Asian American Attitudes toward Height | Asian American Poll

AA ATTITUDE TOWARD HEIGHT
(Updated Saturday, Jun 6, 2026, 12:07:54 AM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

Assuming you are an Asian American, how important is height in your assessment of a person's attractiveness?
It's a key element of attractiveness. | 20%
It's one of many factors I consider. | 44%
It's less important than other personal qualities. | 28%
I am not attracted to tall people. | 8%

Assuming you are an Asian American, which best matches your feelings toward your own height?
I'd like to be 3 inches taller. | 43%
I'd like to be an inch taller. | 27%
I'm happy with my height. | 26%
I'd like to be an inch shorter. | 4%

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AC Dropout

You missed my point. If Shaquille O'neal was competent and reputed on issues as Colin Powell, and if Colin Powell looked like a smaller version of Shaquille O'neal, then yes, I suspect I would vote for Shaquille O'neal. And if the Powell who looked like Shaq was far below average height, then just more reason for me to have faith in the person with the inherently "leader-type" physical qualities.

I do not know what "AC" stands for, though it's easy to see where the "Dropout" comes from.

It's an uphill battle for short people, though there is such a thing as too much height. When I brought up the point of O'neal and the little man, it was to show that we had more faith in the bigger person's strength. Of course, in a completely different arena, the playing field still needs to be leveled, since we would no longer be actually comparing the height issue, in the face of far more relevant quality.
Thus, when all other factors are even, then height will ultimately play a great difference

I acknowledge that, we have our ideals, and essentially, these ideals can be fit into something of a mode. To be below this "mode" or average height, as deserving the term "short", is considered undesirable.
chinatown Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at 20:20:35 (PDT)

18th century Chinese poem that describes a beautiful fairy lady:

She has left her willow-tree house, from her blossoming bower stepped out;
For the birds betray where she walks through the trees that cluster about,
And a shadow athwart the winding walk announces that she is near,
And a fragrance of musk and orchid from fluttering fairy sleeves,
And a tinkle of girdle-gems that falls on the ear
At each movement of her dress of lotus leaves.
A peach-tree blossoms in her dimpling cheek;
Her cloud-coiled tresses are halcyon-sleek;
And she reveals, through parted cherry-lips,
Teeth like pomegranate pips.
Her slim waist's sinuous swaying calls to mind
The dance of snowflakes with the waltzing wind;
Hair ornaments of pearl and halcyon blue
Outshine her painted forehead's golden hue.
Her face, through blossoms fleetingly disclosed,
To mirth or ire seem equally disposed;
And as by the waterside she goes,
Hovering on light-stepping toes,
A half-incipient look of pique
Says she would speak, yet would not speak;
While her feet, with the same irresolution,
Would halt, yet would not interrupt their motion.
I contemplate her rare complexion,
Ice-pure and jade-like in perfection;
I marvel at her glittering dress,
Where art lends grace to sumptuousness;
I wonder at her fine-cut features -
Marble, which fragrance marks as one with living creatures;
And I admire her queenly gait,
Like stately dance of simurgh with his mate.
Her purity I can best show
In plum-trees flowering in the snow;
Her chastity I shall recall
In orchids white at first frost-fall;
Her tranquil nature will prevail,
Constant as the lone pine in an empty vale;
Her loveliness as dazzled make
As sunset gilding a pellucid lake;
Her glittering elegance I can compare
With dragons in an ornamental mere;
Her dreamy soulfulness most seems
Like wintry waters in the moon's cold beams.
Where was she born, and from whence descended?
Immortal I judge her, fresh come from fairy feastings by the Jasper Pool,
Or from fluting in starry halls, some heavenly concert ended.

[This is an excerpt from the novel "The Story of the Stone", a classic Chinese masterpiece written by Cao Xueqin in 1760. This translation is by David Hawkes, published by Penguin.]

krasavitsa Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at 18:48:41 (PDT)

AC Dropout,

Have I ever mentioned that I think you're cool? I've been following ya around this website....
Soul Search Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at 17:24:03 (PDT)

Hey people....

People in the ancient times particularly LOVED SMALL eyes, it's just the shape, and ignoring large eyes. They'd like the big eyes if it was a good phoenix looking shape. You heard of the phoenix eyes? That was wanted in the ancient times... it was long, sharp, sexy, double eyelid, and very refreshing.
Who wouldnt like that? And big eyes could be phoenix looking also. CHina has definitely 0 influence from the west... i'm sure!

aiya Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at 16:39:30 (PDT)

I Wish I was a little bit taller!
Impulse Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at 15:39:06 (PDT)

Hi Banana Cream Pie:

Your description of yourself perked my interest...:)
Aloha Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at 15:13:22 (PDT)

MLK,

Full lips are not a typical Caucasian trait. Don't alot of eastcoasters have thin lips?

As for high arched eyebrows... I love em... but there's also alot of White ppl who don't have em.

Jay... the hapa w/ defined eyebrows Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at 14:53:35 (PDT)

AC Dropout:
"You lost me. When I go to the Chinese supermarket to get my weekly supply of soy milk and rice/peanut drink, I don't see any dairy in that aisle."

I dont shop at oriental supermarkets often...so I dont know much about it. If you go into the american supermarkets...you'll see milk and soymilk. 'Silk' is the one produced by diary manufacturers.
be Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at 14:36:10 (PDT)

Beijing Angelique,

A lot of us wouldn't mind the habit of spontaneously switching from English to Chinese. Or Chinese to English. It's not FOB, it's COSMOPOLITAN!

po,

What do you think of husky voices? It is also said that husky voices in women are extremely sexy--probably because it sounds like they've been smoking, which is supposed to be sophisticated, etc, etc.

AC Dropout,

Good to hear from you again. I'm too lazy to drag out my encyclopedia so I'm going to ask you: when was the Song dynasty? Do you know what other traits they admired?

To everyone:

I just thought about the heels issue. Does anyone know then they started wearing heels in China, and was it primarily for men or women?

I've always found it interesting that men were probably the first to start wearing heels in Europe, especially in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Then it became a thing for women-- unfortunately.

Asian Dominatrix Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at 14:13:27 (PDT)

Beijing Angelique,

"Talent beats Beauty"

hmmm....I'll think about that.
AC Dropout Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at 12:06:40 (PDT)

To Short, Fat, Dumb and Depressed,

Well here's my two cents, I hope it helps.

Short- unfortunately there's nothing you can do about that but accept it.

Fat- you can do lots to fix this! diet, exercise, join a gym, count calories, etc etc. go to www.ediets.com.

Dumb- again, lots to be done! Take classes, read read read, join a book club, read books, magazines, anything that has words in it!

Depressed- again, much to be done here! See a therapist, take medication, or try the natural route- exercise at least four times a week, outdoor exercise is best. Or take up meditation, join a depression therapy group, write in a journal.

Accept the things that you can't change and have the courage to change the things that you can. Then maybe next time you post, you can use the tag "Short, kinda smart, kinda thin-ish, kinda happy- working on it".
curious girl Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at 11:52:34 (PDT)

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