Is height crucial to passing?

[Guest Tobiaskun]

Right what it says on the can.

I've met some pretty short cis guys, around 5'3" to 5'4" at the least. however, I'm 18, and 5'1". I pass a lot in public as a very young, as in 13 or 14, year old boy. I don't mind this, really! Maybe when I'm 70, people with think I'm 30. When I start T and my body becomes straighter and all, will height be the preventative factor in being correctly gendered? it worries me, but I kind of like being short. it's very comfortable, but I don't want it to be an outing factor. My younger brothers beat me by at least three or four inches, and my dad is 6'2", so I can't blame it on family genetics. Even my younger sisters are taller than I am. Maybe I'll find a picture later this evening.

Any other shorter guys out there with any advice?

[Guest Father Ford]

I am 5'4" and have no problems passing. Even when I was pre-T, I was gendered correctly about 90% of the time. My dad is 6'1", and my brother is 5'11", but I've realized that I don't have to make excuses for my height. I am well-built, broad-shouldered, and even get the occasional, "hey big guy!" despite being short.

- Fr. Ford

[Guest UnicornGiggles]

I just think of awesome cismen like Danny DeVito and Ronnie Corbett and that makes me feel a little better.

[Guest Melanie54]

Dude I so know a cis guy thats like 4'10. =) Its all in the attitude dude!

[VickySGV]

It only really matters when you are short at the bank!!

[Guest ThePenguin]

I just think of awesome cismen like Danny DeVito

Danny DeVito...The Penguin >

[Guest leo]

I'd say it isn't I know plenty of short cis guys and also plenty of tall cis women so I doesn't matter. Mind I'm just off 5'11 so properly be about that when I'm on T. My brothers are 6 foot and my dad 6'2.

[Guest Lonewolf13]

I hate being short! lol And I've wondered whether it will cause me problems too, Im about 5'2" (I'm 22). My dads is Spanish and hes side of the family is short so it does run in the family but my brother is much taller. I somethimes get called 'boy' so I assume people see me as a younger male like you too, when they make the correct assumption that Im male. I wish there was a way of being stretched taller....

[Guest Tobiaskun]

It sounds liek it was all in my head, then! I dunno, I just get correctly gendered as a young guy, and shopping for formal clothing requires the children's section, too. So I was worried that the adult world would only make it more difficult. Thanks, all!

[JJ]

Frankly I was thrilled to be taken for a boy instead of an old man yesterday.

Men come in all sizes and shapes. There are many men here my size and my SIL who lives in my household along with my daughter is my height. We wear about the same size now too.

People will see your age and gender by the clothing you choose and the attitude you put off. And boys clothing covers the gamut from goth and rocker to buttoned down or kid looking. Where you shop isn't as important as what you choose

I do tend to like younger clothing than many men my age. But I was more than a little happy to see 2 other men around my age buying in Hot Topic last week I'm not alone in my preferences. Age is in the mind more than anything else

Johnny

[Guest Lonewolf13]

Johnny, thats very cool you buy from hot topic and I agree that age is in the mind, you can be as young as you want to be. I hate when people say 'I'm too old for that', its just an excuse to be boring!

[Guest JordanRaeburn]

I'm 6'2. I was scared to start at community college again because I'm gender confused and didn't know what I wanted. Well, my teachers call me by my girly birth name.. And strictly use male pronouns. I didn't ask them to. I guess they're just going by what they see. So it certainly helps.

[Guest Karen K]

Tobias,

Last December, at a group meeting, I met a transguy who is a retired jockey turned horse trainer. Incredible: looked like and sounded like a man to me. No doubts ever entered my mind.

I am a transwoman who is 5'11" and I love heels. When I go out and about, dressed casually, I am unaware of any questioning glances and no one has ever said a thing. Indeed, I get ma'amed, and miss routinely.

So I would say, height has little to do with "passing", I prefer the word "blending", as that is what we desire, right? To blend in with the rest of society.

Laura Jane

[Guest Karen K]

Tobias,

Last December, at a group meeting, I met a transman who is a retired jockey, turned horse trainer. He looked like and sounded like a man to me. No doubt ever entered my mind.

I am a transwoman who stands 5'11" and I (sometimes) wear 3" heels. When i am out and about, dressed casually, I almost never get a second glance. Routinely, I am ma'amed and called miss.

So, Toby, I would say don't worry about the things you cannot change. Height has little to do with "passing". BTW, I prefer the word "blending" as that's what we want, to blend into society, right?

Laura Jane

[Guest KaelParker]

Not at all! There's a cisguy in my gym class that is about 4'11" and it's obvious he's male. Not a problem at all!

[Guest UnicornGiggles]

On a similar sad note, Davy Jones (5'3") died today

My short cismale hero...

[Guest Lelouch]

Personally, I'm quite height conscious too. I'm around 5'5", actually, nearly 5'6". I really wish I were around 5'10" but there's really nothing I can do now since I'm already 21. I guess I have genetics to attribute for my height. My dad is 5'8" and my mom is 4'11".

[Guest olli23]

I'm just under 5'4" (and that's after two growth spurts!) so i've definitely heard all the short jokes. it's just another one of those things that you have to accept about yourself that in the long run (unless you have dreams of being a super model...) doesn't really matter. one thing kind of related that i was wondering about though is hand size. my hands are tiny, even for a girl, so now i find myself hiding my hands in my sleeves or pockets and i feel so awkward all the time. does anyone else experience this problem?

[Guest RavenandJacob]

I know a ftm who is 5'3" and has no problem passing as a guy.

I'm 5'5" (and occasionally crossdress) and I don't think anyone really notices...

Heck, I know some pretty short natural-born guys out there!

So no, haha I don't think height will be too much of a problem for you or anyone who is ftm...

[Guest KaelParker]

Just so you know, there ARE ways that you can increase your height.

The easiest by far are hanging exercises. Simply jump up on the bar with your hands fairly close together, hang on for as long as you can with your back straight and drop down when you can't hold on anymore. The pull of gravity will gently "stretch" your spine, giving you slightly more space between the vertebrae. You'll only gain about 1 to 2 mm between each vertebrae, but when you add it all up that's almost 1 to 2 inches total! If you're able, you might get a little extra height by strapping a weight to your waist while you hang. Just gives you a little more pull.

You can also do stretches. One is to lay on your stomach with your arms and legs extended. Lift gently with your left arm and right leg in the air, stretching them both out as far as you can. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds. Switch and repeat with your right arm and left leg up. Another stretch is to lay on your back and bend your knees. Then do the hip thrust into the air. Looks ridiculous, but good for height!

I'd say the maximum height you can gain doing a combination of those three is around 2.5 inches which is pretty significant! At 5'4", that would make me 5'6 1/2" which isn't too short for a guy!

In addition to those stretches, you can always get shoes or inserts to increase your height. The highest I've seen were about 2.5 inches. If I wore these and was maxed out on height from stretches and hanging, I'd be a good 5'9"! I know that sounds crazy, but it's definitely been a reality for many short men.

I don't think height is crucial to passing, but you DO have options if you want to be taller!

[Guest Lonewolf13]

I'm just under 5'4" (and that's after two growth spurts!) so i've definitely heard all the short jokes. it's just another one of those things that you have to accept about yourself that in the long run (unless you have dreams of being a super model...) doesn't really matter. one thing kind of related that i was wondering about though is hand size. my hands are tiny, even for a girl, so now i find myself hiding my hands in my sleeves or pockets and i feel so awkward all the time. does anyone else experience this problem?

yes - i have the same issue. my hands are pretty embarressing, way too small for my liking. again, genetics are to blame, both my mum and dad are small. know how you feel!

[Guest Kai Reddtail]

I would say no. Some height would probably help, but I don't think it's crucial. I'm starting to pass in public, I'm 5' 7" ish (I think), which puts me at a decent average for guys and slightly taller than most women in my area. My younger brothers are both over 6.5 feet tall and tower over me, so when I'm around them people tend to think that I'm a lot younger than I am (one of them has facial hair and that probably contributes too.) But I have that problem regardless of whether I'm being contrasted against my gigantic siblings.

Their height is karma kicking me in the butt, by the way. When I was younger I used to tease them for being shorter than me so life decided to make them tall enough to use my head as an arm rest.