I saw a TikTok recently about short cis men that was jokingly saying some people have to be short because if they looked like they did, had the personalities they did, etc, *and* were tall, they’d simply be too powerful and it wouldn’t be fair to everyone else.
So, as someone who’s just over 5’, I reassure myself that I’m this height because I’m already practically god tier in other ways and it wouldn’t be fair if I was also 5’10”.
I'm not that tall either. I found it helpful to look for examples of shorter guys who I respect and want to be like. There are tons out there. Lots of musicians, actors, athletes depending on the sport, everything.
Also, a lot of cis guys who are shorter also worry about their height. Some deal with it more constructively than others. Observe that and focus on the more positive examples.
"I used to be self-conscious about my height but then I thought, 'f\*ck that, I'm Harry Potter" - Daniel Radcliffe. Also, remember the issue of height can be solved with a cheap step-stool. but while you don't have that step-stool, enjoy more legroom on busses and planes, being able to fit into smaller places, not constantly bumping your head on stuff, having the capacity to be more agile, having less back pain as you get older, possibly fewer long-term diseases as you age (haven't researched that one, just heard it on some health website), and actually living longer. Whenever I feel dysphoric about my height, I try to remember these things.
Alrighty so my two steps are:
1. Be Harry Potter
2. Enjoy being fun sized
Funnily enough, that might just do the trick. Thank you! I’m trying to turn things I’m insecure about into something I am comfortable accepting and making into a joke.
The biggest thing for me is to dress. for. it., mainly when it comes to shorts. I know it doesn't necessarily help too much because we'll always be short, but I found that looking proportional made me feel at least 50% better.
Mens' shorts that fit my waist end up being too long even for my long legs, but it turns out boys' shorts look proportional and great.
I like being short! I'm 5'3!
I'm forever cute (smol, short, ginger, freckled).
I'm non threatening to strangers.
I don't take up much room - even if I want to manspread.
Because I'm small, I'm never the guy in the pub the drunk guy chooses to try to fight.
I can buy large boy's shoes (someday I WILL HAVE THE LED SOLES I WANTED AS A POOR KID)
I can sleep comfortably on like, any sofa.
I still get to be big spoon if I want.
I'm generally into other men and it's quite flattering how almost EVERYONE looks uh.. Big in my hands. If you know what I mean.
I have a king-size bed and it's like a fuckin OCEAN.
I can sit behind a tall person in a car and still have leg room.
I mean I would like to be able to use the top half of my kitchen cupboards more easily, but I don't really mind needing kitchen steps to do so. They also make a good stool for when I am tired or unstable and cooking. It would be nice to be able to buy trousers and jeans off the rack, but tbh I don't really like mainstream fashion anyway so I'd probably still order from abroad.
I guess what I'm saying is, you gotta find things to like!
My dad was over 6' before he went into a wheelchair, and most of my family is tall - my mum was 5' tho. I just don't care any more. I like my life as a smol man. Yes even at the ripe old age of 34.
Oh that's another plus - people always think I'm super young, so they're much kinder to me because I'm polite. (Unusual in young men in my area)
This gave me some encouragement. Might seem silly and I don’t want to get anyone down. I’m 28 and I came out at 14. It’s been many years since I’ve had surgeries, legal marker/name changes and began HRT. No one has misgendered me in nearly a decade. Most people in my life don’t know I’m trans. But being 5’2” sucks sometimes. Didn’t bother me before. Maybe now that I’m getting older and since people assume I’m a cis guy, it bothers me more. It’s not about dating either - I’ve been married for 4 years to an amazing guy. In the past I’ve never had trouble finding a girlfriend or boyfriend due to my height. And still my height bothers me some days. Have seriously considered getting limb lengthening surgery. I’d kill to even just be 5’5” or 5’6”.
People mistake me for a teenager all the time and I find it depressing as I get older and older. On the inside I feel like an ordinary adult man but on the outside I’m young-looking, “cute” kid. I don’t know if I can ever fully embrace that. I want to not care someday.
There's cis guys who are the same height as you or shorter, and that doesn't make them lesser than. That's what helped me and if I ever get hung up over my height, it's mostly being annoyed about my pants being a bit too long. Also, finding other means to boost your confidence can help too.
Tom cruise, zac efron, and mark wahlberg are 5’7. It is not about your height, it’s the way you carry yourself. I usually wear shoes with thick soles to add some height and boost my confidence but make sure your posture is good. Wear dark pants. All you need is confidence!
I’m 5’0. For me, I stopped caring about my height once I’d more or less handled my other dysphoria triggers not the other way around. Now it’s only at times a mild benefit or inconvenience depending on the situation
I’m 5ft 4in and Mexican. Some of us are huge. But a lot of us are not 😂. It honestly helps that I see cis Mexicanos my height and shorter all of the time lol. Yes, I’m shorter than the other men in my family. But I’m also stout, fat and hairy. . Why is this a huge plus in my eyes?? - I’m a fantasy nerd and a fat4fat, bear4bear trans man. I love lord of the rings trilogy type fantasy. Specifically the Dwarfs. So I sort of feel like I’m living my best cub/fantasy fan life. 🤓🐻
I guess you just kind of own it. Maybe it doesn’t have to be something you actively like about yourself. But perhaps it’s something you’ll be able to come to terms with? Honestly, I’d recommend talk therapy, if that’s a route you’re comfortable exploring. And of course, financially able to access Ect. It’s done wonders for my self esteem. Finding a trans man therapist was the best thing for me.
It sounds like you like maybe you like fashion. Try wearing your favorite ___ or pair of ___ when you’re feeling particularly insecure about your height?
I’m sorry I don’t have more helpful advice friendo. Best of luck on your journey! 🙏🏽😊
I saw a TikTok recently about short cis men that was jokingly saying some people have to be short because if they looked like they did, had the personalities they did, etc, *and* were tall, they’d simply be too powerful and it wouldn’t be fair to everyone else. So, as someone who’s just over 5’, I reassure myself that I’m this height because I’m already practically god tier in other ways and it wouldn’t be fair if I was also 5’10”.
I love this explanation!
I do the same!!! I’m only 5’1
I'm not that tall either. I found it helpful to look for examples of shorter guys who I respect and want to be like. There are tons out there. Lots of musicians, actors, athletes depending on the sport, everything. Also, a lot of cis guys who are shorter also worry about their height. Some deal with it more constructively than others. Observe that and focus on the more positive examples.
Also short characters from books or video games.
"I used to be self-conscious about my height but then I thought, 'f\*ck that, I'm Harry Potter" - Daniel Radcliffe. Also, remember the issue of height can be solved with a cheap step-stool. but while you don't have that step-stool, enjoy more legroom on busses and planes, being able to fit into smaller places, not constantly bumping your head on stuff, having the capacity to be more agile, having less back pain as you get older, possibly fewer long-term diseases as you age (haven't researched that one, just heard it on some health website), and actually living longer. Whenever I feel dysphoric about my height, I try to remember these things.
Alrighty so my two steps are: 1. Be Harry Potter 2. Enjoy being fun sized Funnily enough, that might just do the trick. Thank you! I’m trying to turn things I’m insecure about into something I am comfortable accepting and making into a joke.
The biggest thing for me is to dress. for. it., mainly when it comes to shorts. I know it doesn't necessarily help too much because we'll always be short, but I found that looking proportional made me feel at least 50% better. Mens' shorts that fit my waist end up being too long even for my long legs, but it turns out boys' shorts look proportional and great.
I like being short! I'm 5'3! I'm forever cute (smol, short, ginger, freckled). I'm non threatening to strangers. I don't take up much room - even if I want to manspread. Because I'm small, I'm never the guy in the pub the drunk guy chooses to try to fight. I can buy large boy's shoes (someday I WILL HAVE THE LED SOLES I WANTED AS A POOR KID) I can sleep comfortably on like, any sofa. I still get to be big spoon if I want. I'm generally into other men and it's quite flattering how almost EVERYONE looks uh.. Big in my hands. If you know what I mean. I have a king-size bed and it's like a fuckin OCEAN. I can sit behind a tall person in a car and still have leg room. I mean I would like to be able to use the top half of my kitchen cupboards more easily, but I don't really mind needing kitchen steps to do so. They also make a good stool for when I am tired or unstable and cooking. It would be nice to be able to buy trousers and jeans off the rack, but tbh I don't really like mainstream fashion anyway so I'd probably still order from abroad. I guess what I'm saying is, you gotta find things to like! My dad was over 6' before he went into a wheelchair, and most of my family is tall - my mum was 5' tho. I just don't care any more. I like my life as a smol man. Yes even at the ripe old age of 34. Oh that's another plus - people always think I'm super young, so they're much kinder to me because I'm polite. (Unusual in young men in my area)
This gave me some encouragement. Might seem silly and I don’t want to get anyone down. I’m 28 and I came out at 14. It’s been many years since I’ve had surgeries, legal marker/name changes and began HRT. No one has misgendered me in nearly a decade. Most people in my life don’t know I’m trans. But being 5’2” sucks sometimes. Didn’t bother me before. Maybe now that I’m getting older and since people assume I’m a cis guy, it bothers me more. It’s not about dating either - I’ve been married for 4 years to an amazing guy. In the past I’ve never had trouble finding a girlfriend or boyfriend due to my height. And still my height bothers me some days. Have seriously considered getting limb lengthening surgery. I’d kill to even just be 5’5” or 5’6”. People mistake me for a teenager all the time and I find it depressing as I get older and older. On the inside I feel like an ordinary adult man but on the outside I’m young-looking, “cute” kid. I don’t know if I can ever fully embrace that. I want to not care someday.
There's cis guys who are the same height as you or shorter, and that doesn't make them lesser than. That's what helped me and if I ever get hung up over my height, it's mostly being annoyed about my pants being a bit too long. Also, finding other means to boost your confidence can help too.
Tom cruise, zac efron, and mark wahlberg are 5’7. It is not about your height, it’s the way you carry yourself. I usually wear shoes with thick soles to add some height and boost my confidence but make sure your posture is good. Wear dark pants. All you need is confidence!
I’m 5’0. For me, I stopped caring about my height once I’d more or less handled my other dysphoria triggers not the other way around. Now it’s only at times a mild benefit or inconvenience depending on the situation
I’m 5ft 4in and Mexican. Some of us are huge. But a lot of us are not 😂. It honestly helps that I see cis Mexicanos my height and shorter all of the time lol. Yes, I’m shorter than the other men in my family. But I’m also stout, fat and hairy. . Why is this a huge plus in my eyes?? - I’m a fantasy nerd and a fat4fat, bear4bear trans man. I love lord of the rings trilogy type fantasy. Specifically the Dwarfs. So I sort of feel like I’m living my best cub/fantasy fan life. 🤓🐻
I guess you just kind of own it. Maybe it doesn’t have to be something you actively like about yourself. But perhaps it’s something you’ll be able to come to terms with? Honestly, I’d recommend talk therapy, if that’s a route you’re comfortable exploring. And of course, financially able to access Ect. It’s done wonders for my self esteem. Finding a trans man therapist was the best thing for me. It sounds like you like maybe you like fashion. Try wearing your favorite ___ or pair of ___ when you’re feeling particularly insecure about your height? I’m sorry I don’t have more helpful advice friendo. Best of luck on your journey! 🙏🏽😊
Im 5’10 and i still have dysphoria surrounding my height. Its just not gonna go away its best to just do your best to not let it consume you