What is this generation’s obsession with height about?

[Anonymous]

Social media is also fueling it. Incel/toxic alpha male culture fixates on four or five crude markers of “success” and desirability for men, height being one of them. That message is getting pushed to younger and younger kids, who are being told that girls only want to date the top 20% of tall muscular boys, and that the ability to dominate others is the only thing that matters. Bullying feeds into and reinforces this hierarchical belief system.

Kids are definitely fixating a lot more on appearances, and policing each other harder for failing to meet standards. No wonder rates of anxiety and depression are up.

FWIW, the best players on my son’s basketball team are the two shortest kids. Since they can’t overpower opponents, they’ve developed crazy agility, speed, and skills and can dribble rings around the bigger kids who rely mostly on their strength and height. It’s fun to watch. I wouldn’t be surprised if they make varsity one day.

[Anonymous]

It has been a turn off to meet some loser tall guys counting on only their height as their appeal while also meeting many shorter guys with a lot more going on in their lives, intelligence and great personalities. It's not smart to use height in your selective list but I understand fetishes exist. I hope my kids don't choose a partner on the physical characteristic that is trending.

[Anonymous]

Adding that the discussion here is subjective in terms of what height people consider tall and short

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately it’s mostly sports. Our varsity baseball coach told a few juniors last year that, were they an inch or two taller, they would’ve made the team. So it had nothing to do with their ability or work ethic- just height

[Anonymous]

I am Italian and this is not new. Even at my grandmother’s time in Italy height was considered an highly desirable quality. My grandma was very short (maybe 5’) and married into a tall(ish) family and told me how much grief she got from her in-laws for being short. She told me they used to say “being tall is half way to being beautiful”.

I am short myself (5’3”) and was always attracted to tall(ish) men… not sure if it’s because I grew up wishing to be taller…

I also must admit that I wish my girls were taller (pretty average height now) and I am very happy that my son (while only 5) is quite tall compared to his classmates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Italian and this is not new. Even at my grandmother’s time in Italy height was considered an highly desirable quality. My grandma was very short (maybe 5’) and married into a tall(ish) family and told me how much grief she got from her in-laws for being short. She told me they used to say “being tall is half way to being beautiful”.

I am short myself (5’3”) and was always attracted to tall(ish) men… not sure if it’s because I grew up wishing to be taller…

I also must admit that I wish my girls were taller (pretty average height now) and I am very happy that my son (while only 5) is quite tall compared to his classmates.

The short woman, tall man thing is a fetish

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am currently 5”7 and I was 5”5 when I graduated HS in ‘95 and I was never bothered by height. I played varsity golf in HS and D1 golf. I married a cheerleader who is 5”7.

Why does marrying a cheerleader matter?

High value woman

Height is ovverrated in HS if you play a varsity sport, play a musical instrument such as guitar, or can sing like Justin Beiber.  I am reminded everyday that Axl Rose, who is 5"8, used to date the supermodel Stephanie Seymour, who is 5"10.  

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately it’s mostly sports. Our varsity baseball coach told a few juniors last year that, were they an inch or two taller, they would’ve made the team. So it had nothing to do with their ability or work ethic- just height

Definitely NOT true in my situation. My son was 5"6 when he played the #1 position at his HS and won the state 6A championship in tennis as a freshman. He was 5"9 when he graduated from high school. The coach couldn't keep him off the team because he easily beat everyone at the tryout as a freshman. Coaches have very little control in individual sports because of head-to-head records.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am currently 5”7 and I was 5”5 when I graduated HS in ‘95 and I was never bothered by height. I played varsity golf in HS and D1 golf. I married a cheerleader who is 5”7.

Why does marrying a cheerleader matter?

It’s code for “I got the cute girl.”

Clearly, still insecure about his height because nobody cares but him.

[Anonymous]

I always find it odd that height trumps face. College DS is short, but has a really beautiful face, perfect white teeth (no braces), beautiful smile, wavy longish hair, lips and eyelashes that women envy. Yup, mistook for a girl when younger. Lots of friends that are girls. He’s wasn’t bullied, but teased for sure. He is super extroverted and kind. ALL of his male friends MS-HS were ridiculously tall. One or two are very handsome. But man oh man, most were/are not attractive. Now in college he’s friends with both male and female basketball players with a mix of average height friends and room mates. He has quite a few Asian friend, too. So that helps lol. Plenty of girl friends but no serious girlfriend

[Anonymous]

I think people- especially women- tend to value height in a partner to give an advantage to any offspring….the attitude trickles down to teens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general, being born a short male is similar to being born an ugly female. It presents serious but not insurmountable disadvantages in life. It is what it is.

No way. Way worse to be an ugly female.

If a short male is in good shape, smart, objectively handsome, and has a successful (high income) career, he will be just fine. It’s only an issue in high school.

... and if the ugly female looksmaxes, has a pleasant personality and loves sex she won't have problems either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am currently 5”7 and I was 5”5 when I graduated HS in ‘95 and I was never bothered by height. I played varsity golf in HS and D1 golf. I married a cheerleader who is 5”7.

Why does marrying a cheerleader matter?

High value woman

Height is ovverrated in HS if you play a varsity sport, play a musical instrument such as guitar, or can sing like Justin Beiber.  I am reminded everyday that Axl Rose, who is 5"8, used to date the supermodel Stephanie Seymour, who is 5"10.  

The fact that you think about this daily really shows how obsessed you are with height. It just isn’t the status marker you seem to think it is.

[Anonymous]

maybe they are watching too much Indian matchmaker on Netflix. I had no idea the obsession with height until I watched that show.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve actually been noticing online nastiness toward short women lately too. 5’3”/5’4” used to be average. Now suddenly women are calling every woman they don’t like under 5’7” a “stumpy midget”.

I think people are just miserable and it makes them mean.

Really? I’ve never seen that is this a millennial thing? I’m 5’8” though and got height early and hated it. It’s probably projection of that self hatred as I felt unfeminine and dating was hard as tall guys always went for short girls (I really just wanted someone taller than me not even tall)

I have a 16 year old who is 5’4.5 and her and all her friends seem to want to be short.