What is this generation’s obsession with height about?

[Anonymous]

I think it's also location and culture dependent.
I'm 5’7” and born and raised in Northern Europe. I'm average height there for a woman and google says the same. I know only one grown man in my town who is shorter than I. Only a few people are very short so the height discussion rarely comes up.
I'm dating a latino who is few 3-4 inches shorter than I am. I cannot tell you how many other latinos called him shorty to my face and they themselves were shorter than I. I'm dating him and he is awesome, why would they be bothered by his height.

[Anonymous]

Not about height, but this generation is obsessed with some trivial crap.

Toes are gross. My dd almost resents a potential partner for possessing toes.

They are all about labels. We got away from labels. Every 00s movie was about breaking stereotypes. These kids embrace names and labels.

They have less of a sense of humor.

They are picky about communication. If someone is a boring texter, they could be a great person in every other respect, but it’s over.

About height: yes, it goes with the whole labeling thing, or being picky thing. Or just commenting and making a big deal of things that don’t need to be.

—

I’m not being critical. Ok I am. I do think a lot of this was thrust upon them, so I cannot blame them.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think anyone is obsessed with height.

I have a 5’4” 12yo and 5’8” 14yo. They are both on the shorter side of their friend groups. I know they aren’t short but they have tall friends. My boys play sports so small for athletes. We are hoping they grow a lot more before they are finished.

[Anonymous]

It’s the only thing left that they are “allowed” to pick on other people about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not about height, but this generation is obsessed with some trivial crap.

Toes are gross. My dd almost resents a potential partner for possessing toes.

They are all about labels. We got away from labels. Every 00s movie was about breaking stereotypes. These kids embrace names and labels.

They have less of a sense of humor.

They are picky about communication. If someone is a boring texter, they could be a great person in every other respect, but it’s over.

About height: yes, it goes with the whole labeling thing, or being picky thing. Or just commenting and making a big deal of things that don’t need to be.

—

I’m not being critical. Ok I am. I do think a lot of this was thrust upon them, so I cannot blame them.

I don’t think labels is the right word here. It’s more about identifying. Teens have always wanted to identify with a group, and also todays teens need to identify others.

Identifying others / dividing others into groups is just how they process their world today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s the only thing left that they are “allowed” to pick on other people about.

Bingo

[Anonymous]

Idk but my 5’4” daughter will take guys who are at least 5’8” but when they are over 6 foot she goes on and on about it. She’s 16 and the last 4 guys she’s been involved with/talked to were over 6 foot. I think it’s mostly bc the guys that tall seem older and are further along in puberty, she’s a sophomore so some of the boys still look like little boys. I think her and her friends enjoy feeling “small” idk they yammer on about this stuff but seems like they will still date guys who are shorter if they are confident, know how to talk to them, and have good hair (good hair being super important I guess too).

They are 15/16, and still navigating this stuff and honestly they aren’t dating to marry so just dating guys who are attractive seems fine and healthy to me.

[Anonymous]

This is Op. Thanks for the input. Super interesting. I guess I just realize how primal we still all are.

But here is my PSA on the issue: please tell your kids that some folks are being taunted for really in many cases what is a TEMPORARY condition. I agree folks have their preferences for types they want to be in relationships with. Totally fine. What we are talking about is making someone’s life hell for a condition that’s relatively common (late bloomer). DCUM crowd leads the way!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a 5’10 woman. It would take a lot for me to go for a 5’5 guy.

The fact is that women are getting taller on average over time, and most women want a man who is at least the same height. So it is harder for really short guys.

I dated a few shorter guys, though. It isn’t completely something I would rule out. And I think taller-female couples are getting more common (like Zendaya and Tom Holland.).

Well, since you're still single, maybe it's something you should consider.

What makes you think that? I’ve been married for 20 years. To a man who is taller than me and very successful. Not that it matters, because I have been very successful in my own right.

Lol at cheerleaders being high value. Most of them in my hometown work at Walmart now. Congrats?

That’s not a very nice thing to say. What’s wrong with working at Walmart? Why do you clearly look down on them? Perhaps they are happier and have a better work-life balance than you have. Either way, I was the equivalent of a cheerleader in my home country and I now have a PhD. If we measure people based on educational and work accomplishments that guess I did very well (despite my looks).

+1. PP who resembles nothing so much as an elephant should not be commenting about people working at Walmart.

[Anonymous]

I agree beauty helps when there is a lack of height. My son is at his full height of 5’7” but he also somewhat resembles Leonard Whiting at his prime (who himself was a short dude) so he has not had problems professionally or in his dating life so far (knock on wood). We always encouraged individual sports for him (tennis and swimming) where he could excel through practice and dedication. He is confident but not over-confident IMO.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, as the mother of a 5'6" 17yo boy, I think girls are really mean about this and way more than boys.

It is verboten for boys to say a thing about a girls weight but social media is full of girls making fun of short guys, demeaning them, and basically being hypocrites.

Moms of girls, teach them better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is Op. Thanks for the input. Super interesting. I guess I just realize how primal we still all are.

But here is my PSA on the issue: please tell your kids that some folks are being taunted for really in many cases what is a TEMPORARY condition. I agree folks have their preferences for types they want to be in relationships with. Totally fine. What we are talking about is making someone’s life hell for a condition that’s relatively common (late bloomer). DCUM crowd leads the way!

Or maybe it is it is not temporary. Maybe they will be short. It is NOT OK either way to be taunted. Please think about what you are saying.

[Anonymous]

It's been going on forever, at least with white people. I was a "tall" kid who tapped out at 5'5ish in middle school. I married 6'5 so kids wouldn't be short with my genetics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's been going on forever, at least with white people. I was a "tall" kid who tapped out at 5'5ish in middle school. I married 6'5 so kids wouldn't be short with my genetics.

A 5’5” women isn’t short. Man people are messed up.

[Anonymous]

I’m 5’5”. I’d much rather a man my height or a few inches taller vs very tall. There is a spectrum of attractiveness and I feel like anything under 5’5” for men or over 6’2” tops starts to become unattractive. But to each their own. There is a lid for every pot.