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Sometimes when I am standing on a streetcorner, waiting to cross the street, I will look around and notice that I am the tallest person there. I know that I am tall for a woman, but I'm average height for a man, why do I tower over everyone?

Are you hung up on your height or lack thereof?

-- Kymm Zuckert (hedgehog@hedgehog.net), January 08, 2001

Answers

As a six-foot male, no, I'm not hung up on my height. Being a little taller would be OK, but where I am is OK, too.

And as for tall women wearing heels, I forget who said "If you can't hide it, paint it red," but it sure applies here. You go, girl!

/Robert

-- Robert (rbdimmick@earthlink.net), January 08, 2001.


There is only one thing in the world that makes being short even remotely acceptable, and that is that I don't care so much about low ceilings. There's an overhang on the stairs up to the third floor in my apartment, and I just walk right under it, where almost everyone else has to duck and Golden Boy lives in fear of killing himself. I'm 5' 4" and everyone else is taller than me, dammit.

-- Jessie (blue@avocation.org), January 08, 2001.

I have it both ways - at 5'5", I'm shorter than all of my Canadian in- laws and taller than most of my Taiwanese relatives. My husband (6') claims that tall people bump their heads less frequently than short ones because they become accustomed to ducking.

-- Peg Duthie (nashchick@ivillage.com), January 08, 2001.

I wouldn't say I'm "hung up on" my height, but at 5 feet tall, I am definitely pretty damn short. I'm used to it, so although it's sometimes annoying that people look down on my emotionally as well as physically (as if because I'm short, I must still be treated like a child), I don't really notice it often. But I remember one time doing some filing in college in the registrar's office, where the filing cabinets were taller than me. I had to use a small step stool that lifted me 8 inches off the ground, and it was as if I had a new perspective on the world. I've stood on latters and step stools and a variety of things many times, but that was the first I ever conciously gasped inside and said "wow, this is what the world looks like if you're 5'8!" It was entirely different from that view - the view of a perfectly normal height. If I could manage heels (I am not the most graceful of people), I'd wear them all the time. My new boots, at least, lift me up about 2 inches, and every bit helps!

-- S.Skirmishes (solitaryskirmishes@hotmail.com), January 08, 2001.

Uh - yeah, that's stood on laDDers, not latters. Thus far, I've only stood on formers. -ss

-- S.Skirmishes (solitaryskirmishes@hotmail.com), January 08, 2001.


I'm five foot. I love being five foot. I don't mind being short, in fact, I LIKE being short.

-- Jen (Winter@nyc.com), January 08, 2001.

I'm 5'11" and not a day passes that someone doesn't comment on how "huge" I am. The Korean guys at the deli near me point and say "Sees soo long!" I'm 27 and just now beginning to get insecure about my height.

-- Poppy (ithesky@aol.com), January 09, 2001.

I'm either 5'5" or 5'4", i've never been sure and i don't care enough to actually make an effort to find out. But although i am happy with my height, i do wish i had grown just a couple more inches because trying to get a bowl or a spice jar from the top shelf in the kitchen always requires me to get a chair to stand on. Anything that my 6'2" boyfriend has nonchalently placed on the top shelf of the bathroom cupboard means that you will see me scrambling up on top of the dryer to reach it.

-- Sherry (sherina@masc.ca), January 09, 2001.

I'm more hung up on my width than my height, or lack thereof. Really, I'm about 5'9" (on the good -- surgically non-altered -- leg) but when your husband is nearly 6'7" (with a great body, amazing eyes and the face of Bill Pullman) it doesn't matter. You're doomed to look short, ugly and dumpy, unless you're a cheerleader type, then you'll look short and perky. When he has a cool accent too, you're short, ugly, dumpy and plain. Such is my lot in life. I deal.

-- Dreama (dreama@bluesilver.org), January 16, 2001.

I'm all of 5'3" and very happy with my height. I've never wished to be taller or shorter. My dad is 6'5" and my brother is 6'4", but my mom was only 5'2". I'm glad I took after her.

-- Athena McGinn (athena@lexxicon.net), January 16, 2001.


I'm four foot 8, and wish i was a little bit taller - for the simple fact that my mum is 4 foot 10 !

Actually, i think it's more my feet that i wish were 2 or 3 sizes larger, so that i could wear adult shoes!

-- smallkat (smallkat@hotmail.com), January 17, 2001.


I'm 5'2" and happy about my height except for the fact that even on a ladder I can't reach my ceiling light fixtures, so I always have to wait for somebody taller to come over to change my burnt-out light bulbs.

-- Catherine (catcoicrit@earthlink.net), January 17, 2001.

I stand a very tall 5'21/2" the Navy gave me the 1/2 inch even though it is really not there. For some reason people think I am a lot taller, until they stand next to me. I carry myself like a woman who is 5'5" in flats. I always wear flats.

I have spent a good majority of my life finding unusual ways to climb up on counters to reach things. I am easy to spot in stores; I am the ones scaling the selves to reach the food items placed above arms reach.

-- Alice (alice@3harpiesltd.com), January 18, 2001.


I'm 5'8" and wear heels almost constantly. I think I was meant to be at least six feet tall but perhaps stunted my growth by smoking or drinking too many bottomless cups of coffee at Mr. Ed's during my high- school years. There's a reason that the phrase "to look down on" was coined; I find it impossible to be intimidated by anyone whose eye level is lower than mine. I would love to tower over everyone on the streetcorners, so to Kymm I say: work it, work it, work it; and to you short people I say: better luck next incarnation.

-- Kim Rollins (kimrollins@yahoo.com), January 18, 2001.

i'm 5'3" but i must seem taller, because everyone says "your not short" until i tell them my height. except for reaching high shelves i kinda' like it. my husband is 5' 11 1/2" and i fit perfectly under his chin. very neat for posing pictures.

-- nicolemrw (nicolemrw@go.com), January 20, 2001.


That's it! - that's what happens to me. I've had girlfriends surprised to find out they're my height or taller - confidence definitely adds inches to perception. ;

-- Peg Duthie (nashchick@ivillage.com), January 20, 2001.

I'm the shortest one here at 4'7. I'm called queen midget and munchkin. I'm not only extremely petite but I have a small frame.Although my chances of getting lost in a big crowd are very high, I make myself known just by using confidence. Sure I may look like I'm 9 and get carded everywhere, but the insides can make up for the outside.

Now just finding 5 inch platforms in size 2....thats a problem

Natalie has officially put her $.02 in.

-- Natalie (stridertiny@hotmail.com), June 13, 2001.


I'm 6'2". I don't really think about being tall very often and I only notice it if I'm in a crowd of people and am obviously very much taller. Like, in line waiting for a table for dim-sum. :D I think having tall siblings (both younger brothers are over 6'6") and a tall dad helped me out there. The boyfriend is 6'5" and the tallest in his family.

I get LOTS of comments and I generally don't think talking about being tall is the most interesting thing in the world. I can be a bit defensive in those cases.

When I was thin and pretty I used to get asked at least once a month if I was a man. ? Not so great for the self-esteem. What do you do in that situation? Flash your vagina? Not likely.

-- Dulcie. (dulcie@meatheringham.com), June 19, 2001.


BTW, 5'4" isn't short, it's at the 60th percentile among females. ANd people are a lot closer in height than it seems. I'd say as a general rule, the only people one towers over is children. I'm 5'10" which is normal for a guy and I'm about 190 lbs. I'd say if someone's up to the bottom of your nose or vice versa, they're pretty much as tall as u or ur as tall as them. If they come up to ur shoulder, they're almost as tall as you, you're almost as tall as them also if ur in between their shoulder and nose. One towers over another if the lattr comes up lower than the chest of the former. Just a few days ago I realized how silly it was to fret over a couple inches. Like there's hardly any difference really between 70 and 72 (My height anf 6'0"). But I will agree that Robert Wadlow towered over almost everybody at 10 feet tall literally (9'11" natural measurement). So a 5'0" person can truly walk to up a 5'10" person and say that they're almost as tall as them. They're about 87% of the other person's height. My girlfriend is around 94% of my height at 5'6". Almost everybody in the world is a similar height to one another I think.

-- Matthew Villani (AKAnorth85@aol.com), September 15, 2001.

Iam 5'2 and i think iam short for my age because i am 14 and i still have time to grow,all my friends make fun of me what can i do.

-- Amanda oke (lita144@hotmail.com), September 17, 2001.

I am 5'8, and I'm 17 years old. I don't consider myself short among other people, but to my family I do. My mom is 5'11, and my dad is 6'3. I mean I'm just embarrast about the fact that I haven't even outgrown my mom in height. Most of my friends are taller than their moms. I still look like mom's little boy.

-- Yuri Dubinsky (lenin722@yahoo.com), September 21, 2001.

I am currently 6 foot 11, and I think I am still growing, that's because I am only 15 yeaRS old. I am very thankful to Almighty Allah who gave me this height. I was 13 when I prayed to start growing taller. I wanted to grow taller because I always used to get beaten up and bullied in school. After praying I think I went straight to sleep. I can remember that the next morning I was covered in sweat. I got out of my bed, but I was so dizzy. I realized that the ground seemed so low and hesitated to put my feet down properly on the ground. Anyway we went to the doctor and did a medical check. The doctor said I had an extremely rare case of genetic pituitary cancers, which caused me to grow 3 inches in one night, due to the release of too much growth hormone. The doctor made an appointment for me at the hospital for three weeks later. Within three weeks I noticed I was getting more taller and more massive by the day. By the end of that week I had grown 10 inches more. My original height at 13, I think was 4 foot 5. Anyway I dont think any mothafucka can rock with me now because I wil fuck him up and leave him for dead. I hate bullies, If anyone bullies anyone after this, I will take out his windpipe and hit him in the head with it. I say believe in Allah and His messenger, Muhammed, all peace be upon him, and you will be fine. This is the ultimate in truths. Any questions about anything please do not hesitate to contact me. Your friend.

raq

-- Ryan Killer (raq505@hotmail.com), September 27, 2001.


I am 4'11 and I think i'm going to be like this because my mom and oldest sister are 5'0. I want to be short but not very short. Are there any ways I can grow a little taller?

-- Quistis (sunset_flare@hotmail.com), December 28, 2002.

Im 5'3". I have had a lot of problems with my height socially. my esteem has suffered because of it. i made myself shoes to gain a bit of height. i hit 5'8"-5'9" if i stand & walk correctly. things are a bit different now socially. women look at me differently on a whole but i still have a lot of issues to resolve.

j.p. age 28.

-- J.P. Rentry (ge134val@yahoo.com), August 09, 2003.


I'm 4'11" I was 5'1" in 7th grade and 5ft even as a freshman and now i'm a 4'11" junior. Being short is cool but i wish i would stop shrinking . lil kelly

-- Kelly Fuller (kellyfuller222@hotmail.com), August 21, 2003.

i'm 5'2 1/2 . im 15 yrs old.. im ok with my height but i wish i could be taller because most of my friends are taller and it's hard having boyfriend girlfriend relationships because of it..and i tend to put myself down alot when i see 6'2 models or what not on television or some where and i just wish i could have there height as well..i haven't as yet delt with my height but i'm trying..

-- kath astor (knights_insane_cheerleader@hotmail.com), October 31, 2003.

I am 5'8 and even in USA that's considered tall for a female. Add 4 inch heels ...and that doesn't exactly get me a lot of dates. Somehow guys seem to be intimidated by a tall, lean babe and just back off. Hello guy....not all gals are 5'6 AFTER heels. There are REAL women out there too...that have issues with YOUR self-esteem issues. :-P

-- Big gal (femmetotallyfatale69@yahoo.com), March 21, 2004.

Im a 5'0 (17 yr old) girl, and well i hate being so short. I feel as tho i cant date really tall guys. esp this one guy that im really hung up on (and i think he has the same feelings for me). He is 6'6..and i think it would just be akward if we dated.. 18 inches is a lot! my head is at his chest! Why must height be such a barrier?!?!? help!! make me feel better!!

-- v (cherry_rum87@hotmail.com), May 26, 2004.

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