Dating A Short Guy: How Not To Make Him Feel Self-Conscious

Updated October 7, 2024by Regain Editorial Team

When you’re dating someone shorter than average, it might not always be easy to avoid making them feel self-conscious. Dating a short guy can be different from dating a guy who is taller than you. Many short men may feel strange if their girlfriend is taller than them or even if the girl is the same height. Short guys shouldn’t have to feel this way, but some men might feel embarrassed about being short because of how our culture can value being tall. Take a look at the following advice that can help you to avoid making the special guy in your life feel self-conscious.

Don’t joke about his height

Are there insecurity issues in your relationship?

Even in a joking way, don’t put him down for his height. Many short men can feel a bit sensitive about their height, and poking fun about his height can feel demeaning and even cruel.

You don’t have to pretend that he is tall, but you shouldn’t call him out for being a shorter guy. Try not to bring attention to it unnecessarily. If you notice his friends or others joking about his height, then don’t join in, or even stand up for him. A response of “who cares about his height” could make him feel a lot better. 

Be mindful about pictures

If your boyfriend is still feeling very insecure about being short, then you might want to watch out how you’re taking pictures. 

Think about taking photos that won’t make it so apparent that you’re taller than him, assuming that you are. Some couples prefer to take seated photos to make them appear to be on an evener eye level.

This doesn’t have to matter, but it might matter to your boyfriend if he is feeling self-conscious. Just try to be respectful and think before posting photos to social media. Over time, with your support, your boyfriend may not mind the height difference in photos, but don’t push him to take or post photos that make him feel embarrassed, regardless of the reason. 

Let him know you’re attracted to him

This might seem obvious, but it can be very helpful to let him know that you’re attracted to him. Sometimes short men can feel less desirable than taller men. 

Letting him know that you think he is sexy can make him feel better about himself. Be honest with him but let him know that you think he’s hot from time to time. This can make him feel less worried about being short because he can then know that you find him attractive and that his height doesn’t make him any less attractive than tall guys.

Remind him of his good qualities

Never be afraid to remind him of his good qualities either. This can be lumped in with letting him know how attractive you think he is. But feeling confident about yourself is about more than just being good-looking. You should let him know why you are dating him in the first place. 

Reminding him of his good qualities, such as his intelligence or how good he is at making you smile, can be helpful. These little moments between the two of you can alleviate any lingering self-conscious thoughts that he might be experiencing due to being short. 

Be confident while out and about

While you’re out on the town, you should try to feel confident. Your confidence can help your partner feel more at ease. Have a great time and try to make sure that your boyfriend is having a great time as well. This can allow you to focus on what you enjoy about each other instead of worrying about something petty such as how tall your boyfriend is.

Respect his feelings

If your boyfriend puts a lot of emphasis on his height, then you might not always understand the preoccupation. If you don’t care, then why should it be bothering him so much? You might be right in many ways, but you should never invalidate your boyfriend’s feelings. Getting over things like this and building confidence can take time, and you ought to understand that he might have a tough time dealing with these issues.

Online couples counseling might be helpful

Are there insecurity issues in your relationship?

Online couples counseling might be a helpful thing to consider as well. If your boyfriend is overly concerned about his height, he might need some psychological help to overcome his feelings. These compassionate counselors can work with him individually to help him become a more confident individual. They can also work with you as a couple so that you can get the most out of your relationship.

Takeaway

Being able to count on professionals online can be a great feeling. For example, 95% of couples who engage in online couples counseling consider it to be helpful. Also, many people share in surveys that they feel more comfortable opening up over online mediums than in-person. If your relationship is struggling to take things to the next level, these counselors can help you work on things. Remember, there is a notable connection between self-esteem and the quality of your romantic relationships. 

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