Neither
happy with my height, and I'm and not much of a believer in those

xxx will make you look taller, give you a waist things fashion people tell you. If you are tall, don't have a waist you aren't getting one

This is a fascinating thread!

I remember as a teenager being highly offended when others often referred to my best friend (5' if she stretched out her neck) and me (a smidge under 5'7") as "Mutt and Jeff". I envied my friend because she looked so feminine and delicate while I usually felt huge and ungainly next to her. Looking back, that comparison, along with my IT shape, is what probably formed my perceptions that traditionally feminine dress, pursuits, and behaviors just weren't for the likes of me.

My height, though, meant I could look most men in the eye if I wore heels, and, I suspect, led me to spend more time in male environments than hanging out with girl friends. My height and body build was a privilege which I could exploit in sports and the workplace, although at the expense of downplaying anything that veered towards the feminine. So, yes, height for a female can be a privilege, but it can come with some hidden costs.

So I can kind of relate as to why Kate wanted to be taller--if you renounce ever being cute and dainty, might as well grab your heels and leverage your skyscraper tendancies.

I am currently 5' 1"; used to be 5' 1.75". I will never forget that my first boss (around 6' to 6' 1") once patted me on the head -- a *privilege* that taller gals probably don't get to experience.

I prefer platforms/flatforms/clogs that give me height without the pain of true heels. I would prefer to be taller, but my grandmothers were 4' 8" or 4' 10" or something like that so I'm not complaining.

Gaylene, you hit on a good point. I think the reason I envy tall (or at least average-height) women is because my main motivation has always been to be taken seriously as a person, and not to be attractive as a woman. I mean, we all like to feel attractive, I'd be lying if I said I didn't care at all, but enticing men has never been high on my list of important pursuits. It didn't help that I started out in a male-oriented environment (I used to be a science teacher, remember), whereas conveying the message that I am a competent adult was.

(I have to say, this whole situation has improved a bit as I've aged -- people don't dismiss me as a "little girl" so much -- and I just love it when they call me ma'am).

DonnaF -- YES I have been patted on the head, too! Aaaargh. Hasn't happened for a long time, though.