Tall Men Short Men

[Megan]

I am noticing this lately, more than usual, but tall men treat short men as if they were less-masculine-younger or want to enforce dominance over them. Not saying this is extreme, but it's subtle enough that I recognize the behavior just by watching people and how they behave.

Today, this one guy said, "--- has feminine qualities, he is like a woman". This guy is 5'6, and he appears straight and is talkative and makes sense. There was nothing that feminine to me to make such a mark besides his height I guess. But even he made a remarked that I remembered, "Why didn't I become tall", and so I know he's a little insecure about it.

Then I was walking and passed  a guy who was 6'1 and  a guy who was 5'5, they were both leaning and that guy was talking about the way he should behaved. It's almost annoying the hell out of me lol.

Why do some tall men want to feel authoritative over shorter men? 

[Miniar]

Well, see, I'm 6'2, my daughter's closing in on 5 feet, she's nine.
When I'm around adults, regardless of their sex/gender who're about the same height as my daughter, then I tend to inadvertently associate them with her due to their size. (Tell you what, there's nothing creepier to me than a stunning 18 year old with a plunging neckline revealing an impressive cleavage that puts on my hat and looks up at me from exactly the same angle as my 9 year old daughter!)

It causes me to feel a bit like I'm "watching over" those smaller/weaker than me... which causes a considerable self-induced mind->-bleeped-<- when around a bloke that could bench me even if he's considerably shorter than me.

It doesn't make me think them dumber than me but.. just that I'm their "watchdog".

[Terra Anne]

I find a lot of my male friends find every reason possible to come across as the alphamale.  I think its rather silly, but I find women do it also, just in a different manner. I dont imagine many people enjoy feeling any less "superior" than another, alas people must do as they must to feel good about themselves.  Human nature is silly

[K8]

I've noticed this for at least 50 years.  Some short men become very pugnacious, having to deal with this all their lives.  As an average-height male, I felt small.  (My brother and father were both taller.)  It feels wonderful now to be an above-average-height female.

Studies have shown that the taller of two candidates for office will be elected more frequently.  I'm not sure if this is only in western culture.

- Kate

[ativan]

I spent a good share of my school yrs being picked on because I was usually the shortest. The absolute worst was the intimidation and physical abuse. I eventually grew to almost 5'10", but the fear of another beating or even just being pushed around was almost constant. If it wasn't for the fact that I was so much smarter than most, I'm not sure how things would have turned out. They could get me first, but soon learned that payback can come in a lot of different forms.
Do guys that are taller intimidate shorter guys? Most do. Not all, but most do, and it's usually intentional. If you react at all to it, they know they can do it again and again.
I can still be intimidated by even someone my own height. I just don't let them get away with it anymore, usually.

[Miniar]

I got bullied for being the tallest!

[Rossiter]

I'm one of the shortest people I know and it's definitely a pain...much, much harder to be taken seriously. I'd love to be taller. On the other hand, plenty of people seem to find me rather aggressive/intimidating even though I weigh about 95 pounds, so everyone might be terrified of me if I was more average-sized, haha.

I definitely think there's a certain amount of discrimination that goes on towards smaller people, though, and no one takes much notice of it. I also find that a lot of people call average height "short" and don't think of people somewhat above average as tall.

[blondwidowspider]

I didn't get "belittled" ever because I was short, but mostly because I was "lanky" and tiny. I think when I was 18, I was around 5'7" or 5'8" and was barely over 100 lbs. Looking back, it did help me hugely with my transition, but it still does annoy me to this day.

[28BROOK]

6  1  but likely shrinking these days.

I like Miniar was taunted and picked on because I was taller and bigger than my classmates in elementary school. Most of the guys tormenting me - pinching and hitting in the back - were average or less than average in height. I guess they got their jollies making me cry - I was shy and withdrawn then.  When we got to Junior High School everyone had too much to contend with to continue and by high school I got involved in sports.

My philosophy was to try and do better to someone else than what had been done to me.

Brook

[Megan]

I didn't get "belittled" ever because I was short, but mostly because I was "lanky" and tiny. I think when I was 18, I was around 5'7" or 5'8" and was barely over 100 lbs. Looking back, it did help me hugely with my transition, but it still does annoy me to this day.

wow, you're amazingly beautiful! (from the avatar)

trans, gg, whatever, you beat most girls at your age by far! Wow

it's like when i see the typical transsexual (over 98.5 % of the tg world)  i repress my thoughts about doing it, then i see you, and then i want to do this now.

[kyril]

I guess my height's never been an issue. I was always just average, never entirely out of place heightwise among either boys or girls. I ended up at 5'7", not unusually tall for a woman, not exceptionally short for a man, about the right height so I could always swap casual clothes with my boyfriends but still shop in the ladies' section if I wanted to.

I feel for the people on the extremes (either end).

[Teknoir]

I see short guys (well, between about 5' and 5'7-ish), and I end up wanting to hit on them. Short, good looking, non-effeminate guys are freaking adorable.

At 5'5" - I only wish more of the world thought the same way I do

I don't notice that much of a difference in how people treat me compared with others. It's all about the attitude. It's in your build, and it's (more so) in how you carry yourself.

Simply put - You just gotta rock it! Carry yourself like you're 6'5". What you lack in height, just make up for in personality. Nobody will be any the wiser .

[K8]

Simply put - You just gotta rock it! Carry yourself like you're 6'5". What you lack in height, just make up for in personality. Nobody will be any the wiser .

I agree.  A little story: When my mother (5'8") met my second spouse (5'0"), they got along well.  On the third day, they were standing next to each other looking at something in the distance.  My mother turned to her and said, with surprise: "Wow.  You really are short, aren't you?"  My spouse was only 5' tall but had a 6' personality.

- Kate