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.

[strangeanimal]

Shorter than "the norm", or the perceived norm? The average adult male in North America is between 5'8 and 5'10.5 depending on who's measuring, but I've had many conversations with people who swear that the norm is 6 feet.

I wonder if the shorter among us (I speak as someone who is 5'8 on a good day) just blend into the crowd, making the perceived norm seem taller?

[lightcastle]

I'm around 5'4" - shorter than the norm no matter how you cut it. :)

[misskitty_79]

And the norm is steadily changing, for taller.

[lightcastle]

Is it, though? It's gone up and down over time in different places. Has it still been rising in North America? Worldwide?