Does Size Matter?

Question

Some Scientific Research seems to indicate that it does, but it's not about *that* size - it's about Height!

Is height a factor for you in selecting a partner, Does Size Matter?

Article follows:

British scientists have come up with an explanation for why most men are taller than women.

They say taller men are more sexually attractive and are more likely to father children.

Men, though, prefer shorter women, so the two sexes are unlikely ever to end up the same height over the course of evolution.


In choosing a husband, size matters

Daniel Nettle, Open University
"It seems that tall men and petite women are favoured in evolutionary terms, even in a modern population, so the height difference between men and women is unlikely to disappear," says Daniel Nettle of the Open University.

The verdict that size matters is based on a study of 10,000 people born in the UK in a single week in March 1958.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2190461.stm

Answer 1

Almost every man I've dated has been at least 6' tall, and I've never really been attracted to anyone who is much shorter than that. I'm almost 5'3" so there is always a gap between me and my partners. I have a definite physical preference in that not only are the men taller, they also have fairly large builds. It might be a comfort thing on my part, I'm not sure...or maybe it's evolutionary, who knows? Thanks for the interesting link. I never thought of it this way.

Answer 2

Smile. It is a very old study you are discussing here: most of us are much younger and taller than people who participated in it. Now, I personally am 5'9" and had always dated men taller than me. I also was approached by shorter men, but I have a problem looking down at the man I would like to kiss at some point of our relationship. I also wear high heeled shoes, so every man I ever dated was over 6'.

Answer 3

Size doesn't matter. And that study is just one specific one. And how valid is it. You and I both know, it has nothing to do with sexual attraction. I guess if a woman believes in that particular study and are that picky, then size matters.

And I have an opinion on "petite women" being favored in "evolutionary" terms (means beginning of time for me), goes to show how strong that idea has been that men prefer skinny women and that they want to appear as if they always tower over women.

Ideas that have stuck and have been passed on for centuries.

Answer 4

Body size shows how healthy you are. If a man is big and strong, then he definately is healthy and therefore a more suitable mate then a smaller man. This dates all the way back to when we were apes (if you believe in evolution), when men were chosen based on how well the mating process would go to raise finer offspring. Darwin wasn't lying when he said that the strong would survive.

Yes, I do prefer taller men, I do have to admit. But my opinion is also biased because I am a teenager, therefore, don't count anything I say. xD;

Answer 5

To an extent, size matters. Although, I tend to find something attractive about a shorter man. I know, it seems weird, but it's true. It is also true that if a man is shorter he has to have a little something extra special about him. I am 5'8, so I am kind of tall for a woman. I know of a lot of men that prefer taller or tall women.

Answer 6

Yes, I think it matters. However I want the guy to be in proportion. Example...a lot of basketball guys look gawky. Sure they are tall...and built like a beanpole.

I want a tall guy who is totally in has some flesh, and most importantly for me...wide shoulders.

My husband and I totally support this study. I'm 5'2", and my husband is 6'3".

Funny thing was I was married before. He was 5'7". He was a wretched person, and a horrible "provider." It was via my jobs that most of the income came in.

Now I'm with 6'3" of blonde haired, blue eyed gorgeous, and guess what? Great provider...also loving, caring, confident, and trustworthy man.

A friend of ours is 6'7"...his wife is 4'9"!

Funny thing was tall men often didn't seem to be attracted to me for a long time. Said it hurt their back too much to bend over and kiss short women.

Then I met one guy at a nightclub who thought I was the cat's meow. He was like 6'5"...he thought it was wonderful to take me out on the dancefloor and pick me up like a doll and dance with me...that was pretty funny, and better than dancing cheek to beltbuckle!

Besides, if I didn't marry a tall guy, do you have any idea what a pain it is to get the stepladder out to change lightbulbs?!

~Garnet
Homesteading/Farming over 20 years

Answer 7

yep -- it sure matters to me. My husband -- and almost every relationship from teen years I have chosen tall guys -- nothing under 6 feet. There were 2 significant ones were under 6 feet. one was 5' 5", one was 5'8'. They were both great guys, and still are -(still friends), I probably could have married the shorter one and been "happily ever after". But, I had the issue with the height. It was totally MY hang up. I could not get around it, it would get in the way of when i wanted to wear heels -- almost every shoe i wear has height, ( i am 5'3"), and i felt like a big giant in the sack w/ him, eventhough when its horizontal -- who cares anyway? I wish i did not have the height hang up.

But there is just something about a great big tall, and sturdy, meaty guy that reminds me of a big jungle-gym -- waiting for me to climb around on, swing into his lap all the time , he can pick me up swing me around, throw me over his shoulder -- that fun stuff. ANd they just have more space for me to cuddle up into and more mass to keep me warm! hehhehe

Answer 8

Oh, gee golly me, another study that purports to have "scientific evidence" for the status quo -- in this case, women's supposed preference for taller men. How intriguing. Oh, so this has nothing to do with social stigmas, you say? It's firmly embedded in our animal DNA? Well, who can argue with it, then!

Make no mistake, people. Science is no less dogma than a religious text.

Nurture > Nature

EDIT: No, Swift Wings, I'm not being satirical. 500 years ago, people would be just as taken aback at the thought that anyone would question the church, too. It's the "word of God", after all! To think that anyone would dare to question -- ! ...Oh, Lord in heaven, it's unthinkable! How daft would you have to be to question something HANDED DOWN FROM HEAVEN????

You just had the same reaction to me saying that science is similarly tainted by human subjectivity. Think about it.

Answer 9

It matter to a lot of people, but not to everyone, there are also women who are short and they will marry short men but also taller than they are, for example a women who is 5 foot 2 might marry a guy who is 5 foot 5.

Answer 10

Height is certainly not a factor in selecting a partner for myself, but my preference is that he or she would match my height or a bit taller, mainly for reasons of comfort in different aspects, I'm 5.8, and most of my partners have been taller than myself, with the exception of one who was about my height.