Sexual dimorphism, height and the normative presentation thereof.

[lightcastle]

Yet more graphs showing that some famed data on how different men and women are doesn't really seem to indicate that much difference.

(Or, more pithily - The sexes aren't opposites. And that's assuming you are going to stick to just two sexes to describe humans.)

Height in humans is one of the more clear sexual dimorphisms we have, and boy do we

Comments

[horsetraveller]

It's an interesting deception.

Because "in all couples the man is a reasonable height taller than the woman" and every exception to that rule is photographed as though it is true, there is no "proof" that in fact the woman is taller than the man in many many couples.

Also in this cultural requirement the woman must be shorter, but not TOO MUCH shorter. See how Scully and Mulder were photographed together. She is much shorter than he is (5'2" and 6') but often the camera poses them together so you don't see it that way.

It is nice to see yourself reflected in the media (it is "our mirror"), and pretty crappy when reflections of your situation get reflected through funny mirrors to deny that you and anyone like you even exist.

[lightcastle]

I seem to recall it being "head and half" as the perfect height, or some such.

[horsetraveller]

Not sure what you mean.
But if the top of the girl's head comes to the guy's shoulder, that is definitely wrong.
Maybe if the top of her head is halfway up his face.

[lightcastle]

No, I actually think there was a time where just above the shoulder was the ideal. Now I think it's less.

[horsetraveller]

Less of a difference in height?

In my perception, the height difference between me and the average guy I walk around with is not reflected in the media.
But there's also quite a size difference between me and other people as well, I am smaller in every dimension not just height, where most couples have heads roughly the same size and the woman is framed as coming up just a little shorter than the man.

I'd love to see an image that illustrates what you are describing.

[lightcastle]

I'll see if I can find one.
Honestly, it was one of those things I came across in a book, and always thought seemed weird. (Since I am not of that era.)