Posted on 08/25/2005 8:41:56 AM PDT by CarrotAndStick
TALL, dark and handsome is the classic description of the perfect man.
But when it comes to perfect husbands, shorter men stand head and shoulders above the rest, a study has found. Women regard taller men as excellent for a fling but see short men as better companions to settle down with.
This could explain why Nicole Kidman married Tom Cruise, who at 170.2cm is 10cm shorter than her. But she only ever dated the 190cm Steve Bing. Or why Penny Lancaster, a rangy 180cm plus, chose the shorter Rod Stewart as her husband-to-be.
So did his 183cm ex-wife, Rachel Hunter, although she only had a fling with 185cm Robbie Williams.
Researchers believe women looking for the thrill of an affair or hoping to become pregnant tend to find taller men more desirable. Their height is a sign of their masculinity and their ability to father healthy children.
"Taller men have higher social status, earn more and are at lower risk from illness," said anthropologist Dr Boguslaw Pawlowski of the University of Wroclaw in Poland. "They also have better reproductive success."
However, the benefits quickly wear off, along with the initial attraction.
Evolutionary psychologist Nick Neave said: "You don't want to be surrounded by these guys all the time.
"The guys who are real leaders of the pack tend to not be very nice people. You don't want them around kids, they can be violent and leave you for someone else," Dr Neave said.
"If they are very handsome and very desirable there will be lots of other women competing for their attention.
"For a short-term relationship, you want somebody you are sexually attracted to, they don't have to be the best to get on with."
The scientists also looked at how women's fertility affected their choice of mate. They found that at the time of the month when women are most fertile, they were more attracted to taller men.
The short, ugly man weighs in with his opinion. ;)
"If they are very handsome and very desirable there will be lots of other women competing for their attention."
That's what it's really all about. Some men prefer less attractive women for the same reason: fear of competition.
These studies always cause me to chuckle. Usually it's becauase the little guys usually gets slammed. I wonder if some short guy lobby complained loud enough to slant someone's research in order to make us little guys feel better.
BTW, I'm five feet even, white, male, former nose-guard, wrestler, infantry Marine, now an active duty Navy chaplain on the world's finest cruiser. Got a beautiful (taller than me) wife and three great kids. Life couldn't get any better.
I'll guess I'll have to buy 26 centimeter shorts from now on though.
By the way, remember when Bill Clinton greeted a champion Women's Basketball team in the Rose Garden? Mr. Horndog couldn't take his roving eyes off their blonde, 6'8" center. He even said to her (in front of the cameras) "I've been lookin' for a woman like you all mah life."
I think he also must have an "Amazon" fetish (and a cigar fetish, and a big hair fetish, and a .........)
How may nursing home residence are over 6'? I guess the tall ones have better health until the drop dead?
I don't know. But this is 6 inches.
I am still laughing at that.
did i say something wrong??? :O I forgot to mention the downside; I've almost had my eyes poked out a few times.
N.Kidman has more to do with a mental disorder than height!
So...tall men get the sex and short men get the slippers. And this is being sold as a benefit to the short guys?
eyes put out. LOL.
Is it just coincidence that my boobs are about a man's elbow height, or so it seems....?
OK, if we're breeding them out of existence how come these here kids are so dang tall, hmm? Martha? Martha?
Just find two short male twins who can stand under your breasts to keep them in the right place:)
This is just stupid, but I did marry the only man I dated that was taller than me. And have been married for 31 years!
I'd say she's been doing some juice...
Who is that woman? She must be 7.5 feet tall.
Fer huggin' and kissin' and cuddlin'.
Just because a guy's short doesn't mean that he's weak or effeminate.
my zips are lipped --- no comment
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