How Important is Height in Latin Countries?

[mambocowboy]

This is a damn good point! I can't tell you how many Latinas I've met SOTB that are physically flawless in my eyes, but they are obsessed with a part of their bodies that fall short of this impossible expectation of perfection that's necessary to be considered beautiful. A lot of them subsequently see themselves as less than attractive because of these one or two little things. It's like an epidemic with Brazilian Women. I've met a lot of them with gorgeous faces and great bodies that take excellent care of themselves, but they don't have D Cup breast so they see themselves as unattractive. Gyms in Rio de Janeiro can charge $200 a month for memberships (and believe me, none of these places can compare to 24 Hour Fitness or Bally's in the U.S.) because Brasileiras are so obsessed with physical fitness they'll pay anything to have access to a place they can work out as often as possible. Another huge issue with older women in cities like Rio de Janeiro is the beach culture. Women tan in the sun all their lives then wonder why they look 60 when they turn 40. I'd be willing to bet that procedures like face lifts and Botox injections are just as common if not more so in Brazil if you compared the numbers to the U.S. The more petite women in Colombia all think they need boob jobs. I don't care how beautiful a Latin American Woman is, if you ask almost all of them will wish they could change something about themselves. Most that have the money to pay for plastic surgery do just that.

My wife hasn't asked for any surgeries, but I know at least one of her Barranquillera acquaintances over here has had her gringo husband pay for a boob job and a tummy tuck....

[buencamino]

I couldn't say about all latin american countries but in Colombia at least the average stature of the population is considerably shorter than in the US. My impression is that that's due to the very prevalent influence of the native Indian populations. Most really tall people male or female are Black. If you are a gringo and go shopping for shoes you may have a hard time finding a pair you like in size ten and a half. A girl told me once "los gringos pueden dormir parados" because we have such big feet. Funny. Anyway girls five foot three or so are the rule rather than the exception. Just take a look at their height on the Cupido sites. 

[Brazilophile]

I couldn't say about all latin american countries but in Colombia at least the average stature of the population is considerably shorter than in the US. My impression is that that's due to the very prevalent influence of the native Indian populations. Most really tall people male or female are Black. If you are a gringo and go shopping for shoes you may have a hard time finding a pair you like in size ten and a half. A girl told me once "los gringos pueden dormir parados" because we have such big feet. Funny. Anyway girls five foot three or so are the rule rather than the exception. Just take a look at their height on the Cupido sites.

That is my observation as well.  In fact, I met a Black Calena several years ago who was maybe 5'10" (178 cm) and dressed to the nines.  Her appearance was over the top for me because I much prefer low key and subdued appearance and demeanor.  Still, she was very physically attractive and had a very nice personality.  On my next trip to Cali about a year later, I learned that she had moved to Spain and was working as a model. 

[Maverick]

I couldn't say about all latin american countries but in Colombia at least the average stature of the population is considerably shorter than in the US. My impression is that that's due to the very prevalent influence of the native Indian populations. Most really tall people male or female are Black. If you are a gringo and go shopping for shoes you may have a hard time finding a pair you like in size ten and a half. A girl told me once "los gringos pueden dormir parados" because we have such big feet. Funny. Anyway girls five foot three or so are the rule rather than the exception. Just take a look at their height on the Cupido sites.

That's good to know. I'll definitely enjoy being taller than the average woman....as opposed to being around the same height as them. :p


Thanks for the response!

[Gavan]

Hey all.


I made another post about this in the Asian countries section, but I'm also considering Latin America. I plan on moving to one of these countries, as opposed to bringing a woman back here. I'm 26 years old and 5'5 (1.66 m) and this has caused me to have a lot problems finding a suitable partner in the US (where I'm from).


I do notice that Latin American women tend to be taller than Asian women. Is it safe to assume that I'll encounter the same kind of prejudice that I have among women in the US?


Thank you. 

You will be about average height in Latin countries with a large mestizo population like Peru or Mexico. People in these countries are much shorter on average than Americans or Europeans. I am slightly below average height for my country, but in Peru I was considered tall and got lots of complements on my height! So, yeah I think for a shorter guy, dating will be easier in these countries, if you don't mind the high risk of getting robbed.

[Maverick]

You will be about average height in Latin countries with a large mestizo population like Peru or Mexico. People in these countries are much shorter on average than Americans or Europeans. I am slightly below average height for my country, but in Peru I was considered tall and got lots of complements on my height! So, yeah I think for a shorter guy, dating will be easier in these countries, if you don't mind the high risk of getting robbed .

Hahahaha thanks man....especially for the last part. :p

[drell283]

Maverick,


I'm seeing a Peruvian woman and have been to Peru 5 times. I don't think that it is any more dangerous than any other Latin country. Just stay in Miraflores and have people meet you there.


I'm 5'-9" and I feel like an NBA player when I am in Peru.

[A_Thomas]

I stayed away from this thread yesterday.  I couldn't imagine what useful information could be shared in it.  Just anecdotes, speculation, (unconscious) bias, and several isms.  Today I decided to take a gander.  It wasn't as bad as it could have been.

My experience in Latin America is that height is not a high priority for most Latinas.  I am over 6 feet (183 cm) and I do not feel a particular advantage with the ladies over men below 6 feet tall.  In Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico I have found that the ladies, especially younger ladies, respond much more to what they consider is 'cool' (chevre).  That is most often a man who can dance well and dresses well.  If a man is sharply dressed and can dance well, his height, or lack of it, is irrelevant.  If a man is nerdy, being tall won't help him (nor will money), he is still toast.

That said; in those countries, the ladies are quite short, as Benjio noted.  Brazil is a different matter.  There are lots of tall ladies in Brazil.  My experience is that they prefer tall men, even if he is nerdy.  Brasilieras who are over 5'9" (175 cm) show a lot of interest in tall men and cut them more slack than they would a shorter man.

Still, physical attraction is a highly personal matter.  Your experiences with Latinas likely vary considerably from mine even if you are my height.

 This is all good news then!


  I can dance and that is not me saying that, I can dress well when needed, I am a guy after all, K.I.S.S and I'm 187cm....

[robert angel]

FWIW, in the Philippines, it seems that overall, women using on-line dating sites seem a bit more empowered nowadays. You will see some women from modest backgrounds, who specifically state they do NOT want a partner six feet or taller. Likewise, more women than before will state they want the guy they marry to come live in THEIR country. Age differences acceptable to women seem to be narrowing a bit also.
I'm 'just' a foot taller than my wife and girls being girls and talking in private, some of them wonder how two people of such different heights can enjoyably make love! 

[A_Thomas]

This is a damn good point! I can't tell you how many Latinas I've met SOTB that are physically flawless in my eyes, but they are obsessed with a part of their bodies that fall short of this impossible expectation of perfection that's necessary to be considered beautiful. A lot of them subsequently see themselves as less than attractive because of these one or two little things. It's like an epidemic with Brazilian Women. I've met a lot of them with gorgeous faces and great bodies that take excellent care of themselves, but they don't have D Cup breast so they see themselves as unattractive. Gyms in Rio de Janeiro can charge $200 a month for memberships (and believe me, none of these places can compare to 24 Hour Fitness or Bally's in the U.S.) because Brasileiras are so obsessed with physical fitness they'll pay anything to have access to a place they can work out as often as possible. Another huge issue with older women in cities like Rio de Janeiro is the beach culture. Women tan in the sun all their lives then wonder why they look 60 when they turn 40. I'd be willing to bet that procedures like face lifts and Botox injections are just as common if not more so in Brazil if you compared the numbers to the U.S. The more petite women in Colombia all think they need boob jobs. I don't care how beautiful a Latin American Woman is, if you ask almost all of them will wish they could change something about themselves. Most that have the money to pay for plastic surgery do just that.

 Cosmetic Surgery is HUGE in Brasil.... With breast and butt implants being high on the list of most often treatments.


 I think you can see quite a bit of this in contest like "Best Booty In Brasil". Women with more European blood feel they have been shortchanged so they are likely to get implants or collagen shots.


 I don't care, you shave because women tend not to like beards.  Older men dye their hair to appear younger. In recent years they go for balding treatments because they don't want to be seen as an old man when they don't feel old.
 
 I don't mind breast implants or butt treatments because if its well-done you can't tell anyway. I always tell men, stop complaining and don't date women with poor/cheap surgeries, very simple. Lots of Latinas dye their hair blonde and we know that is not their natural hair color.


 I know there some natural/nature freaks there always is and they like to leave things as nature intended, its what makes them special and all that tripe.


 Like I said, I simply don't care, if it looks good, I'm looking -
 
 [size=78%]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ctRsSZN6ug[/size]

[A_Thomas]

FWIW, in the Philippines, it seems that overall, women using on-line dating sites seem a bit more empowered nowadays. You will see some women from modest backgrounds, who specifically state they do NOT want a partner six feet or taller. Likewise, more women than before will state they want the guy they marry to come live in THEIR country. Age differences acceptable to women seem to be narrowing a bit also.
I'm 'just' a foot taller than my wife and girls being girls and talking in private, some of them wonder how two people of such different heights can enjoyably make love! 

 Maybe its because them being 5'6 or less and you being 6'0 or more looks odd in public???


 They believe their economy is improving, which means more and more and less likely to want to relocate.


 Almost any economy looks better than what happening in the US, UK and Western Europe right now.

[robert angel]

 Maybe its because them being 5'6 or less and you being 6'0 or more looks odd in public???


 They believe their economy is improving, which means more and more and less likely to want to relocate.


 Almost any economy looks better than what happening in the US, UK and Western Europe right now.

 
Odd? The average height of a Filipina according to most studies is just under five feet tall. If a guy's a full foot taller it does 'stand out'. Plus, it takes some adjusting in other ways. Sometimes after dinner, my wife and I go around a lake at a nearby park that's about 3 miles around and we go around once or twice, sometimes thrice. Problem is, when I am walking at a brisk pace, she's jogging! Even just walking in general, I have to shorten my steps--she's in great shape, but we need to balance our pace.

 
I don't think the economy's improving much, if at all over there. The same people who have 98% of the money and control the infrastructure just have more money and control. Meanwhile, jobs and wages haven't increased, despite everything getting more expensive.

 
That said, as long as families have relatives overseas, sending money back home---that other than wanting to visit Disney World and do some shopping, a lot of them are suprisingly happy staying right where they are, as long as there's enough food, music and laughter to go around.

 
The perception in many nations around the world is that the USA is some deep doo doo economically, but that we're 'Too big to fail'. I'd dare say that in many nations, even the uneducated often have that feeling and I've heard them explain it as such to me.

 
They feel it's all a game of manipulated numbers, (I mean--comeon--do YOU really FEEL like the stock market at it's current all time high of 15,000 is an accurate gauge of our real well being?) but they feel that the USA just has so much of everything, including natural and intellectual resources, to the point that there will still be plenty of iPads, Victoria's Secret lingerie and Hollywood blockbuster movies coming their way in the forseeable future. Nonetheless, it sounds like they have a firmer grasp of our reality than do many Americans. Very weird.

 
Also observed that people who cater to tourists overseas appreciate Canadians and Australians more than ever lately. This isn't  just because they tend to a be a bit better mannered, but because their currency converts more valuably over there.

 
It seems that regardless of where I travel and the educational or economic level of the people I meet, that they feel that despite  the stupid economic mess the USA is in and how the US Govt simply prints more and more money, that as the USA goes, so goes the rest of the world. We're all gonna go down the sh!tter together! People talk about China becoming a bigger super power than the USA, but most realize that if we ain't buying, they're gonna be cryin. I have seen the enemy and it is US--you and me and Uncle Sam--we'll do ourselves in, by and large,---if and when it comes to that. Take a quick look at the link 2nd paragraph from the bottom if you have an extra 30 seconds...

 
People are catching on that China's not some unstoppable economic juggernaut after all and that they 'cook their books' to make their 'leading economic indicators' look better than they really are.

 
The day to start preparing for a USA armageddon is if they ever decide to remove the US dollar as the world's 'Reserve Currency'. http://www.heraldextra.com/news/opinion/mailbag/what-s-happening-with-world-s-reserve-currency/article_e983d8b5-ab39-5cda-bba8-da7dc5d2bf6b.html

 
The old adage "When the USA sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold" isn't as true as it used to be, but it still holds some weight. We're down, but nobody significant is really counting us out just yet....

[Maverick]

FWIW, in the Philippines, it seems that overall, women using on-line dating sites seem a bit more empowered nowadays. You will see some women from modest backgrounds, who specifically state they do NOT want a partner six feet or taller. Likewise, more women than before will state they want the guy they marry to come live in THEIR country. Age differences acceptable to women seem to be narrowing a bit also.
I'm 'just' a foot taller than my wife and girls being girls and talking in private, some of them wonder how two people of such different heights can enjoyably make love! 

Sounds good to me. I REALLY don't want to get married in the USA anyway. 

[Gavan]

Maverick,


I'm seeing a Peruvian woman and have been to Peru 5 times. I don't think that it is any more dangerous than any other Latin country. Just stay in Miraflores and have people meet you there.


I'm 5'-9" and I feel like an NBA player when I am in Peru.

I lived in Peru for 6 years. Is it more dangerous than most other latin countries? Probably not. Is most of Peru it a lot more dangerous than most of the US and Western Europe? Most certainly yes. Why do I say this? Because almost EVERY SINGLE Peruvian has been robbed or mugged at least once. Just ask your novia, I am willing to bet that the same is true for her and/or most of her relatives and friends. I also witnessed at least 5 muggings myself.


Does this mean you shouldn't go to Peru? Of course not. All it means is that you have to be aware of the risk, take precautions and never let your guard down. I was in Peru for 6 years and nothing ever happened to me, but I was extremely careful. As you say, Miraflores is probably relatively safe (I never spent much time there myself).

[michaelb]

The old adage "When the USA sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold" isn't as true as it used to be, but it still holds some weight. We're down, but nobody significant is really counting us out just yet....

And when the US catches a cold, Mexico gets pneumonia. Or in the (alleged) words of their former president, Porfirio Diaz, "Pobre México! ¡Tan lejos de Dios y tan cerca de los Estados Unidos!"

[robert angel]

It's odd how economic events and ongoing situations in countries such as Greece, Ireland, Spain and Japan (to name but a few)  can have an effect on our market. When I get annoyed at our debt, a quick look at Japan's makes me feel a little better. Worried about inflation? Have a look at Brazil's history.

[A_Thomas]

 Well our national debt is really not that big of a problem.  Everything was fine when consumption ran at 70% like it normally does. With all the foreclosures, you have less property taxes being paid and that's linked directly to public education among other things.


 So now you have a series of problems and of course the Right Wing starts screaming about Tax and Spend Democrats/Liberals, when they kept all the wars off the books, Medicare Part D and the biggest expansion of Government, EVER = Home Land Security.


 In reality this start back around 1979 though, wages have no kept pace since then and we have seen the hollowing out of much of our manufacturing. If I remember I think about 40% of GM and Ford's production capacity is in Latin America. I am not sure what GM is building down in Mexico, but I know Ford has recently moved a bulk of its F150 production SOTB.


 The Fiesta and Focus are both built in Mexico.


 The truth is there is no easy fix and frankly I don't really concern myself about it. Western countries have lurched from one crisis to the other over the decades with everybody knowing what HAS to happen, but it impacts too many at the top of the food chain so nothing get done.

 This will really come home to roost as Climate Change becomes more and more prevalent.


 The two biggest issues of our time is the Banking Sector and the Climate. Both need to be dealt with or we're going to have some serious civil unrest over the coming decades...


 Talk of overpopulation and other culture war tripe is a distraction.