As a 5'2" woman (short, but average short), I find this fascinating. I am probably guilty of gawking at tall women as well, though not quite so rudely with side comments. This may be me playing entirely into stereotypes, but I do sense a strong and powerful presence from tall women that I doubt I could ever approach. My apologies to the tall women who I have inevitably annoyed by my less than subtle gawks. Not that it's an excuse, but I'm admiring what to me is a kind of beauty and female presence I can never reach (pun intended).

I'll man up and admit it. Tall women intimidate the hell out of me.

I don't make comments to them, but I have a hell of a hard time talking to them.

I'll man up and admit it.

As opposed to womaning up and admitting it? ;)

Just pointing out, that's a pretty gendered phrase that conflates "man" with "being brave" or "doing something difficult". And, of course, it reinforces, by implication, the idea that "girls" or "women" don't possess the quality.

Tall women intimidate the hell out of me.

What is it about tall women that intimidates you?

One of the things that I find particularly interesting is the destructive ways that women are basically told that it's never right- tall women are stared at and commented about because they're tall, but there's also this social myth that tall women are more beautiful/graceful than short women. Most of the women I know who fall on either side of the spectrum have mentioned wishing that they were on the other side.

i am 5'10'' and have been tall my entire life. i do find that my height intimidates men a little bit, but i think it's more my height coupled with a no-bullshit attitude and very strong opinions...being a bit of an oddity has never really bothered me (despite some teenage awkwardness that everyone feels in one way or another) except when it comes to dating. i simply do not feel comfortable dating men who are shorter than me (not to mention that they are often not comfortable with me) and this cuts into the dating pool significantly. i understand that it's a very petty, and probably has a lot to do with traditional gender roles that i generally reject, but at the end of the day i can't shake the discomfort.

So this is what it actually takes for me to get an account here.

I'm 6'1, and wow. I might be wrong, but I've never seen any of my shorter people so subject to having random strangers tell them not to wear heels when I'm out. Um? I realize high heels are not one of my most feminist tastes, but it's my choice. Yet, for some reason, friends, strangers, coworkers, fellow students--they all seem to act like they have some unique right to dictate what I wear because of my height.

I didn't wear high heels once until I was twenty. One of the reasons I like them now is because, yeah, it feels a little bit like a "screw you" to the people who told me "You can never wear heels" when I was in high school. Not to mention the people who told me "don't stand up so straight!"

The other thing I've found at my height (this might not be true for some of the even taller women) is that I regularly have people tell me, "Oh, you should model." Ignoring how I feel about modeling, how much I weigh, my build, my eating habits, or the fact I'm not exactly a public, attention seeking person. It's like even with some friends, there are times when they look at me when all they see is a Tallgirl.

It's easier now, but when I stopped growing at 15? It was a serious self-esteem issue.

And now I've rambled on. Sorry if this isn't relevant, but I felt the need to add a little of my own experience to that.

As opposed to womaning up and admitting it? ;)

Just pointing out, that's a pretty gendered phrase that conflates "man" with "being brave" or "doing something difficult". And, of course, it reinforces, by implication, the idea that "girls" or "women" don't possess the quality.

It's part of my vernacular, and I'm not a woman, so I can't exactly "woman up and admit it".

What is it about tall women that intimidates you?

Hell if I know. I just know I find them really intimidating.

One of the things that I find particularly interesting is the destructive ways that women are basically told that it's never right- tall women are stared at and commented about because they're tall, but there's also this social myth that tall women are more beautiful/graceful than short women.

Then call me an oddity, as I find short women much more attractive.

That's not to say that tall women are UNattractive. Just that I prefer short women. Shrug.

What an awesome coincidence. I just performed in a poetry slam last night about how much it sucks to be tall.

I'm 5'11".
My main frustration is the way people react to me. Strangers will call me "stretch", "skyscraper", "giant", "amazon woman", and the ever so innovative "tall chick".
Whenever someone asks me if I play basketball I tell them "no, I'm a professional jockey".
And then I get bugged by people whenever I wear heels. I wear them because I like them; it's not because I'm trying to make myself even taller, I just like the way they look.
And then there are they guys like Mild Ennui who are intimidated by me for some reason, even though I see no reason being tall should make me even scarier. What would I do? Laugh at some guy and call him shorty? Pinch his cheeks and go "awwww, how cute! You really think you have a chance with me!"
If he starts a conversation with "how tall are you?" or "do you play basketball?" I am likely to get annoyed because I get asked that a million times a day, but if the conversation starts any other (non-sexist) way, I'm going to be perfectly friendly and not think a second about any sort of height difference.

I think exceptionally tall people get primarily the same response whether they are a man or women, but a tall man can get a date easier. However I think a tall woman can probably get a date easier than a short man. I've dated several guys who were my height or shorter and I have received weird responses about it from a lot of people.

I've certainly received unsolicited comments on my body and it is a reason I'm a feminist. I also absolutely HATE it when strange men tell me to smile. However, I think people gawking at height is less a gender issue but people reacting to someone outside the norm.

As a short (4'11"1/2) woman, this is interesting to me as well. Some of what Ann is describing has happened to me, but in reverse. I get asked how tall am I, am I a midget (I know that's derogatory, sorry), would I like the kids menu, and the worst one--PATTED ON THE HEAD. I HATE that! I don't mind it so much if it's a really good friend, but someone I barely know, or if I know it's to demean me in some way, it really gets on my nerves. Either way, it seems to me that as a woman, in order to be not seen as a freak show, you need to be the "perfect" height. What that is, I don't know. It seems that no matter what height you are as a woman, it's not good enough for someone else.

As a tall woman (5'11'') I find it funny (if flattering) that anyone might think I was in anyway 'graceful'. Having been about the same height since I was 13 I am only just getting out of the habit of walking, standing and sitting hunched over. I still can't walk in heels. (props to Sarolynne for that by the way, learning to walk in them at 20 or later is hard!)
The worst was when I was traveling in Thailand - at times I even had crowds of tiny kids running after me and pointing at the 'giant lady'- it is hard to be confident in your height when at times it makes you feel freakish and unfeminine.

As a petite 5ft 13 I find that - yes, I am observed, more than I would be if I were under 5ft 8, but I don't get comments. Maybe people in the UK don't do that so much? I generally don't wear heels, because I hate that banging your head on the top of a door frame thing, and limboing under them is jsut too showoff, really. I have had people ask me if I used to be a model. Gee thanks - so I'm tall, but too old for it? It can be useful for seeing over crowds and getting things off high shelves.

And then there are they guys like Mild Ennui who are intimidated by me for some reason, even though I see no reason being tall should make me even scarier.

My sincere apologies. I can't help it. It's just an innate reaction. I can't even explain why it's there. Tall women just flat out intimidate the hell out of me.

but a tall man can get a date easier. However I think a tall woman can probably get a date easier than a short man.

Well, yeah. Not only are we expected to be tall, but most (het) women tend to prefer men that are taller than them.

Either way, it seems to me that as a woman, in order to be not seen as a freak show, you need to be the "perfect" height. What that is, I don't know. It seems that no matter what height you are as a woman, it's not good enough for someone else.

I once dated a woman that was your height. I suppose that is mentioned for no other purpose than to say just because someone might see you as a freak show, there's also someone else that won't.

Eeesh. These comments make me feel worse about what I first posted. I know I'm playing into stereotypes, and I hate to do that--trying to get better. As a short woman, it's hard not to play into these at times because at least for me, I feel I'm compared to that standard of the tall and thin beauty. I'll always be in the "cute" realm. The grass is greener, of course. I can to some extent sympathize...I'm amazed at how many people feel it's perfectly acceptable to remark that I'm short, or that my hands and feet are "soooooo tiny!." It gets really old. And comparatively, I'm only two inches or so below average height! If I don't want to be stereotypes or endure rude remarks I will try my best not to perpetrate them!

I think exceptionally tall people get primarily the same response whether they are a man or women, but a tall man can get a date easier. However I think a tall woman can probably get a date easier than a short man. I've dated several guys who were my height or shorter and I have received weird responses about it from a lot of people.

I've certainly received unsolicited comments on my body and it is a reason I'm a feminist. I also absolutely HATE it when strange men tell me to smile. However, I think people gawking at height is less a gender issue but people reacting to someone outside the norm.

I'm 5'11" and I *hated* it until I was in college and went to see Clinton speak - I was waiting in a huge group of people to enter the field where he was speaking and realized that because I was a head above most of the other women, I was the only woman who could breathe fresh air and could see where we were headed.

Well, that experience and years of playing basketball and rowing crew - sports in which height gave me a distinct advantage.

I now have a little girl who we think (hope) will be quite tall as well, but I cringe to think about her going through 5th through 8th grade being the tallest kid in her class and wishing she were 5 feet tall. It was rough in the years when you just want to blend in with the pack.

I used to cry when we had to go shoe shopping because I sized out of Stride Rite when I was about 7. The big feet thing has lingered longer than the height issue - even though I accepted the fact that I wear an 11/12 long ago, it's hard when shoe designers feel it's their place to frequently remind you that your giant feet are better off in orthopedic shoes or men's sneakers. I've managed to muddle through somehow, though. :) Makes me a little sad to think about my baby going through the same process someday.

It's part of my vernacular, and I'm not a woman, so I can't exactly "woman up and admit it".

True, but if you can see that it's a gendered phrase, you can make an effort to alter your vernacular so that it doesn't reinforce harmful stereotypes, in the same way that I, when I was younger, had to work on removing the use of "gay" as a derogitory term from my vocabularly.

I'm 5'10 and I quite like it. I've gotten both negative and positive attention for it, but I think what I like the most is that people don't fuck with me so much. People don't talk down to me (maybe because they physically can't) and older people tend to treat me more as their equal because of my height.

I might be wrong, but I've never seen any of my shorter people so subject to having random strangers tell them not to wear heels when I'm out.
Oh, I hear you on this! I've been told before that I 'can't wear heels'. Um, why not? I love high heels. I love boots. I really enjoy footwear in general and sneakers aside, hate the way flats look and feel. I'm already tall, why not emphasize it? The heels are not making me look tall, my height is making me look tall!

I actually felt totally confident in my height until I attended a new school during my last year of high school. Sure, I had heard I was tall before, but I had never been truly teased about it. At that new school I got all kinds of rude comments and teasing about my thin frame and height. Someone even once started a rumour that I had been born a male.

Some boys might have been a bit intimidated, but I was a very intimidating person in general. Aside from that, I was quite popular and had been asked out by a lot of people. I've never experienced much of an issue with men feeling uncomfortable because of my height (not that I'm saying it doesn't happen), but maybe that's because I don't give douchebags the time of day?

I'm 5'10 and I quite like it. I've gotten both negative and positive attention for it, but I think what I like the most is that people don't fuck with me so much. People don't talk down to me (maybe because they physically can't) and older people tend to treat me more as their equal because of my height.

I might be wrong, but I've never seen any of my shorter people so subject to having random strangers tell them not to wear heels when I'm out.
Oh, I hear you on this! I've been told before that I 'can't wear heels'. Um, why not? I love high heels. I love boots. I really enjoy footwear in general and sneakers aside, hate the way flats look and feel. I'm already tall, why not emphasize it? The heels are not making me look tall, my height is making me look tall!

I actually felt totally confident in my height until I attended a new school during my last year of high school. Sure, I had heard I was tall before, but I had never been truly teased about it. At that new school I got all kinds of rude comments and teasing about my thin frame and height. Someone even once started a rumour that I had been born a male.

Some boys might have been a bit intimidated, but I was a very intimidating person in general. Aside from that, I was quite popular and had been asked out by a lot of people. I've never experienced much of an issue with men feeling uncomfortable because of my height (not that I'm saying it doesn't happen), but maybe that's because I don't give douchebags the time of day?

I get asked how tall am I, am I a midget (I know that's derogatory, sorry), would I like the kids menu, and the worst one--PATTED ON THE HEAD. I HATE that!

YES a thousand times YES. I'm nearly 30 freaking years old, I do not need to be patted on the head, kthxbai. I also have people sing to me, multiple times, "short people got no reason to live." On the flip side, there are enough guys out there who fetishize shortness that I always wondered why exactly a guy found me attractive.

If you're a female you just can't win. You're always too something. Too tall, too short, too blonde, too brunette, too fat, too skinny...

@P. Parkinson - my husband is in the shoe business, and most designers make up to 12 or 13, but stores don't stock them. They can be special ordered, often at no extra cost from a store (for non-chain stores; I think chain and dept stores have different policies), although that is a PITA too because then you have to wait weeks for your shoes, and you don't know if you'll fit. But it's an option (if a bit crappy of one). There's the same problem at the low end too; most stores don't stock under size 6. I had a friend in college who had to wear childrens shoes because of this, until she learned she could special order her size 5's.

What's the deal with the NYT excerpt juxtaposing blonde-and-blue-eyed with "deformed or handicapped"?

I feel like that was an implicit way of saying women of color should expect to be gawked at bc they're inherently scary to strangers. Yuck.

"i am 5'10'' and have been tall my entire life. i do find that my height intimidates men a little bit, but i think it's more my height coupled with a no-bullshit attitude and very strong opinions..."

Oh man, this describes me exactly.

I guess on the upside, I don't attract guys who are insecure in their masculinity enough to be attracted exclusively to short, "cute" women and who so much lack the ability of self-reflection that they can't figure out why and/or get over it...

I hate hate hate being patted on the head, but what pisses me off even more is when people pick me up. I mean that literally, as in bend over, grab me by the armpits, and pick me up. I was at a party once where I was picked up and the passed around the room to about 10 different men, all of whom felt for some reason entitled to hold me up like a doll. WTF! I actually like being short, but people need to back off.

I have to say though, the tall ladies do have a leg up on us shorties in a crowd. Not only do you get the fresh air, but you get a really good view. I am always getting screwed over at concerts and such because 99% of the adult population is taller than I am. I do like it though when I am shopping and see somebody I don't want to talk to - then I can just head down a row of racks and nobody can see me because I am shorter than the fixtures. I suppose sometimes we all want what we can't have.

Great post. I'm 6'6", my sister is 6'1', and so is my mom. My dad is 6'4". We're quite a sight walking all together... I've forwarded the link to my sister in hopes that she'll stop by to comment.

For myself, my whole life people have felt completely free to comment on my body. In junior high and high school this especially sucked, since I was super skinny. Boys and girls alike seemed compelled to say something derogatory every time they saw me. Bullies took a particular delight in dominating a guy who was taller than they were, even if nowhere near as strong. The end result of all that was that I hated and ignored my body until my mid-20s.

I don't think I can count high enough to tally the number of people who have declared, "You're tall!" For the most part those folks are benign, so my response is usually a deliberately exaggerated, "Reeeeeeaaaallllllly?" People get the point, but it's gentle enough that they ususlly don't take offense. The basketball references are harder for me; since I rejected body-things ('cause I hated my body) and focused on mind-things like classes and clubs, it was a slap in the face to be put into that box. DOn't mind them as muchg now, probably 'cause I'm older.

A brief closing note on a wonderfully different experience (I almost wrote "corrective" but these days I like my experience and wouldn't want to trade it): I spent three years in Southern Sudan among the Dinka and Nuer tribes -- the tallest peoples in the world. I was frequently in the company of people as tall or taller than I. They called my White Dinka. It was really cool to be slightly above average instead of a freak.

I'm a boringly average height (5'6") and, as a soccer player, always felt such envy toward the tall girls. I wanted big feet and extra inches in my legs that are so advantageous as a soccer player. My best friend was always a head taller than me (ended up being 6') and was cool as hell.

But I do know that tall men get stared at and asked stupid questions as well. A guy at my college refused to tell anyone how tall he was because so many people would ask him. I have to admit, the first time I met him, it was the first question I asked. I think the "tallness threshold" for asking stupid questions is different between men and women depending on the heights people are accustomed to seeing.

Wow, Ann. You are more than half a foot taller than me. I'm 5 feet 5 inches. Kind of short for a man.

Hm, interesting!

I was always considered "tall" growing up, even though I am only 5'9", and these days I have a thing for wearing 4" heels, and I quite like being extra tall. ("Extra" because of the added height, not because I think an extra 4 inches makes me extraordinary in any way.)

And I have to admit - I have patted a couple of shorties on the head! (OK, you shorter people, PLEASE don't get pissy at me for using the term "shorties" - none of my shortie friends mind, and I don't mind when they call me Amazonia!) LOL But I try to control that urge, I REALLY do; I completely understand how insulting a head pat can be, even though I have never been bothered by the comments, etc. that people make to me being slightly taller than "average". I work in an office with a lot of very short people, and I always feel like a big, powerful Amazon Woman when I'm riding in the elevator with them! ;) (Sorry if that offended anyone - seems like no matter what you say, or what words one uses to describe one's self, someone is ALWAYS offended.)

But more to the point - what about unusually tall men? Do you think they are bothered by stares & such?
I was in England for 2 weeks when I was 17 once, and whilst waiting for the train a VERY tall man in a sharp business suit & sunglasses carrying a briefcase stepped onto the platform, and both my mom & I flat-out gawked, even though I knew it was rude, but I honestly couldn't help myself! This man was easily 9 or 10 feet tall, I shit you not. He had to bend over right in half at the waist to step onto the train. I have never in my entire life ever seen anyone so tall in my life, and I found it very intriguing. I personally like my men taller than me though; I don't think it has anything to do with an aversion to or prejudice against short men, it's just a personal preference. I think it's because my dad is very tall - you know how they say "a girl will tend to date men with attributes like daddy", don't know how true that really is, since I've dated men with a number of different body types, and enjoyed all of them - but whatevs. I like 'em tall & lanky! ;)

Wow, that did ramble on a bit, didn't it. Sorry if it makes no sense or is irrelevant! :)

Sarolynne: I hear you on the high heels comments! I'm 5'11" and get lectured on this all the time. I'm not sure people realize that until recently (since they seem to have come in style suddenly) it was nearly impossible to find cute flats AT ALL. All the good shoes are heels!

I got married recently, and I got so much "advice", such as wearing flats, having a non-poofy hair do (yes, really), and having my husband wear platform shoes (he is ONE inch shorter than I am). It all got very old very fast.

P. Parkinson: I feel your pain on the shoe size when you were young. I remember crying because I wanted Princess Jasmine shoes from K-mart when I was eight and they didn't make them large enough.

Also, did anyone else get kept out of the ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese when they were still young enough to be going there for birthday parties? Luckily I had some great friends who refused to go in when they found out I was too tall, and one even told "Chucky" about it!

"The worst was when I was traveling in Thailand - at times I even had crowds of tiny kids running after me and pointing at the 'giant lady'- it is hard to be confident in your height when at times it makes you feel freakish and unfeminine."

I can relate to this. I was in Thailand this winter and I felt like a giant. I am 5'9" and h/w proportionate (for an American) and I wear an 8, sometimes 10 pant and I would get looks and comments all the time. A local tour guide actually commented on how big I am and my husband is 6' and never got the same treatment. The worst was clothes shopping when the vendor would call me a big lady.

I have been the same height since 13 and I also developed breasts (D) early. This made me very self-conscious until I was 18. I get comments on my height now even, especially when I wear heels. I personally like being tall and I too get annoyed when people tell me what to wear. People always comment on how tall I am with heels, asking why I would want to be SO tall (I actually like being eye-level or taller than others). I am pretty much only aware of my height when strangers make comments, otherwise I don't feel abnormally tall. This is probably because my family is very tall (most men are over 6'5" and up to 6'9" and women are my height or taller) and my husband is tall.

But really the Thailand trip was the worst. I had a good time but my self-esteem was at an all-time low.

"The worst was when I was traveling in Thailand - at times I even had crowds of tiny kids running after me and pointing at the 'giant lady'- it is hard to be confident in your height when at times it makes you feel freakish and unfeminine."

I can relate an opposite situation. I'm 5'0" and sometime visit the Netherlands. I go to parties and every single person, male or female, is close to a foot taller than me. It could be a Utopia for some of the taller women here.

Being short often makes me feel fat, and yes, unfeminine and freakish, especially when flipping through fashion magazines. I think medium is the only happy medium as far as current standards of beauty go.

Mz.Stilletto: It's funny you mentioned the elevator because that is where I always notice my height the most. I'll be in an elevator and suddenly it will occur to me that I am the tallest person in there.

As for tall men feeling uncomfortable, I think it is definitely true. My 17-year-old cousin is stick thin and 6'6". He works at Target, and nearly every person that comes through his check-out line asks how tall he is. I know it makes him incredibly self-conscious.

"Also, did anyone else get kept out of the ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese when they were still young enough to be going there for birthday parties?"

YES!!! In second grade!

I'm 5'11" and usually appreciate the height (almost everything it my kitchen is too tall for others to comfortable reach without a chair). The only exception is never being able to fall asleep on a flight because of the lack of leg room. Those who automatically recline their seats upon liftoff regardless of whether or not they're sleeping - please consider the person behind you! It really does matter!

Sarolynne: I hear you on the high heels comments! I'm 5'11" and get lectured on this all the time. I'm not sure people realize that until recently (since they seem to have come in style suddenly) it was nearly impossible to find cute flats AT ALL. All the good shoes are heels!

I got married recently, and I got so much "advice", such as wearing flats, having a non-poofy hair do (yes, really), and having my husband wear platform shoes (he is ONE inch shorter than I am). It all got very old very fast.

When I was 21, I was maid of honor in one of my friend's wedding parties, and the best man was about three inches shorter than me.

My friend tells me I have to get the shoes on my own--cute, silver, flats. Uh? Wow. Has she ever tried finding those? And the dress was only about ankle length, so they had to be pretty shoes.

She got strappy silver three inch heels. And I may have loomed over the best man, but it looked fabulous with the dress.

As for everyone who's said they look at reactions to tall people are fairly nongendered: My brother is 6'9, and while he probably gets as much reaction as I do, it's very different. My brother is expected to be strong (which he is--as a horse, but that doesn't mean it's a fair expectation), confident, mature, and... stupid. Which he's not. He also seems to have people pick fights with him pretty regularly.

But as far as I know, he doesn't even have as many people just proclaim "You're really tall!" as I do, and I've never seen him have people tell him how he should dress or how he should use his height.

Tall people are not nongendered.

that is because men are "supposed" to be taller than women. And in fact, in standard gender typing, taller = more manly, or something close to it.

Men get screwed over if they're short. Society does not like short men, it "belittles" them. It's never great to be away from gender norms, in most places.

However, it's a different effect: short men don't tend to stand out, and tall women do. That probably makes it a bit worse; most of the 6'+ women I know get many comments.

6’1� here. Besides all of the annoying comments mentioned above, I hate when people say “How tall is your dad?� Um, yeah, I get my height from my mom, asshat. Mom is 6’0�, her brother is 6’8�, his sons are both around 6’6�. I suppose that very tall men, like my uncle and cousins, do get comments, mostly of the “How tall are you?� kind (they also seem to get automatic respect). However, my 6’2� husband never gets comments, but I do, even though we are virtually the same height.

I have stood up to leave a room and had people literally gasp at my height. I don’t get “How tall are you?� I get “Jesus! How tall are you anyway?� I get people craning their necks backward to stare at me as I walk by. I get comments from men like “Wow, I could climb you!� or “Damn baby, those legs are so long you could wrap them around me twice!� I pretty sure tall men don’t have to put up with that crap. Of course, women of any height have to put up with disgusting comments from disgusting men.

I also hate when I’m talking about how hard it is to find pants that fit me and someone who is 5’1� or so says “Oh, I know, it’s sooo hard for me to find pants too!� Um, no, it isn’t. Almost every department store has a petite section, I know of none that have a tall section for women. I have to order through catalogs, on-line or find specialty tall stores (which are very rare in the U.S.). Shorter women also have the option of hemming longer pants. I can’t make 31� inseam pants stretch to the 37� inseam I need. Sorry, but it is not the same. I’m sure being 5’1� has it’s own issues, but finding clothing isn’t one of them.

I also hate the "you should be a model" comments (although, since I'm over 30 and fat, I don't get those anymore!)Isn't ironic that most models are 5’10� and over, but when the clothes hit the racks, women of that height can’t purchase them because they don’t fit?

I remember watching an episode of Oprah a few years ago and they were talking about public displays of affections that made people uncomfortable. They had polled people and one of the questions was about whether or not they were comfortable seeing a tall woman kiss a short man. Over 60% of those polled said that they were uncomfortable seeing that. 60%!! So, I’d say to the person that suggested that most women prefer to date taller men, that a huge part of that are societal expectations. Your male partner must be taller than you or it makes others uncomfortable. See the commenters above talking about how people feel a need to tell them they should wear flats on their wedding day – god forbid you look taller than you husband, even if that’s the reality (people have asked my husband how he can be with a woman so tall – no joke).

Oh, and my response to the dreaded question “Wow, you’re tall. Did you play basketball?�
Me: “No. Did you play miniature golf?�

6'1" here. Can't tell you how many times I've been asked "how tall are you?" and "do you play basketball? (or occassionally volleyball)". My favorite response to the ever-present comment of "You're taaall!" is to look down at myself, gasp, and respond, "Oh my goodness, you're right! I never noticed that before!" But only if the person is really obnoxious or if I'm in a particularly sarcastic mood!

Yes, I've tried to find cute silver flats (in size 11 of course)...they hurt my feet. I've also had the short-people-can-hem-up-long-pants argument, and have been advised to sew extra material onto the ends of the legs of my jeans. Stylish, no?

In all seriousness, these kinds of things don't bother me that much. The comments are tiresome, but not infuriating, and I can generally find clothes that fit me, even if I don't get my first choices. The dating thing is more of a problem. That stuff about tall girls being intimidating? Total crap. It shouldn't make any difference. Are you a few inches shorter than I am? I don't have a problem with it, you shouldn't have a problem with it. But it's definitely expected that the guy will be taller, which really narrows down the options.