Advice for short guys?

[CursedFireDean]

So I'm only 5'1", hoping to grow more but I probably won't, and I was wondering how some of you deal with being short? I get really dysphoric over my height sometimes, especially since I've never met a cisguy so short- or any guy for that matter. I know they're out there, but there's so few.

I think my biggest problem is that I have short legs on top of being short, so do any of you have suggestions to help with this?

[lost.cowboy]

You may be surprised how much well-fitting clothes can make a difference. I know that it is very difficult when you have short legs but if you can get your hands on either youth size, short leg length, or hemmed up trousers/jeans then although you will still be short you will seem more in proportion overall, if that makes sense?

True, there aren't many really short cis-guys, but there are some. And if you present as the "whole package" I don't think it is a reason for someone to question you, in case you were worried about that.

Another option is shoe inserts or height increasing shoes - I regularly wear height increasing shoes to add a couple of extra inches and am used to the way they feel now. They also help with trouser legs collecting around your ankles because your legs aren't long enough (or is that just me...)

[lexical]

I feel you man, I'm 5'3" and this gets me down constantly. On a practical level, you can try wearing shoe lifts to give you an extra inch or two. Boots also tend to make you visibly taller than sneakers and other flat shoes. Also if you're wearing pants like jeans, try to find ones that you don't have to cuff at the bottom... letting the bottom of your pants naturally taper makes your legs look longer. These are just a few examples but there are many ways to dress better for a shorter height.

On a psychological level, it's something you just have to come to terms with. There are definitely guys around 5 feet, like you said they're fairly rare, but they're out there and they're not seen as any less male. As you move forward in your transition, you'll see that it's not nearly as important or obvious to other people as it is to us. I know people say this constantly, but so much of how people treat you is in how you carry yourself. I've noticed this in a huge way over the last year. People really do notice if you stand with good posture and speak/carry yourself confidently. For example, at work I wear insoles in my dress shoes - at the most they probably give me an inch of height, but for some reason I feel so much more confident in them. And I've noticed how people respond to me more positively because of it. I know it's completely psychological but I know I carry myself much differently because of that little boost.

In short (no pun intended lol) -- though we can't change the reality, there are many different ways to cope with it and it does get easier over time 

[Liminal Stranger]

I'm a whopping 4 feet 9 ninches, a regular Godzilla.
...If I were 6 years old, that is.
Wishful thinking aside, I've been told by 4 out of 5 doctors that I won't grow. The fifth said maybe an inch or so, and gave a nice laugh when I asked if I would be five feet tall. In fact, my old pediatrician told me and my mother, "Oh well, she'll never be a model" (Hence why she is no longer my pediatrician). My grandmother in all her wisdom said that boys like shorter girls because they feel protective of them. Obviously helping, grandma.

Someone else told me not to worry, that boys can grow until their mid-20s. If only! (That one ended up sparking a debate on what I was without me having told anyone anything, and someone guessed I was TG before I even knew what that was aside from some comments about Chaz Bono. I'll have to tell her she was right sometime.)

It's annoying, but I'm pre-everything so I get read as a little kid, passing sometimes and others not but usually androgynous.

How does one deal? Well, there's always the option of lifts and the possibility of future growth. But the real trick is to be big. Confidence is a key factor in being read as the gender you are presenting as, and the same goes for height. If you're able to exude confidence in yourself, that overrides the height factor in many situations. Be proud of who you are, and show off that the body does not make the man.

Power to the little guys!

[sneakersjay]

I'm short too and I work with the public.  There are a LOT of short men out there.  Many shorter than me, and shorter than you.  Just be yourself, have confidence.  Nothing worse than insecure short guys with a complex!

Jay

[King Malachite]

I understand your pain.  I stopped growing in the fourth grade and I'm 5'4.  On top of that, I have short, chubby legs that I can't wrap my hands around.  The other guys are right about confidence though.  Having confidence will make you appear a lot taller.  This includes not slouching while walking and keeping your back straight.  Sometimes, pants can help you look taller as well.

[DriftingCrow]

I agree that wearing better fitting clothes will make you look taller. I read this article awhile back about looking taller and it seems to have a lot of good advice: http://artofmanliness.com/2011/06/07/dressing-taller-short-men/

There are short cis guys out there, so we're not alone (I am 5'2"). 

I don't mind being short, and I tend to like short women (maybe it makes me feel tall???) so I haven't had any dysphoria over it.

[GnomeKid]

I was 5'4".  I height I always felt was pretty perfect despite its comparatively short status to that of the average man.  On top of that I also have short legs.  The only effect that had on me was being annoyed at pants with zippers at the bottom (impossible to hem or roll up into cuffs).  Granted I know that you're a couple inches shorter than I, but I see cisguys my size or smaller fairly regularly.  My room mate (a cisman) is the same height as me.

Just to make you feel a little better, some benefits of being short:
1. fit more places comfortably. - sleeping on friends couches is a lot less painful when you actually fit on them.
2. superior skills and advantage at playing hide and seek
3. kids clothes are half the price (and oftentimes more durable)

I will say, however, that I have distinctly grown at least an inch (maybe 2) since starting T three years ago (just before I turned 22).  Slightly off topic, but my feet grew a fair bit as well. 

[CursedFireDean]

Thanks for all the replies guys! You've all been really helpful.

Shoe lifts sounds like something I should look into- are there any that you'd recommend? Also, how comfortable are they?

I'd definitely benefit from a confidence boost- sometimes I get too wrapped up in things I guess. I'll definitely keep in mind to be confident in myself and not try to focus so much on things I can't change like height.

I read this article awhile back about looking taller and it seems to have a lot of good advice: http://artofmanliness.com/2011/06/07/dressing-taller-short-men/

Awesome link, thanks! Definitely helpful.

[DriftingCrow]

Just to make you feel a little better, some benefits of being short:
1. fit more places comfortably. - sleeping on friends couches is a lot less painful when you actually fit on them.
2. superior skills and advantage at playing hide and seek
3. kids clothes are half the price (and oftentimes more durable)

I just bought some shoes over in the boys section that seems to make me taller without having to wear lifts. I got some Swiss Gear sneakers over at Target, I think they give me about 3/4" and they're incredibly comfortable. I also got some boy's dress shoes that have a small heel, about a half inch.

[Damian]

Heelys are awesome for this. The shoes have a wheel in the heel that boosts me up about 2-2 1/2 inches w/o lifts. They size small so if you get them make sure you get the right size.

[Kelly J. P.]

 As a short ex-'guy' (standing at 5'3"), I know it's not all that fun. There can be some teasing, and you may not be taken as seriously, and it makes for a large obstacle to passing if other attributes don't fall in line with the average.

Having facial hair, the right attitude/presence, a deep voice, and masculine clothing makes it mostly a non-issue for passing, though - and I'm only bringing the clothing up because every now and then, I see a trans guy walk around in purple skinny jeans. They might be worn in a guy style, and some cis guys may do it, but that sort of thing doesn't really help you out.

Dealing with it on a personal level is different. It's something that, first, should be accepted. It may be something that can be remedied with taller footwear, but it's still a part of what you are. When being teased, getting defensive or showing insecurity would be awkward - it's better to laugh it off, and show that it's not a big deal to you.

Confidence will take care of others. Acceptance will take care of you.

[GentlemanRDP]

Have you looked into lifts for your shoes?
I've never gotten around to buying them myself, but when I'm feeling really short, I stuff my shoes with paper to get another inch or so.
Not to mention, another way to add the illusion of height is to weight the same color all the way up and down your body with no breaks in colors.
Like a black top, and black pants, with a black belt (If you added, say....a white belt, you'd look shorter)
Also, making sure that you stay out of baggy clothes will help, or you'll look even smaller.
And of course, practicing good posture shall help if you're a sloucher like me.

[aleon515]

I saw an old movie with Michael J Fox, stupid movie, but he's shorter than all the women-- doesn't hurt him any. I have to remind myself being 5'1".

Jay

[notyouraverageguy]

Idk how I deal with it, I guess I don't. But when I see a man near my height I get super happy and think to myself hey there's another guy like me. That's the only thing that makes me feel good about myself being this short. I'm four eleven. And no one knows our pains like people under 5'2". Everything is different for us, including lifting and carrying, reaching, etc. My height is the one thing I get suicidal about because I'm not happy with it, and I never have been.
It's the one thing I'm most dysphoric about. Because there's nothing you can do about your size. Because of my height all my body is proportioned. Tiny hands, small feet, short arms, short legs, small head. You can't change that. Yeah you can try to hide it, but there's nothing you can really do about it.
I feel like its difficult to date women because they want men taller then them. So options are limited to short women. All you average to tall guys with average hands and feet are very very lucky.
What sucks is my body fat is high so its hard for me to find good fitting clothes with a big belly and a short torso and short legs. All my pants bunch.

It's annoying, but I'm pre-everything so I get read as a little kid, passing sometimes and others not but usually androgynous.

When I was pre-t I got read as a kid 100% or a very young masculine homosexual female.
At least now I pass as an older kid, and pretty much male.

Malachite, I also stopped growing in fourth grade. So I doubt I will grow and taller. It's a pain, especially being the shortest in my whole family. Everyone else is average or tall.

One natural thing I've heard, to add about an inch I believe, is yoga. I've done some research and read you could basically stretch out to be a bit taller. I have not tried this myself.

[anibioman]

a cis guy in my school is about 4'10 this motivated him to work out a bunch now he is super jacked and on the varsity wrestling team.

[dalebert]

a cis guy in my school is about 4'10 this motivated him to work out a bunch now he is super jacked and on the varsity wrestling team.

There are a lot of sports where it's beneficial to be shorter. I believe wrestling is one of those.

[aleon515]

There are a lot of sports where it's beneficial to be shorter. I believe wrestling is one of those.

Not such a good wrastler though.

--Jay

[Dark.Knight]

I have the same dysphoria. I stand right at 5"5 and hate it even my girl is 5"7. There is a site that sales mens shoes that give you up to 5 inches the brand is tall men shoes. I plan to order some dress shoes of that brand. There's insoles giving inches and add that to some Nike's you have fashionable lift off. I have heard some stretches that can straighten and stretches the spinal cord increasing height.  Google it up I am.

[Justin 21]

think of it this way us short guys are at just the right hight that when we walk into a girl we can pull off the "oops i'm sorry my face accidently went into your boobs"