenial and above? I'm not sure, but it definitely doesn't seem to match up with what I have seen with my own eyes in real life, have tried to reassure step bro that his height is fine, I think his parents have too, but don't seem to be able to convince him

One of the most charismatic men I’ve ever met was 5’5”. It’s not always about height, it’s about the person.

I wouldn't date a man shorter then me but im only 5ft 2 so 5ft 7 would be fine. I also wouldn't date a really tall man.

I think what people filter for on OLD isn’t necessarily how they ‘filter’ in real life. IRL chemistry comes into it a lot where’s on paper people might prefer taller men. As you say - looking around it’s not the case that only tall men have GFs

I wouldn't want to date a man shorter than me. I'm 5ft8. But if he was kind, bright, honest, funny, loving, empathetic, interesting, loyal, bright... I wouldn't care. It's not top of the list.

Prince was barely 5ft and could steal your girl and wear her clothes

Not a problem. I wouldn’t like to date someone very tall really, it must be difficult to kiss etc. shorter is great!

Im millennial and tbh no I don’t date short men and wouldnt date someone under 6ft we are allowed preferences

If anything I prefer shorter men!
I'm 5'2 so loved the idea of having a boyfriend whom I can kiss without standing on tip toes, or at least hug without being lower than their chin.
DH is 5'10 so taller than I was aiming for but only by chance, not by preference

I’m 5’9 and in a relationship with a man who’s 5’8.

To be brutally honest, yes I do wish he was taller. I feel very unfeminine being the same height as him and having the same size feet. But that is my hang-up rather than any real reflection on him. If I was online dating, I wouldn’t give him a chance because of his height. More fool me! But I met him through mutual friends and it was instant attraction. Our chemistry is off the charts and he is the most wonderful, kind, thoughtful, witty, cheeky, sexy man ever. He is utterly perfect, better than perfect even.

I agree we are allowed preferences, I'm just suprised how many women online seem to filter out men under 6ft when men in that height range are in such a minority, its basically filtering out the majority of men which seems quite limiting to me, but that's just my opinion

Most my exes have been around 5'7 ... a different ex was 6'6 .... hurt my neck to kiss him even, genuinely would rather a shorter man and most recent ex was about 5'6 and I LOVED his height, felt perfect for kisses.

My BIL is 5’7” and married a six footer (female)
Not a problem, they are both very confident and in fact when larking about in their younger days he would walk in the road and she’d walk on the pavement/kerb to emphasize the difference.

Wow, I don't think I have even come across a 6'6 man before!

Only shallow folk, so its good as you can rule some of them out. Ive dated men from 5 5" to 6' 6" height. The height wasn't never the deciding issue. Its more likely his shyness holding him back.

How tall are you?

As you say, you only need to open your eyes and look around to see women are happy with men of all heights - we're all different and have different preferences! I am 5'6" and my (long term) boyfriends got shorter over the years, starting at 6'2", then 5'11", my husband's 5'8" and I am still very much attracted to him! Remind your step brother to use the evidence of the real world ("go and touch grass") rather than believing everything he sees online.

Gen X, been involved with men from 5'5 or so to about 6'4".

I am not tall.

I'm 5'8. I would date someone shorter than me, but perhaps I wouldn't be initially attracted to them if they were shorter and also skinny - just because I don't want to feel like a draft horse

I don't get these people who will only date someone over a certain height. Where do you meet all these people that fit your bizarrely specific criteria?

Surely the answer to your question is pretty obvious OP, given you've got your own personal experiences and have seen plenty of shorter couples in real life? You must be aware, without needing to ask an internet forum, that different women will have different views and preferences?

This just feels like engagement bait.

I’m 5 foot 2 and have never been keen on men over 6 foot. I’ve always found it’s bit weird, looks like a parent/child relationship. My dh is 5 foot 9 and I think that’s perfect. My mum is tall and taller than my dad, never bothered them. She’s always been the same height or taller than her partners and she’s 5 foot 8. If people want that as a dealbreaker that’s up to them, but tough shit if they’re single really.

I married a man the same height as me and couldn't have cared less about a man's height when I was dating, it just wasn't on the list of things I looked for. However, my DH did feel that in his dating days, girls would pass him over because of his height (he's 5' 6"). He wasn't confident when dating, though, so I don't know how much of this was his insecurity. I have never dated online, do people have to tick a box about height? Online dating has its advantages but I would think having to list criteria about what you are looking for is restrictive and seem set in stone, when in reality, people date people they have chemistry with.

unfortunately women don't tend to rule out actual negative traits lol, why would they rule out something like average height?

Doesn’t matter

Someone having a preference that is different to yours, or having a preference at all does not make them shallow.

I didn’t rule out men who were average height. I think I would have preferred to date men who were taller than me but if he was a great person and I liked him in every other way it wouldn’t have been a deal breaker. I’m only 5 ft 3 though so most men are taller than me and it was never an issue. My DH is average height.