This article implores taller women to take a look at guys under the mean height of 5’9 (in the United States). One study of married couples indicated that 0.3% were between taller women and shorter men. This isn’t a cultural fad, or brainwashing from the mass media, women like taller men, all things being equal. Being mildly above average height, for example in the 6’0 – 6’2 range, (relative to population mean) is a good sign of heatlh and individual fitness (see The Handicap Principle if you wonder about the higher mortality rate of some tall males, individual fitness doesn’t mean anything outside of the context of reproductive fitness). In the article it is noted that many short men are muscular because of years spent in the gym making up for their lack of height, but of course on some level women might be skeptical of men who try this hard to seem powerful (as if they are trying to advertise a reality that isn’t there). The author is correct that this might cut down on the long term prospects of taller women, who limit themselves to men taller than them, while shorter women (5’4 is the American mean) tend to be able to play the whole field. But appealing to rationality isn’t going to get the job done. After all, I have known of guys who screw ugly women because they are open to anything, and allow themselves to be treated like crap since they are happy to be with someone. In the context of the mating market, this might be seen as a rational move if what you want is “emotional support” and a “supportive partner.” But you don’t see packs of men looking for ugly women to fill that void in their life….
Posted by razib at 01:29 PM