What is this generation’s obsession with height about?

[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.

I’m actually hoping my 12 year old daughter is average height. I am surrounded by giants with just a few in the family being on the shorter side. My side has tall flat chested women. The other side is tall with enormous boobs and broad shoulders. That is just a burden.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it trickled down from online dating to adults to kids. Height is one of the things people can filter dating profiles by, so it has taken on an outsize importance. It baffles and annoys me as well.

+1
While some characteristics have always been considered desirable, including height, I think the current loud cultural noise is definitely correlated to “he said he was 6 ft online and was 5’8” in person” dating app phenomena from the past decade.

[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.”

It's code for "I still have issues about my height".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it trickled down from online dating to adults to kids. Height is one of the things people can filter dating profiles by, so it has taken on an outsize importance. It baffles and annoys me as well.

+1
While some characteristics have always been considered desirable, including height, I think the current loud cultural noise is definitely correlated to “he said he was 6 ft online and was 5’8” in person” dating app phenomena from the past decade.

+1

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately when a kid is targeted for bullying, the "reason" is an afterthought. It could as easily be his name, his hair, or his hobby. There are popular short kids and bullied tall kids: your kid is being targeted and his height is just the weapon that's handy.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who is 5’3” and her husband is 6’7”. To me they look like freaks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately when a kid is targeted for bullying, the "reason" is an afterthought. It could as easily be his name, his hair, or his hobby. There are popular short kids and bullied tall kids: your kid is being targeted and his height is just the weapon that's handy.

This.

[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?

It’s code for “I got the cute girl.”

It's code for "I still have issues about my height".

The cheerleaders have to be more athletic now so beauty is less of a requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who is 5’3” and her husband is 6’7”. To me they look like freaks.

My nephew is 6'6" and his fiancee is 5'4". His brother is 6'4" and wife is barely 5'. You get used to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately when a kid is targeted for bullying, the "reason" is an afterthought. It could as easily be his name, his hair, or his hobby. There are popular short kids and bullied tall kids: your kid is being targeted and his height is just the weapon that's handy.

This.

However, the tall, muscular kid is more intimidating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who is 5’3” and her husband is 6’7”. To me they look like freaks.

My nephew is 6'6" and his fiancee is 5'4". His brother is 6'4" and wife is barely 5'. You get used to it.

I’m 5’ and my DH is 6’4”. We’re a memorable couple. 😁

[Anonymous]

Tall boys get teased. And, weirdly some adult males (teachers, coaches) perceive tall males- even 14 year olds as threats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a short woman raising a tall son. It has been eye opening. I was never made fun of for my height. My son gets so many compliments for his height (he’s 6’3”). It is really crazy. And moms of his friends are all very focused on their sons’ heights. I had no idea at all guys worried about this.

It’s everywhere. Guys lying about their height. There’s even an Olivia Rodrigo song that mentions it.

I’m not happy that people are being bullied for their height, but it is really eye opening to see that boys have their insecurities as well. It always felt like they just went through life without a care, while society made girls and women nuts with all their expectations for physical beauty.

You never wished you were taller? I’m 5’1 and was never bullied but I often wished i was taller, definitely while shopping since there were always limited petite sizes. I would never say anything to my kids since there’s nothing they can do about it but I was secretly relieved when my son hit 5’8 and then 5’10. Life is just a little easier for clothes. I don’t know if he will get to 6 feet but I hope he does. No, I don’t tell him this.

[Anonymous]

if a guy is over 5'8" or so it really doesn't matter how tall he is in my experience of watching teens. I have a senior son at an all boys' school and the most popular boys (with each other and with girls) are all over the height map. What really matters is the "it" factor. Do you have charisma and swagger and brains in one package? Golden.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Height doesn't matter in tennis. Are you really comparing the importance of height in basketball, which is what others were discussing, to tennis?