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Do tall men get all the breaks? How to cope if you're a short man

By Howard Seidman, Staff Writer, myOptumHealth

Men in the U.S. seem to be getting taller. The National Center for Health Statistics reported that the average height of men aged 20 to 70 years grew from about 5 feet 8 inches in 1960 to 5 feet 9.5 inches in 2002.

While this height increase may seem like a boon for men, it may not be good news for those of shorter stature. Short men may battle long-held perceptions that being tall means you are more attractive, dominant and even more fertile.

In the animal kingdom, larger males are more likely to dominate, win fights and monopolize access to females. That "animal instinct" may have carried over to humans, especially in the workplace.

Better jobs and pay?

Taller adults tend to hold jobs of higher status and earn more money. Research dating back to 1915 shows that executives are often taller than the men who report to them. The leadership-to-height link extends to other fields as well.

In academia, one study found that the average height of full professors was almost a half inch taller than associate professors. It was also about three quarters of an inch taller than assistant professors.

Height also seems to correlate with job status in developed countries. In the U.S. and the United Kingdom, taller workers are found in more highly skilled jobs. American men in white collar occupations average one inch taller than men in blue collar jobs.

Taller people have higher average incomes and earnings, too. Each one-inch increase in height over the average brings a 2 percent to 2.5 percent increase in income.

On the social front, studies have found that taller men may get more replies to dating requests, have more physically attractive girlfriends and more reproductive success.

Coping with a tall world

The nod to tall males, whether in school or at work, may lead to self-esteem problems in shorter men. Low self-esteem can cause:

• Anxiety, stress, loneliness and depression
• Problems with friendships and relationships
• Impaired school and job performance
• Drug and alcohol abuse

If you have low self-esteem, you may find that you need a lot of positive experiences to counteract negative feelings and thoughts. But that can be exhausting.

So what's a short guy to do?

Many men can choose to pursue healthy self-esteem. This means that you can acknowledge your strengths and limitations, and accept yourself.

These three steps can help you increase your self-esteem:

1. Rebut your inner critic.

People with low self-esteem find their "inner voice" to be a harsh critic. It punishes and belittles their accomplishments. People with healthy self-esteem have a positive, reassuring inner voice. So, always challenge negative messages from your inner voice.

2. Practice self-nurturing.

Treat yourself as a worthwhile person. You can challenge past bad experiences in ways that show that you are valuable, competent, deserving and lovable.

Start by getting enough sleep, and exercising and eating well. Plan fun, relaxing activities and reward yourself for accomplishments. Keep reminding yourself of your strengths and achievements. And forgive yourself when you don't accomplish everything you'd like.

3. Get help from others.
Low self-esteem can be caused by how people treated you in the past. You may not feel like you deserve help now. Be sure to ask for support from friends, or talk to a therapist or counselor.

Overcoming the realities of a tall world can be tough and sometimes painful. If you're having trouble, talking to a therapist can help you learn more about yourself and let go of things that may be holding you back.

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