<p>I am a male, and while my name implies athleticism, reality is that I'm only 5'2''. I'm also a transfer, but live in an area with other transfers. I noticed during the beginning of the semester when people were trying to meet one another, other people saw more go up to them and try to say hi and get to know them. This didn't happen with me. I'm a friendly and nice person, and it infuriates me because I have no friends here right now. People never come up to me and say "heyy I've never met you before" or "let me introduce myself" but they have and do to other students, and I tried damn hard to go up to them. I still try at the shuttle stop all the time, or around the area, and they are really unreceptive. I also rushed a fraternity and even got invited to their little "formal dinner" they have before bid night, and I didn't get a bid. How much of a role is my height playing with this, and is height discrimination common at other schools?</p>
<p>I doubt that your height has much to do with this. I know many, many short people who are popular and everyone enjoys being around them. Try joining some clubs or activities. Get a girlfriend.</p>
<p>yea but I'm like really REALLY short, shorter than 90% of girls, I'm 5'2'' and am a male. I'm not "short" like 5'6'' or 5'8'' which is considered "short" for men.They're at least taller than girls. I also go to a medium size school of 6000, so things aren't as personal, where people are going to look deep inside you. I've tried to be outgoing, maybe I come off too eager, and people really don't respond to me when I try to make convo. Its like hitting a tennis ball against a wall, in that if it stops, it doesn't start again unless I try. They don't hit back. When I got here, people didn't go up to me and try to introduce themselves, but did with other guys, none of whom are as short as I am, and I'm just as outgoing, friendly, nice, and am smart, if not smarter (tho I don't say it) than these guys.</p>
<p>I don't know...a fellow freshman (okay, so he's not a transfer) at my school is only about 5'0 and he has made quite a few friends so far, females included. Perhaps your approach is wrong, or you seem unfriendly or unapproachable? Have you had trouble with this is the past?</p>
<p>It's probably not your height. Some of my more popular guy friends are short.</p>
<p>Why don't you ask one of your close friends if you come off weirdly?</p>
<p>It might be hard being 5'2", but I guess you could try to make friends. I think it's still the beginning, right, so I don't think you're at a point where everyone knows each other yet. Something will click. I'm nowhere close to going to a college so I wouldn't know about the general atmosphere and stuff, but at my high school some of the short guys are fairly outgoing and popular. </p>
<p>On a side note, about your height, I've heard that some males grow until 25, so...</p>
<p>The most popular guy in my senior class is short. There are tall guys who are unbelievably obnoxious. It depends on your personality and that of the people around you.</p>
<p>I've seen a man who was under 5' lead a huge group of friends out to a bar (incidentally with quite a few hot girls in that group). I met the guy, he made quite an impression on me, not because he was short, because he was so much fun and damn confident. </p>
<p>If you carry yourself well, nobody will give a *****. Also, it helps to slap anyone who makes short jokes :D</p>
<p>Tons of Russian leaders were around 5'2 - 5'6. Putin is reportedly only 5'5. It's all about confidence.</p>
<p>to a point you have a good point Duper. But I'm wondering with kids, which college kids really are until graduation, it seems shorter men don't have it easy. Am I the only one, or are many college students legit more predisposed to gravitate towards taller men, because they seem "cooler?" especially when its not freshman year where kids really strive to meet new people, and I'm in the sophomore class and am a transfer. I think I put on a pretty good aura of confidence</p>
<p>It seems most of the people here are essentially saying "Get over it, you're short. I know short people who are popular, successful. hot, etc, etc." They are not short, however. And the people of this country (the world??) absolutely respond, positively or negatively, to physical attributes. If you are the "right" height, weight, hair color, breast size, physique, etc, you often get ahead. (Millions of dollars spent on plastic surgery in this country)</p>
<p>Well I too am not above or below average height for my sex. But my D is. She is 5'11". She hates her height. I say it is beautiful. But, in hs, she was taller than most of the guys. (She was also 40 lbs heavier than she is now) She definitely thinks it affected her ability to have bf's, dates and maybe even friends. (Both her height and weight)</p>
<p>You cannot change your height. It might be affecting the way people react to you. It probably is. But you can change the way YOU react to you. If you did not get that bid, to #ell with them. Join clubs of things that interest you, join the gym, volunteer, etc. Eventually you will meet people who do not care about your height, as long as YOU don't.</p>
<p>There is a midget at my school who is really popular, can bench over 300 pounds, and is pretty good with the ladies.</p>
<p>How tall is he?</p>
<p>guys, can we seriously stop dancing around this issue? MorrisMM is right, it seems people are posting here just to make fun of me. If your not gonna be serious with me, please dont' comment.</p>
<p>I don't think anybody has suggest that people are making fun of you... You need to stop being so insecure. You can't change your height, so work with it.</p>
<p>What do you want to hear? We're telling you that your height shouldn't be THAT big of a deal. It's almost as if you're trying to elicit "you suck, you're doomed to fail because of your stature."</p>
<p>This....</p>
<p>"There is a midget ..."</p>
<p>is inappropriate, and if the poster doesn't know it, s/he should.</p>
<p>Since my entire extended family is short, along with my H's, I'll share with you what both male-dominated tribes have taught me.</p>
<p>First, it does make a difference, initially, in social situations. I have male cousins who are 5'2" and it's a factor in their lives more so than the male cousins/brothers who are 5'5".</p>
<p>It feels worst when you are in new settings, such as a new school or new job.
As you get to know people and make true friends, it becomes irrelevant to the friends.</p>
<p>There are some attributes that get handed out by some karma or cosmic force, and I believe everybody gets some but not all. Those who are shorter might be a bit more handsome in their face; have a smooth complexion; have terrific hair. These physical attributes attract people, also. One way to remind yourself of some reasons for confidence are to simply take an inventory of all the other good physical qualities you have. </p>
<p>Then there's the most important antidote to shortness (according to all my male relatives): sense of humor. If you can find that within yourself, it will help A LOT, including with women. If that seems forced, then the next important thing to put forward is simple kindness, friendliness and ease/flexibility.</p>
<p>It is also easy to perceive that others are all meeting each other, when in fact you are noticing some that are moving around like butterflies and you, too, are ignoring some who are more socially withdrawn. </p>
<p>My daughter, who hates her height at 5'0", began wearing platform shoes while in college.
Now they are signature and she owns only platforms. The extra several inches help her feel more on par with others, and if they notice them, she just jokes about them. Easier, I know, for a she than a he, but if there are shoes with lifts hidden inside them, that's a consideration. If not, and you want to try it out, just get some boots that add 2-3 inches through the treads on the bottom. </p>
<p>There is a category of people out there in the world who just pay way too much attention to height, in my opinion. One of my brothers-in-law broke the mold of dating women of same size or shorter, and went for a woman who adored him for his charm, good looking face, intelligence and humor. She's about a head taller than he is. They've had a solid, good marriage and two beautiful daughters (both taller than their dad). Interestingly, that uncle changed the thinking of all his nephews, who see him as a model of social confidence. They don't hesitate to ask a girl out who is taller, although they often get rejected and are used to that. When that rare girl says "yes" they know they've found someone with originality who isn't worried about the usual things. </p>
<p>Some of the short men in my families have benefited by doing some sports where their height isn't a factor. Wrestling and martial arts come to mind, along with swimming. Some of them also did dance (tap, jazz dance) because the room was full of girls and they were the only guy around. Nobody cared about their height; it was just fun. The girls who are most confident physically (dancers in a dance class) sometimes get past the usual social junk. </p>
<p>It certainly can be easier to make friends by DOING something with people rather than just putting yourself into plain social situations (receptions, parties, etc.). Some of the most open-minded people are in theater, and if you're on campus I'd really recommend volunteering on a theater production, perhaps backstage props, lighting, etc. A lot of actors are short (not the leads but the supporting actors), and appreciate each other for their skills, teamwork, dedication to the show. </p>
<p>If theater doesn't do it for you, try to put in more times in clubs and activities, and rely less upon stranger-upon-stranger social settings. I am sure people will want to know you once they interact with you. Your social strength isn't only measured by whether you can pull people out of a strange crowd.</p>
<p>At 5'8, I share some of your pain, although I understand being 5'2 is a bit more difficult. I'm also on the uglier side. That said, I can still make friends fairly easily. Women, well, not so easy...I am single most of the time. Even then, I have had a handful of romantic encounters, some of them with highly attractive women. </p>
<p>Ultimately, all you have is the power to choose. You can despair and become agoraphobic, or you can try to make friends. Make the effort. Play the "cute" card. Develop a sharp sense of humor to counter all the inevitable short jokes you will face. Life is really just a circus, anyways...most of our lives are cosmic disasters. At 5'2, you're gonna have to just laugh at the absurdity of it all, or you won't make it.</p>
<p>I'm a female, about 5'8 1/2", thankfully with a slender build, and I would have to say that my height has affected things negatively for me at least somewhat concerning socializing and forming friendships. However, I think height is only one of several factors that can affect whether or not you're hindered in forming friendships.
I was tallish growing up, but not to the point where I stood out much for it. It was during adolescence that I ended up being considerably taller than the average female. That was around the time I started having a harder time forming friendships. However, that may have been due to other factors as well. For example, I was shy. I also became more religious around that time and worried a lot about not falling into any kind of sin. At church we were encouraged to try to get allof our unsaved friends and acquaintances saved and to share the gospel with them, so I thought it was my duty to brign up the topic of Christianity and salvation with them. Most teen girls gossip, but I'd been taught it was a asin, so I couldn't engage in it. (I'm not sure I managed to avoid it 100%, but I did try.) I also thought it was a sin to have a boyfriend, so I didn't have any (though I did have opportunities, in spite of my height). I thought it was a sin to even have a crush . When other girls talked about guys they were dating or had crushes on, I had nothing to contribute, other than that there was a guy in math class whom I was trying to beat. We both wanted to e the number one math student and were fierce competitors. Math was my favorite subject in high school and I just loved beating all the guys in it (though I sometimes wondered if that was a sin too). There were probably other reasons as well for why my unpopularity increased in adolescence. Of course, that was a while ago. I'm not in high school anymore -I'm now a grad student- but I think my height has continued to affect things for me socially. I can't blame it entirely though, as I've pointed out.
I've met some females my height who are very social and popular, for whom their height may have even helped them become leaders in social groups, or so it seems. I'm currently friends with someone who is about the same height I am, but she often wears heels which make her taller, and she's very sought after for friendships and relationships, both by males and females. I probably just did not have the personality to be able to pull off something like being a considerably taller than average female.</p>
<p>Everyone can throw out anecdotes of popular short dudes they know, but the point remains that height does affect a guy's ability to make friends and attract women. Height isn't the only factor, but it is a big factor. I'm a 5'7" - 5'8"ish guy and I notice it every day, so I can imagine what it's gotta be like at 5'2". You just have to compensate by reinforcing other qualities like wit, intelligence, and humor. It also helps to lift weights and have impeccable posture. Walking confidently with your shoulders squared and chest out will add a perceived inch or two.</p>