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age
41-50,
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writes: The question is easy: why do some women wish they were taller? This is the reason most women wear high heels for example. I'm just wondering why, is it to scare off predators or do they just think taller women are more attractive? Is it the same as the "thin" thing, just a popular (and misguided) idea that perhaps tall, thin women are somehow more beautiful or something? The stereotype model.I can't figure it out because if it's to attract a mate then generally guys want a woman that's shorter than them. So in that sense it makes no sense.I asked my girlfriend and she couldn't answer, she replied "I just do, I don't know why but it makes me feel more confident" The fact is she's quite short and way more attractive to me when she's her natural height and hasn't added a few inches with shoes. Surely someone has a better explanation for it. Reply to this Question Share |
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female
reader, k_c100 +, writes (11 November 2010):
I have never wanted to be taller - I am 5"3 and love being little! Only exception is when I cant see over people's heads at shows, movies etc. But would never want to be tall, you have to learn to love what you were born with and there is no point in longing for a different body because its just not going to happen!
As for wearing heels, I dont wear them to be taller, I wear them because I like they way they make my legs look and I am obsessed with dresses, and 99% of them look so much better with a heel rather than a flat shoe.
So I would say most girls that wear heels just love shoes and like the way they complete an outfit and make their legs look better. Not to look taller, but just to look a bit more glam on a night out and to give their legs a nice shape!
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female
reader, dmartin89 +, writes (10 November 2010):
I haven't worn heels for years because i have a wide foot problem.
I didn't wear heels to look taller, but its not like you can wear casual converses with a smart suit!
Heels also make legs look longer, leaner and make the bottom appear perter and rounder.
They are the only professional footwear that is available for women if you are wearing a skirt suit
I wish I could wear heels and remain 5ft5! I dont like being the same hight as men!
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female
reader, tennisstar88 +, writes (10 November 2010):
I always wear heels when going out at night, now there are exceptions. If I'm dating a shorter man, I'll always wear flats..If I've got a tall one, then I usually stick to heels to compensate for my height. (I'm 5'6'') Now, as Tisha said women wear them for confidence boosters, or if the outfit is calling for some stilettos. Just depends..Yeah we still wear them even though we're getting blisters, but it depends on how cheap the shoe is and can be solved with some inserts or padding. I've also seen women whip out a back up pair of flats in their purse if they can't stand the pain. They say pain equals beauty.
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female
reader, Tisha-1 +, writes (10 November 2010):
Ah yes, sore feet. The bane of any poorly fitted shoe. I have flats that can hurt after an hour, and I have high heeled boots in which I can spend hours walking on city pavement.
But when they are soooo pretty.... oh. Nice shoes.
As for being taller, don't get me wrong, I know some very powerful and charismatic people who aren't tall. It's just that it's fun to change up the view from time to time.
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reader, anonymous, writes (10 November 2010): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionThank you all for replying.
Just to clarify, I don't have any issue with it. I was just wondering was it similar to why some men wish they were taller. I thought there may be a different reason. But as it turns out the, the height being related to dominance and power works for both genders.
@ mystiquek I thought women mostly strove to look and remain younger looking hehe. But I do get what you're saying, I'm a baby faced man and get the same effect when I grow a beard. It's kind of liberating to be treated my age every once and while.
@PM and Tisha-1, I do love the shape heels give girls legs, it elongates the calves and creates a different shape. I have no problem with them making women taller and I do find them better looking on feet but in a lot of cases they're so uncomfortable and sore on the feet that my girlfriend can only wear then an hour or two before she has to take them off for the night. hehe, I fail to see the logic. it's probably the biggest complaint you'll hear amongst women on a night out.
@xanthic I do see the practical benefits from your perspective, although I'm quite short and have always loved being short. I found it to be of benefit throughout my life. The are ways and means of overcoming height/size problems when you're small that are just not possible for tall/big people.
@Serpico and reader anon. Thank you both for your perspectives.
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female
reader, xanthic +, writes (10 November 2010):
I'm 5'2 and really wouldn't mind being a couple of inches taller, simply because I'm tired of being towered over by everyone else. It's harder to see over people's heads at a show or in a movie theatre, etc. More than that, I'm tired of being seen as a teenager. I'm 23, but regardless of how I dress or act, many people still assume I'm younger because I'm petite and small-framed. It can be really annoying, and I'm not always taken seriously right away. As for wearing heels, I personally don't wear them outside of special events or the office. They're nicer and more professional-looking than flats, but in every other circumstance and about 90% of the time, I wear flats because they're comfortable.
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reader, anonymous, writes (10 November 2010): I am tall. I have never wished to be shorter. People say that I am intimidating. I walk into a room and everyone notices. On high heels, I wear them if the man I'm seeing is comfortable with it. Many men are not.
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male
reader, Serpico +, writes (10 November 2010):
Im a 6'0" nordic white man. My gf is a 5'0" (vertically challenged she calls it) Colombian woman. We are almost complete opposites in every way. Probably why we are like magnets to each other.....
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female
reader, Tisha-1 +, writes (10 November 2010):
There are two questions here, why do some women want to feel taller and why do some women like wearing high heels?
I am average in height, I wanted to be taller when I was a teenager so I could jump higher in volleyball and basketball. I also wanted to play first base in softball, but that honor went to a very tall girl, because she hand a wingspan that meant she could catch wildly thrown balls and still get the batter out. When I was at University, I never got to play the front line in volleyball, except as a setter. You had to be able to spike the ball down, and average height and a reasonable but average vertical jump doesn't get the young aspiring athletic girl into the ranks of the hitters. Diggity darn it. Playing basketball is tough when every one who is taller than you can block your shots.
Being taller means you get to eat and drink more, because you can take in more calories.
Being taller means you don't have to have your trousers and jeans taken up every single time you buy them. I'm too tall for petite sizes but too short for regular sizes to fit off the rack.
There are studies that show taller people wind up with more promotions and reach higher ranks than very short people. It's hard to be a leader when everyone in the room towers over you. It's hard to be taken seriously, you see.
I could go on on reasons why I wanted to be taller.
Now, to the high heels question. Ah yes, high heels! I LOVE putting on high heels and making my legs look long and lean and killer cute. I love the sexiness of the high heels, I think they actually look prettier than flat shoes. They certainly make my legs look thinner. Put me in flats and I look like a dumpy frumpy short thing with fat calves. Put me in high heels and I look athletic with nicely toned calves.
I walk differently in high heels. There's more swivel and swishing. I feel powerful in high heels. I like the change in altitude and the subtle change in attitude. I am a hot mamma in high heels. In flats, I'm just there. In high heels, I have ARRIVED! It's probably a woman-thing, and you will strain your brain trying to apply man-logic to it. Just support whatever makes her feel good about herself. She's not putting you down by wearing high heels if that's what you think, quite the opposite.
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male
reader, PM +, writes (10 November 2010):
Well, you're asking two questions there. The first is about women wanting to be taller and the second is about women wanting to wear heels.
To answer the first, the taller you are, the more dominant or powerful you seem. It's especially important for a woman because women are often physically weaker than men and having the appearance of power is one way of ensuring her safety. Being seemingly more powerful is also a good way to aid career prospects. There's a lot that's been written about how women often get passed over for promotions because they don't come off as dominant as men. Having that extra bit of height can help in that.
To the second question, heels can add the height but they can also accentuate the curves of a woman. Some men find it really sexy, others not so much. It's a matter of personal preference.
Hope that helps.
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female
reader, mystiquek +, writes (10 November 2010):
This one is a no brainer for me. I'm only 5"0 tall and I wear high heels just to feel a little bit taller and more able to look like an adult, rather than a child..lol.I certainly don't have to worry about being taller than a guy because he'd have to pretty much be in the category of a dwarf of a midget to be shorter than me! I also feel a little more sexy dressed up with high heels on. I can only answer for myself...but I also thought men like seeing women in high heels?
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