Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I'm considering transitioning. I heard T makes you taller but I'm not sure. Anyways, I was wondering if 5'3 is short for a guy because that's how tall I am? Does T REALLY make you taller?

T won't definitely make you taller. It might, it might not. It depends on a lot of things. I am somewhere between 5'2" and 5'3" and yeah I'm short for a guy but I have no problem passing and am comfortable with myself. Its all about confidence.

Hey Josh,

I'm sorry I'm not a boy, not on T, and have no knowledge of such.....  but I today I saw a man under 5' tall....  I also know men somewhere in the 5'2" to 5'5" range, and from what I've noticed I think their height is 'below average' for guys, but ya' know, ya' gotta' do what ya' gotta' do....  and if ya' gotta' transition, ya' gotta'....

--Valerie

T doesn't make you grow. You may get a tiny bit taller due to bone and cartilage thickening.
5'3" is short for a man, but it doesn't really matter. I know men under 5'3". About 5'10" is around average.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height#Average_height_around_the_world (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height#Average_height_around_the_world)

This guy is about 5'4". He's done not too bad really.

http://www.starpulse.com/Actors/Fox,_Michael_J./Biography/ (http://www.starpulse.com/Actors/Fox,_Michael_J./Biography/)

I'm 5'3 1/2. My dad's only an inch or two taller than me, and my paternal grandfather's an inch or two shorter than me. So I have short Latino genes and I'm unlikely to grow taller, even if T helps. On the bright side, travelling around Guatemala I felt like a GIANT, so I'm not considered short worldwide. If you're still a teenager, it might give you an inch or two, but if you're older it's very, very unlikely.

There's a site dedicated to short guys: http://->-bleeped-<-yeahshortguys.tumblr.com/ (//http:///) So no need to feel alone in your height.

I don't suppose there's any way I could make myself taller like surgery or something?  :-\ ;D

Elevator shoes.  :D

I'm between 5'2 and 5"3. It doesn't hurt my passing. And I have a lot of (male) relatives within the same height range. I was feeling kinda short about 2 months ago and then I went to a family wedding. I was surrounded by short men and realized that even my SO's father is my height! What a revelation.

On the flip side, most people don't think I'm that short or don't believe me that I am when I tell them. It's all about attitude and confidence...unless you're playing basketball or reaching for things on the top shelf. All the attitude in the world isn't going to help me dunk.

Then again, Muggsy Bogues played in the NBA for over 10 years and he's 5'3. I wouldn't sweat it.

Quote from: Josh T on November 14, 2010, 06:02:41 PM
I don't suppose there's any way I could make myself taller like surgery or something?  :-\ ;D

Yes, but it's a bit taboo and I don't know how you'd go about finding a surgeon in the states who does it (I know there are hospitals for it in various cities in China).


Anyway, there's a guy in my class who's probably 5'0" or shorter and it's not a problem and he's pretty cool.

Yes, it's short. No, you probably won't grow any more if you've already finished puberty. No, it's not the end of the world and it's not a counterindication for transition. I've seen a healthy adult cis man (know he was cis and health because he was in the US military) who was 4'7". I could lean on his head. And he had a little boy face. But nobody ever questioned his maleness.

Mate if your height is the worst thing you have to worry about during figuring out if you're trans or not, want to transition or not, or other random stuff that happens in everyday life - you're doing awesome!!  ;)

As stated if you've finished puberty you probably wont grow.. But with T your confidence usually soars as your appearance and voice changes!

If the answer to 'is transitioning what I need to do?' is yes then you can't not do it for fear of being a short guy! At least have a 'real' reason that stops you lol!!

There are plenty of short guys on here who will tell you just how worthwhile it is!!

Would I like to be 6' like my brother - sure I would, but it's not the card I was dealt.. You do your best with what you are given and change what you can ;D

Recently I've been noticing more and more guys around my height (about 5 foot 2). Cisgender guys being around that height isn't common but it isn't horribly uncommon.

Plenty of guys are 5'3" and shorter.  I'm 5'4" and I commonly run into guys who are shorter than me.

However, it's rare to find a cis guy who will admit to being 5'3" or 5'4" or whatever.  Guys who are 5'6" and under tend to add a few inches to their height when asked how tall they are.  I've dated quite a few guys who were exactly my height.  All honest people in general.  All claimed to be 5'7".

Quote from: Josh T on November 14, 2010, 06:02:41 PM
I don't suppose there's any way I could make myself taller like surgery or something?  :-\ ;D

Yeah, in China
And it's super painful, or so I hear. :p

Yeah it's short for a guy but that shouldn't be the reason you abstain from transitioning if you want to transition for other reasons.

makemetaller.info

Quote from: Alexmakenoise on November 14, 2010, 10:39:02 PM
I've dated quite a few guys who were exactly my height.  All honest people in general.  All claimed to be 5'7".

Yeah, 5'7" is the "default" height to claim, because it's so bloody average. Sucks to actually be 5'7".

Quote from: kyril on November 15, 2010, 12:08:04 AM
Yeah, 5'7" is the "default" height to claim, because it's so bloody average. Sucks to actually be 5'7".

Well, you'll always be the tallest guy who's " 5'7" ".

Quote from: Alexmakenoise on November 15, 2010, 12:20:34 AM
Well, you'll always be the tallest guy who's " 5'7" ".

Good point. I get to laugh at their petty claims. (been doing that for a while...there was a guy who I swear only came up to my chin claiming to be 5'7"...I was like "what does that make me, 6'2"?)

Like Jay said, if height is the biggest thing you have to worry about,  transition should be ok. 

if you are slim you could have a career as a jockey!  If you are solid then maybe you are the ideal  build for Rugby!

I'm only 5'5 so I feel your pain. I have the worst posture though. I'm very top heavy so there really isn't anything I can do about it, but after top surgery I will be working on my posture more. I've read that just correcting poor posture can give you height gain.

You might find the info on these sites helpful. I haven't tried anything yet.
http://www.freewebs.com/supertaller/index.htm (http://www.freewebs.com/supertaller/index.htm)
http://growtallforum.com/ (http://growtallforum.com/)

QuoteI'm only 5'5 so I feel your pain.

...I'm 4'11.

Hah, yeah, I'd love to be 5'5...I'm 5'1. In shoes.

And I would love to be closer to six. I'm at a height where people feel comfortable point it out. Just the other day I was chatting with a co worker and they stopped and said "Woah, I never noticed how short you are!" Gee coworker, thanks for reminding me.

J, who is a good friend of mine at college, is the same height as me, at 5'1".

He is the scariest mofo ever! Even though he's not really buff, and he's really short, everyone agrees that they would NEVER want to get into a fight with him/be in an alley with him. He's just... Intimidating!

But he's fairly nice (If you're not an idiot lol. Then he's a jerk)

And this other guy Mike is 5'3" and girly as all hell, but no one says he's too short. Yeah, we're short guys, but we're still guys. My girlfriend finds it adorable that she's a head taller than me. :) I used to be very self conscious of my height, but I've grown to love it. It's just another one of my quirks.

Yes, 5'3" is short.  But yes, there are LOTS of men who are 5'3 or SHORTER.  I'm 5'4" and deal with the public and there are lots of men who I see who are my height or shorter, which makes me pleased.  My own brother is only an inch taller than I am, FWIW.


Jay

I used to work in a bank with a Scotsman who was about 5'2" tall at the most (5' might have been closer to it because he was definitely shorter than my mum).
He may have been short but he has confidence and that made all the difference. Women adored him and he was one of the funniest blokes I've ever met. If anyone ever teased him about his height he'd say in a sexual-innuendo kind of way, "there's nothing wrong with me." It cracked everyone up.
It doesn't matter how tall or short you are - it's how you carry it. Good luck!

I'm 5"2 and it sucks cause everybody think im like 14

I go to a really big university, but I see a lot of guys who are shorter than me or right around the same hieght.  I'm 5'8" so even if you're a couple inches shorter than that I don't think you should feel out of place or anything.

I'm only 5'0"...Have you ever heard of Danny DeVito? He's an example of a short guy. He only stands 5'.

it depends on what age you are, but if you're a teenage or adult male, then yes, that' considered a short male. most adult women are 5'4, but it's not the end of the world. i have a male cousin who is shorter than most of the girls he goes out with, but he's very attractive, and they love his personality. also, you're a ftm transsexual. i don't think you should have to measure yourself up to the same standards as genetic males, even though you want to be like that, you should remember that you're in a different situation.

Hey, thanks for all the great replies guys. I was wondering, when I transition, are there any guy's shoes that will make me look a couple inches taller?

They've got shoe risers, that can add around an inch. ( http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=32&products_id=176 (http://www.lesloveboat.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=32&products_id=176) )

They also sell elevator shoes that have a riser built in. They can add 2-5 inches. I haven't worn them myself (I'm 5'5" and am pretty happy with my height), but I hear they work great and are really comfortable. Here's a link to some elevator shoes: http://www.tallmenshoes.com/ (http://www.tallmenshoes.com/)

Interesting. I know this is definitely something I shouldn't be worried about right now, and some of you have already said that some girls think it's "cute" when the guy is shorter, but this shouldn't really affect my chance at dating or making friends, right? Not the FtM thing in general, but the short thing. I can't help but think of how awkward it must be (no offence to anyone else?).

Josh I know a couple transguys your height and have met a ton of bio guys your height or a couple inches taller. All are treated with respect. I personally avoid dating girls who are taller than me but that's just personal preference, makes me feel insecure. Height really shouldn't affect friends or dates. If it does, corny as it sounds, they aren't worth it after all.

Quote from: DegrassiFan on November 16, 2010, 03:48:30 PM
I'm only 5'0"...Have you ever heard of Danny DeVito? He's an example of a short guy. He only stands 5'.

LOL for some reason this makes me feel old!!



Jay

Josh, if someone won't date you because you're short - are they really someone you'd want to date? Same with friends. If someone chooses to be a jerk and not date or be friends with you because your height, I say good riddens. All being short will do is probably make you pass for younger than you are. But if you're one of the lucky ones and pass for closer to your age, or are on T, all it's going to do it make you pass as a short guy. :)

Quote from: Sharky on November 16, 2010, 04:00:41 AM
And I would love to be closer to six. I'm at a height where people feel comfortable point it out. Just the other day I was chatting with a co worker and they stopped and said "Woah, I never noticed how short you are!" Gee coworker, thanks for reminding me.

and then i would be the opposite. i'm 5'11, and that's tall for most girls. the other day i was at a clothes store with my mom, and i guess she knows the lady working there. i'm at the point in my transition where i'm going out appearing more how i want to look, so i'm passing now. the lady asks, "is that your daughter?" my mom says yes for once "oh, she is so much taller than you!" my mom's only 5'2. i feel like my height is something that might give me away, but then i just try to remind myself i could be overthinking it just because i'm not used to being presented as female.

Maylene, I actually find most girls wish they were taller! I just thought I'd throw this out there, but btw my female cousin who is 21 is 4'8  :-\

Quote from: Josh T on November 17, 2010, 01:09:21 PM
Maylene, I actually find most girls wish they were taller! I just thought I'd throw this out there, but btw my female cousin who is 21 is 4'8  :-\

yeah, i hear that. i'm actually not really bothered by it. i kind of like it, but i stick out like a sore thumb compared to other girls, especially in this area i live in.

Yes. It's short. A lot of us are short. Sorry man, reality sucks sometimes.

Wear boots or any shoes that elevate your height and stand up as straight as you can and carry yourself like you're a lot bigger than you really are (e.i. "banty rooster"). I'm 5'5"1/2 and my height is never an issue for people who don't know I was born female, to them, I'm just another guy, but for the people who know my history, they go, "you're kinda short".

I don't know what grew, but I got half an inch taller on T, at least, so far.

And I've met tons of bio guys who're shorter than me.

Most people think I'm 13-16, but I'm only a couple years older than sixteen, so ehh, don't worry about your physical age, man, at least you can have the shadow of what it would have been like to present as a high-schooled aged male and girls do find it adorable when you get mistaken for a twelve-year-old and offered the kids' menu at resturants...for some reason.