I get that people have preferences but often times preferences are influenced by historical systems of oppression. Growing up, I heard many men/boys saying "I just don't find dark skin women attractive."

Obviously this isn't directly comparable as colourism and racism have much more of a perpetuating negative outcome, but I believe that the root for why this preference in height is desired comes from a similar idea which I think can be compared.

The predisposition for height is decided by genetics, largely based on your chromosomes.

• Most trans men are not going to be as tall as cis men.
• Most Asian men are not going to be as tall as white men.
• Most indigenous men are not going to be as tall as white men.
• Most black men are not going to be as tall as white men.

This doesn't mean they are incapable of being tall, just less likely.

This isn't JUST due to genetic factors though, this largely has to do with nutritional requirements being met or unmet in children.Being seen as a secondary aesthetic choice because your family came from a lower socioeconomic background isn't some joke to be repeated.

No one population will be taller than cis white men from a wealthy background.

In addition, I think it's fucked that successful male actors have to be 'modified' in media to seem taller than their female counterparts. It perpetuates the idea that men must be tall to be seen as relevant protagonists, capable of heroism and bravery, and that a woman being physically smaller is dependent on this 'heroism'.

Men are also somewhat expected to fit an ideal body type of both very defined/muscular being tall, which most body builders know is very difficult, which leads to many men using steroids to fit this aesthetic ideal. If short men do acquire this aesthetic ideal, it's knocked down "because they're short so it's easy to look that way."

I think people should at least take a second to examine where their preferences are coming, because it may not be as benign as they think. I urge men to not find comfort in the 'flaws' of other men.

I should add that if there is a limit to my perspective, it wouldn't surprise me as I'm a cis woman. I'm open to a discussion on this topic and would love more input.

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Thanks for reading!

References:What is the Tallest Country in the World? - WorldAtlas

Understanding Genetics (thetech.org)

Human Height - Our World in Data