Why Can’t We All Get Over Our Bias Against Short Guys Already?

For all my very firm beliefs that dating in NYC is harder for women, here’s a stat that will make you cringe for men, or at least some of them: In Manhattan, a guy who is under 5’9″ has only a 1.2 percent chance of getting contacted after being viewed, according to dating site AYI.com. One point two! That’s even worse than the 2.9 percent chance that a “curvy” girl will get liked, which made me mentally barf a few weeks ago.

Different heights; both hotties.

Why so harsh to the not-so vertically inclined, New York ladies? And likely, ladies all over the country, although shorter guys do have much better odds in New Jersey, where they have a 7.6 percent of being contacted. Being totally guilty of writing off guys of a certain height myself, even while knowing it’s pretty stupid, I thought we should address the reasons we’re biased against short guys and debunk the reasoning behind them.

Reason 1: Well, he has to be at least taller than I am.

Rebuttal: OK, we’ll discuss why this isn’t actually necessary next. But assuming for now it is, the average American woman is about 5’4″. A guy who’s 5’8″ and only has that 1.2 percent chance of you messaging him? He’s at least a good four inches taller than a bunch of us. (I’m an inch shorter than average, so I should definitely get over it.)

Reason 2: He has to be tall so I feel small and feminine.

Rebuttal: OK, here’s my biggest hangup. Ugh, most guys have such skinny legs and I just don’t, so I feel like I need them to measure up in another way. But, geez, do I also think he should make more money than I do and that I’m responsible for cooking all his meals? Way to cling to outdated notions, self!

Reason 3: If he isn’t taller than I am, we’ll look funny together.

Rebuttal: To whom? Maybe if you’re, like, more than a foot taller, you’ll look at little odd, but that would go for the gender-reversed couple too. Even so, if someone makes you happy, do you really care what other people think about how you look together?

Reason 4: We’re evolutionarily conditioned toward tall men because it’s a sign of strength.

Rebuttal: Uh-huh. I’ll tell you how I feel when men use their “biologically inclined to spread their seed” as an excuse for being shady or unfaithful. NOT GOOD. How about some brain evolution, people?

Reason 5: My ex-boyfriend was really proud of his height, and I want him to be jealous of the other guys I date.

Rebuttal: This reason is too ridiculous to even need to debunk, but I just wanted to admit out on paper to all you guys that I’ve thought it. It’s the first step in getting help.

Do you give shorter guys a chance? Or are you totally height-ist?

Seriously, go for that under 5’9″-er:

7 Good Reasons to Date a Short Guy

Found! A Yummy Blog That Celebrates Short Guys in All Their (Vertically Challenged) Glory

Dating Men: To Wear Heels or Not to Wear Heels on the First Date