Heights of SO

[Dragon Lady]

I've never dated anyone shorter than me, but when my missionary took me to a dance, I couldn't wear heels lest I be taller than he. I've dated the range from about 1 inch taller to 18 inches taller. My liking them didn't change per their height. But I would say that I like to feel protected by my man. And even though I don't think Yellow would be up to the task of beating up an intruder, I do feel safer around him. Maybe because he protects me emotionally and spiritually. And he does do things for me physically that I couldn't do.

[SmurfBlueSnuggie]

And even though I don't think Yellow would be up to the task of beating up an intruder, I do feel safer around him. Maybe because he protects me emotionally and spiritually. And he does do things for me physically that I couldn't do.

That's part of why, for me, height isn't a deal-breaker, but it's important. I do find tall guys attractive. My "type" is tall and skinny. I've always been glad I'm not tiny. I like being tall and broad-shouldered. It's a good build, and I'm confident in it. I am capable of physically protecting myself, and it actually really bothers me when a man thinks I'm less physically capable than him. My love language is physical touch, so emotional protection and physicality are very closely tied. Emotional protection is the most important kind for me, and if a short guy can hold me and comfort me, that is enough. But taller guys are more comfortable to cuddle with, so that is also helped by height.

[Portia]

I like masculine-looking, handsome guys, who tend to be average to tall, but I don't know what a guy would be protecting me from. What they say holds far more importance to me. There are a lot more physical things to get hung up on than height. A part of me wonders whether this isn't related to the cultural idea that equates men's height (or other external markers) with their sexual prowess?

[Dragon Lady]

but I don't know what a guy would be protecting me from.

Honestly, he largely protects me from myself. When I'm too self-critical. He also protects me from others. Sometimes by giving me a different perspective on what they said or by assuring me that they were wrong or uniformed or that their opinions don't matter to us. He protects me saying things that he knows I'll regret.

I think everyone needs to be protected. How they need to be protected differs per person, though.

[Katya]

A part of me wonders whether this isn't related to the cultural idea that equates men's height (or other external markers) with their sexual prowess?

Height is a biological secondary sex characteristic in men. I think that alone can explain the attraction, regardless of cultural factors. (Of course, in a developed nation, physical size and strength isn't a strong indicator of the ability to provide for a family, which complicates this sort of attraction, or at least makes it more superficial.)

[Portia]

Frank anatomical talk warning.

Looks like although the ol' "big feet" test may not be particularly valid, an overall "height test" could have a point.

Some Florentine researchers in what is now officially my favorite study ever found a correlation between height and penile length. The first thought I had, though, was "they're 17 to 19!" but I suppose that would be fully developed for most men.

In what is now my second-favorite study, we find that at least among Aussie women looking at computer-generated images of men ranked large penises as more attractive on men, but "larger penises gave tall men a bigger attractiveness boost than shorter men." No word if the avatars appeared to be barely legal. The best part of this study?? The computer topped out at 5.1 inches ... but flaccid. (If I were a man that would not be the state I'd want to be judged in.)

but in an era before clothing, women may have been drawn to mating with men whose genitalia caught their eye. Men with larger penises, then, may have passed on their genes more readily, resulting in the large-genitals trait being handed down the generations.

Thank you, Internet!!!

[Portia]

Oh my goodness, the journal is PNAS. This needs an Ig Nobel.

[Whistler]

The real correlation you want to look at is with butt size.

[Marduk]

Unfortunately, Portia, there is NOT a correlation between flaccid penis size and erect penis size.

[UffishThought]

Unfortunately, Portia, there is NOT a correlation between flaccid penis size and erect penis size.

Wait, what? Really?

Also, butt size? What's the story on that, Whistler?

[Whistler]

well, I remember reading a study about it in one of my psychology research digests, but I haven't been able to find the exact study I first heard it from. Now, I've probably ruined my adwords forever, but this study did find a correlation between gluteal mass a penis size: http://www.ajol.info/index.php/wajm/article/view/28282

[Portia]

It appears Marduk has a point. Although I think large outliers would start out reasonably large.

http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/resources/bib-penis.html

It's not predictive, but it is correlated ... It's the same organ ...

I assume testosterone contributes to height, muscle mass, and endowment.

[Violet]

I'm w/you Smurf Blue Snuggie. I know I'm kinda shallow about it, but I still much prefer taller guys. I'd like the option to wear high heels and not be taller. I'm around 5'7" which isn't ridiculously tall, but at least a few inches above that like 5'10" minimum is my ideal.

Some guy I barely met recently asked my roommate if I was single and if he had a chance at dating me. He was noticeably shorter than me so she avoided saying that I wasn't interested because he was short. My dad is 6'2" so I definitely feel protected by him when I hug him. I don't have a lot of 'requirements' for looks in a guy, but height is a major priority. I guess it doesn't bugs guys quite as much, but it does bug me.

Actually, you're taller than over three-fourths of white women, so you are quite tall.

You have no idea how long I've idly wondered about this. I'm 5'8" and while I don't feel particularly tall, I did wonder where I fell in a population distribution.