equality.

This is kind of a stretch from my usual blogging style. (But I mean, what even is my blogging style, really?)

I’ve been seeing a lot of posts about how men and women should look. As a feminist, I believe that men should never ever have a say on anything concerning a woman’s body. But I also believe that women should have no say on anything concerning a man’s body.

What sparked this conversation in my head, was seeing a post that said, “Men shorter than 5’9 are useless.” Believe me, this got my blood boiling. What about a man’s height has anything to do with his character? I completely disagree with this idea that a man has to be tall to be lovable? The argument that is usually used for this statement is, “Well, I’m tall, and I want my boyfriend/ husband to be taller than I am.” And I totally get that. Believe me I do.

But as a 17 year old female that is 5’7 and growing, I can tell you that height does not and should not matter. I grew up around all tall men. My dad is 6’2, my middle brother is 6’3, and my oldest brother is 6’4. I used to want to be with a man that was that tall. But then I sat back and thought, “Well, how would I feel if someone found me unattractive because of my height?” It changed my whole viewpoint.

Another idea that upsets me is that men have to be muscular and look like a model, when it reality, most men aren’t. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But this made me want to ask a few random people how they feel about societal expectations for height preference. I asked 6 males and 5 females and here are the results. (I added my mother and her boyfriend, so I could see someone who’s older’s opinion on the matter. They aren’t being mean, they’re trying to add controversy, lol)

The bold words are my questions and the words after the ‘-‘ are the answers.

Michael Wilson

How tall are you?

-6’1”

Do you get discriminated against because of your height?
-No.

How do you feel about societal expectations for men?

-Depending on which expectations.

Height-wise or how you look.

-Not to be cocky, but I was lucky I look how I do and I’m as tall as I am. Because I’ve heard of guys being dogged for their looks or their height. But I do believe that if men wanna hold females to expectations, then they shouldn’t feel any type of way when it’s switched.

What do you think needs to happen in order for those expectations to change?

-People need to stop asking for their [significant] other to be so particular. You’d think they wrote each thing down in a book and then the book was given to a regular, plain person who becomes the book. Start accepting the things around you for what they are, and you’ll stop looking for what you want to change.

When do you feel most confident?

-That’s a good question. I don’t know.

That’s okay. Do you have height preferences for a partner?

-Yeah, you can’t be so tall that your hands are big enough to cover my face with.

Would you date someone your height or taller?

-Yeah, but to a degree.

 

Shawn Anderson II

How tall are you?

-6’0

Do you get discriminated against because of your height?

-No.

How do you feel about societal expectations for men regarding height?

-It doesn’t matter to me.

What do you think needs to happen in order to change these expectations for men?

-People just have to ease off of a fact of height mattering.

When do you feel most confident?

-Once I’ve made a full adaptation to my area.

Do you have height preferences for a partner?

-How about no.

Would you date someone your height or taller?

-Yes.

 

Theo Youngerg

How tall are you?

-5’11 ½”

Do you get discriminated against because of your height?

-Not often.

How do you feel about societal expectations for men regarding appearance?

-That we have to be a certain height and be lean and muscular to look good or to be accepted by others around us.

What do you think needs to happen in order for that to change?

-We need to realize that everyone is different and we can’t keep comparing one another to other people and we need to stop setting high expectations for ourselves and others.

When do you feel the most confident?

-When I lift weights.

Do you have height preferences for a partner?

-I, personally, don’t.

Would you date someone your height or taller?

-Yeah, I would.

 

Sebastian Hendricks

How tall are you?

-5’9

Do you get discriminated against because of your height?

-I wouldn’t say it’s a common thing for me personally, but every once in a while it does happen. I know people that it happens to more frequently.

How do you feel about societal expectations regarding mens’ appearances?

-I would say there’s a difference between discrimination and preferences. The girls that didn’t like me because I wasn’t super tall didn’t slander me or make fun of me. They just preferred taller men. Like with me. Short girls are cute. If the right short girl has a nice personality, I’ll give it a shot. But I generally prefer taller girls. I don’t know why, but that’s just my type.

What do you think needs to happen in order for discrimination against men to stop? And I mean discrimination, not preference.

-I’d say there isn’t one thing a man can do. It has to do with how the woman thinks. If she is discriminatory against shorter men, then she has an issue and she has to work on that. Most of the women I know that are discriminatory towards men are feminists. Besides you. They get triggered if a man makes fun of them or does anything they don’t like, but they somehow think it’s ethical to make fun of men. So what it boils down to in my opinion, is that it’s in people’s heads. It’s up to them to change.

When do you feel most confident?

-When lots of people tell me I look good.

Do you have height preferences for a partner?

-I have a preference, but like I said, it’s not the deciding factor for me. I prefer 5’7 or 5’8. But I’ve gone on dates with girls that were 5’1 because I liked who they were.

Would you date someone your height or taller?

-Yes.

 

Michael Hester (Step- Father)

How tall are you?

-6’3”.

Do you get discriminated against because of your height?

-No.

How do you feel about societal expectations for men regarding their appearance?

-Unconcerned.

What do you think needs to happen in order to change these expectations?

-I don’t care.

When do you feel the most confident?

-When I know the subject.

Do you have height preferences for partners?

-No.

Would you date someone your height or shorter?

-No.

Why not?

-‘Cuz they would be amazons. 

 

Haley Ray

How tall are you?

-Almost 5’2.

Do you have a height preference for a partner?

-There aren’t many men in the age range I’m attracted to that are shorter than me, so no, not really.

When do you feel most confident?

-Wait, like confident in my man’s height? Or, like, makeup, dressed up, all that?

In yourself.

-When I feel passionately about something. Wait, about my appearance or decisions? I need specifics.

Anything.

-When I’m determined to accomplish something.

Would you date someone your height or shorter?

-My preference is taller men, no not necessarily. But, if he’s a great person, then I might give him a chance.

 

Josie Deaton

How tall are you?

-5’6”

Do you have a height preference for a partner?

-Preferably a little bit taller, but it’s not a deal-breaker for me.

When do you feel most confident?

-When I’m on stage performing!

Would you date someone your height or shorter?

-Yes.

 

Azya Lyons

How tall are you?

-5’7”

Do you have a height preference for a partner?

-That depends on the partner. Normally, I like taller people though.

When do you feel most confident?

-Do you want me to be completely honest?

Yes.

-I don’t really think I’ve ever felt confident.

Why not?

-Because I was bullied a lot for being mixed or for being big. I guess that kind of stuff just came with me as I grew up. 

[You’re beautiful, Azya. Your skin tone or your size will never define you. Although, they both make you even more gorgeous in my eyes.]

I understand that. Would you date someone your height or shorter?

-Yeah, I would. But there’s, like, a limit.

 

Maleigh Crespo

How tall are you?

-5’3”

Do you have a height preference for a partner?

-Nah. Literally everyone is taller than me.

When do you feel most confident?

-When I’m wearing a super cute outfit that makes me look smaller and my hair is curly in all the right ways.

Would you date someone your height or shorter?

-Well, I wouldn’t mind it, but I’ve never been taller than a guy, so I’m not sure.

 

Ashanti Keyes

How tall are you?

-5’10”

Do you have a height preference for a partner?

-No.

When do you feel most confident?

-When I have my hair done.

Would you date someone your height or shorter?

-Yes.

 

Michelle Cox (Mother)

How tall are you?

-5’3”.

Do you have a height preference for a partner?

-Yes, taller than 6’0”.

When do you feel most confident?

-When I’m going into a situation when I not only look my best, but I’m prepared for it.

Would you date someone your height or shorter?

-No.

Why not?

They haven’t hit puberty yet. 

 

Brianna Cox (Myself)

How tall are you?

-5’7”.

Do you have a height preference for a partner?

-No.

When do you feel most confident?

-When my hair is cooperating, my face is clear of acne, and when my amazing friends tell me I look pretty.

Would you date someone your height or shorter?

-I would absolutely date someone my height; I’m used to being as tall as or almost as tall as whoever I’m dating. I’ve never dated someone shorter than me, so I can’t say yes or no, because I don’t really know.