Stuff Asian People Like

39 responses so far ↓

• 1 Gaurav Ahuja // Sep 10, 2008 at 9:54 am

  When people say “Asians are short”. They do not mean every Asian is short. They mean that Asians are shorter on average than Europeans or Africans. This is true. G

• 2 kvietgrl // Sep 10, 2008 at 10:02 am

  Okay, I’ll take the first stab.

  I’m 5′7”, girl, and I think it’s actually fun being taller. I don’t have to alter or cut any jeans. jk =P At highly-concentrated Asian places, it’s fun because you can find people easier and you also stick out like a sore thumb in Asian countries. =)

  The only downside is you might invite more staring (#25) because people don’t expect Asian girls to be that tall. I noticed Asian people often looking at my feet to see if I’m wearing heels. Also, the comments growing up: “ohh you are so tall” but in fact you are average height at school. What else? Did you drink a lot of milk comments. I’m lactose-intolerant. My whole family will count as 4 votes. Dad - 6′1” full vietnamese Mom - 5′6” full vietnamese Brother 5′11” and still growing!!!

• 3 kvietgrl // Sep 10, 2008 at 10:06 am

  @Gaurav, I agree that Asians are shorter on average and statistical data have shown this.

  But it’s also interesting to see how many people don’t fall under this stereotype and how it was like for them.

• 4 Zaw Htin // Sep 10, 2008 at 12:54 pm

  6′ guy. Milk does the body good (until I became lactose intolerant) When I went back to visit Burma, I stuck out like a sore thumb. But my mom still has hope for me that I’ll be 6′2,” and I’m already 19…. :\ In my really Asian high school, I was one of the tallest, if not the tallest guy in every class, but now that I’m in college, there are a lot of White guys as tall or taller than me.

  But my parents are pretty short. My dad’s 5′7″ and my mom’s 5′3″. But all 3 of my mom’s brothers, my uncles, are 5′11″.

• 5 Zaw Htin // Sep 10, 2008 at 12:55 pm

  So that’s 4 for against the stereotype and 2 for it?

• 6 kvietgrl // Sep 10, 2008 at 2:21 pm

  cool thanks, Zaw!

  the count so far: 4+4=8 against

  and 2 for it =)

• 7 Helen // Sep 10, 2008 at 6:16 pm

  I’m 5′4 which is hopefully average height, but for some reason people always say that I’m short. I think it’s because when white people are short no one cares, but when asians are short everyone comments on it.

  My brother is really tall. He’s 3 years younger, hasn’t gotten his growth spurt yet, but already 5′7

• 8 Lazy AZN // Sep 10, 2008 at 8:48 pm

  I’m 5′10 and i have a twin that is is 6′0 in college, and i have a little brother who is only a freshman in high school and is already 5′8, and my younger sister is in 8th grade who is about 5′6, and my dad is 5′9 and my mom is 5′3, and i have a lot of cousin around my height because everything is bigger in Texas

• 9 Xina // Sep 11, 2008 at 12:06 am

  Im a 5′ 8 (1.78m) girl and im 16……yeah that should give you an idea..

  ” You are so tall” is one of the phrases I’ve heard the most in my life…followed by “You should be a model! ” and then followed by ” you are ASIAN?? O_O”

  yeah i guess most of the time its pretty good being quite tall, i dont stand out THAT much over here because i dont live in a Asian country but…yeah i stick out like a thumb when Im in one though.

  One problem i think im gonna face later is…finding an Asian guy who is taller than me OTL

• 10 Xina // Sep 11, 2008 at 1:55 am

  oops actually im 5′10 sorry >3< I think..O_o…measuring in meters is so much easier!

  not used to measuring in foot, we go for Meters here.

• 11 Shaun // Sep 11, 2008 at 5:38 am

  I’m around the low 170s centremetre mark - around 5′7 and a bit in your terms.

  Yep it sucks being “shorter than average”, but hey, what can you do? For all I care, anyone taller than me is of abnormal height…

• 12 YASPy Chick // Sep 11, 2008 at 7:18 am

  I’m shorter than my parents. Very unusual for the Canadian born child of immigrant parents! I’m a good 2 1/2-3″ shorter than my 5′5″ mother. What don’t I like about being short? Well, the fact that I’m shorter than my mom bothers me. I also don’t like not being able to find clothes. I often buy petite and am an activist when it comes to petite clothing. What I don’t really get is why so many petite Asian women prefer to buy regular length clothes and then altering them rather than buying petite. Petite is cut to fit women shorter than 5′4″ better! (hey, I even created Shorty Stories (http://blog.shorty-stories.com) to talk about these issues). I also don’t like how petite issues are treated as less important, or even ignored by size activists. Hey, being short is a problem too! Lots of short people are not taken seriously and when you’re female, you are sometimes treated like a teenager!

• 13 david k // Sep 11, 2008 at 2:47 pm

  im korean and 5′10… not super tall but not short by american standards

• 14 MPRepresentz // Sep 11, 2008 at 5:20 pm

  Hey, I’m from Monterey Park and I attend UC Berkeley now. That’s a whole smorgasbord of Asian right there. Yes, it’s true that most Asian people are short. However, I am not. I’m a ‘5′8” Chinese girl and my sister is a 5′10”. I can’t even imagine being short. Having long legs is pretty sexy, but sometimes I feel odd standing with my friends who are often under 5′5”. Size varies with Asian folk, but there are more short folk than tall.

  What’s the next stereotype? Small breasts?

• 15 Eric // Sep 12, 2008 at 8:12 pm

  I’m 5′8″ and 15. I’m not built like the typical asian though. I play football, run track, lift weights etc. And I should be still growing.

• 16 Asianmommy // Sep 12, 2008 at 8:45 pm

  I’m 5′1″. It’s hard to find great clothes that fit.

• 17 Alex // Sep 13, 2008 at 8:25 am

  I’m 6′5″ and a half. It’s a blessing and a curse. It is difficult to find clothes like pants and well fitting shirts. Dating shorter girls has been difficult on the back :(. Oh yeah, I have to always watch my head. Nonetheless, it’s a blessing to be different from the norm.

  If it is anything, Asian people are growing taller and taller with better nutrition (ie. growth hormones in milk haha). My family took a trip away from California to China several years back where in one of the cities, there was a basketball competition. I’d like to say that I’ve never seen so many tall Asians in my life before.

  - Alex

• 18 Nonasian Asian // Sep 13, 2008 at 10:20 am

  Being 5′11″ is awesome. It helps you blend in with white folk better than eye enlargement and bleaching hair.

• 19 YvesPaul // Sep 13, 2008 at 6:55 pm

  6 feet 200 lbs of Chinese meat with facial and chest hair. Abnormal, you say?

• 20 ubunta // Sep 14, 2008 at 12:23 am

  Well, I am a girl from Hong Kong, located in South-eastern part of China, 18 years old. I am 5′7 and 116 pounds. And man, I do agree with the fact that Asian people are shorter in general. 5′7 (170cm) is above average globally, however, 5′7 is Hong Kong is basically the average height of guys. Females averages about 5′2. Younger generations are generally taller than older generations. But most are 5′2.

  Let’s face it, Asians have a complex with height. The taller you are and whiter your skin, the more superior as a Asian female. I often get complimented by people because something I was born with. Not that I am complaining, but a lady in a Korean SuperMarket actually stared at me awkwardly. Whatever.

  I am taller than my dad, mom, and sister (no brothers in the family). But my cousins from my mom’s side are tall too, I guess I got it from them.

• 21 dzire78 // Sep 14, 2008 at 10:24 am

  So everybody is posting on this blog about how tall they are etc etc. I wanted to post one for all the little guys out there. I’m turning 20, I’m 5′3 and taller than both of my parents. My grandparents are even shorter. I’m shorter than most Asian people and am here to say that yes, not all Asians are short but some are.

  Directed at a comment above, being a short Asian guy is not as bad as being a short white guy because white girls are way way taller. I’m considered somewhere around Asian girl height, if I was a white guy it would be a bit more awkward trying to get at some of the average sized girls, probably 5′7+.

  This is directed at any of the short guys out there who make be a bit insecure about their height. Be confident about yourself, dress good with clothes that fit, smile, and never make a big deal out of being short because it’ll just make everybody else notice and care.

• 22 HKGirl // Sep 15, 2008 at 7:35 am

  I am 5′7 and 108lbs. The first comments I get when I meet family friends who are Asian is “Oh… you’re sooo tall and skinny”. In fact, 5′7 barely makes the cut off for “tall”, even in my family. My mother is 5′6 and my father is 5′7. My girl cousins are 5′7 and above and my guy cousins are 5′10 and above (with my guy cousin in Aussie at 6′3).

  I also get strangers staring at my feet when I go out (similar to how big-chested girls have guys staring at their chest first!). I always wear flats and this shocks people more. It’s my way of sticking my tongue out at people who can’t look at me but need to look at my feet first.

  My family sometimes makes fun of my flat-flats because my flats are about 1.5 cm above the ground. When I wear heels, I tower over all my friends, including many of the guys.

  I don’t mind being slightly taller. I don’t have to hem my pants (as said in a previous comment) and wear heels all the time.

  I must admit that it’s getting better (less stares) as more Asian girls are growing taller (slightly but surely!) and I see many more Asian girls much taller than me. I get less stares in the US/Canada but more stares in Asia or in Asian-populated areas in the US/Canada.

  I get more stares when I am standing with my boyfriend (also Asian) who is 2″ shorter. I tend to wear flats when going out with him (especially for family gatherings since they often make comments) but when I wear my heels (I only own 3″ and 4″ heels), people stare like we have an extra head between the two of us. He says he doesn’t mind but I think he does so I have acquired a very large collection of flats to make him feel less awkward.

• 23 Shaun // Sep 15, 2008 at 10:29 am

  “What’s the next stereotype? Small breasts?”

  Hmmm… you may be onto something there MPRepresentz…

  Nah just kidding, that’s thoroughly inappropriate, given the number of female readers SAPL has!

  On another note, there was some talk about doing a piece on “submissive girls” on the back of the “nice guys” piece, but thankfully no one followed through on it…

  Wow, I think that may be the weirdest response I’ve ever given on these SAPL comments…

• 24 Will // Sep 15, 2008 at 4:09 pm

  6′ 3″ since early high school. Short Asians are an oddity on college campuses on the east cost. And tall Asians with a somewhat build is getting pretty common here on the east cost. So long to skinny Asian guys.

• 25 ricecake // Sep 16, 2008 at 1:49 pm

  I am a Korean male about 5′ 3″ tall, and I am taller than everyone else in my family (parents and two sisters).

• 26 ~amy~ // Sep 17, 2008 at 8:06 pm

  Little late on the response here but wanted to comment…I’m a 4′8\ Japanese Canadian…both my parents were born in Japan. I can’t imagine being \tall\…love being my size. I’ve gotten use to everything being geared to 5′4\+ and deal with it…not opposed to asking for help at the grocery store or whatever. It definitely seems that it is a generalization about Asians being short….although my brothers and I definitely fit the stereotype.

• 27 AsianGator // Sep 18, 2008 at 9:37 am

  I am a little over 6′1 and 175 lb. I grew over 6 inches between age 16-18 when I switched my diet over to primarily meat and cut out almost all of the rice. My driver’s license for some time read 5′ 7, until a police officer told me I had to get it updated. It is weird because I feel that people are so used to the stereotype that asians are “supposed” to be short. Sometimes I will ask a person to guess my height and they almost always come up short-guessing between 5′8 and 5′10. I agree that it has to do with nutrition, but also genetics. My dad at his tallest (he is old and shrinking now…) was 5′10 and my mom is 5′7. I am the tallest in my family but would still like to be taller.

• 28 Tony // Sep 20, 2008 at 1:43 pm

  I am 19 years old and 6′1 with an athletic build. I am full Filipino (where the male average is 5′7 I believe). The only taller Filipino I’ve met is my brother, who is 6′2, but have seen other Asians taller than me.

  I try not to be vain and know that I am lucky and blessed to have my height. I live in the American southeast and use my height to dispel any stereotypes. My girlfriend’s friends are always surprised to see how tall I am.

• 29 RandomDeamer // Sep 23, 2008 at 2:26 pm

  A bit late on the comments here….

  I’m a 6′1 Taiwanese and my half-bro is 6′4. We’ve been this way since our high school years.

  Being tall has a few negatives - yes there are some. Such as - can’t bring that many clothes when traveling because the luggage gets filled up fast. And the grocery bill can get costly.

  But overall the positives outweigh the negatives.

• 30 Stella // Oct 3, 2008 at 8:48 pm

  I am 5′11 and have been over 5′7″ since middle school. My dad was 5′7 and my mom is 5′3. Its great. I am the tallest on my fathers side of the family, males and females included, and the second tallest on my moms side. I would never want to be any other height. Being an almost 6 ft tall asian girl also helps my stage presence playing shows with my band. People stare, but its never in a negative way.

• 31 Risa // Oct 13, 2008 at 6:04 pm

  I’m 5′3, female asian, and believe it or not, I’m much taller than a lot of girls I come across. Maybe it’s because I go to a multicultural school, where there are many races and immigrants. My dad is 5′6, my brother is 5′8, and my mom is 5′0.

  I don’t think I’m THAT tall, or TOO short, but since I’m always towering over other girls (and even many boys), I feel like I’m tall.

• 32 Oscar and the Ballerz // Oct 19, 2008 at 8:14 am

  17 and 6′6 thats right you read it right… 6 feet 6 inches or 198.5cm for me. Yes it’s in stocking feet obviously. Tallest in my whole high school, tallest in my whole family, tallest in my whole neighbourhood perhaps and tallest in all of my highschool classes.
  It’s helped me because basketball is my favourite hobby and pastime. I love helping out my friends when there team is losing against others in a basketball game at school. I’m one of the best rebounders around.
  Other than that…it’s hard to find clothes that aren’t too short or small. =(

• 33 Me // Oct 19, 2008 at 6:13 pm

  I am 5′0. Who’s complaining?

• 34 Estelle // Oct 20, 2008 at 1:47 pm

  I’m 5′2″ and I really don’t mind being short- it makes long plane trips so much easier ;] The only thing is I wish my legs were a bit longer; I have friends who are 5′2″ or 5′3″ but their legs are so much longer than mine >:[

• 35 Leanne // Nov 1, 2008 at 10:35 pm

  I’m 5′6” and tower over my family especially my very thin, very small, very short aunts. I have a friend who’s about 5′9” though she’s a halfie
  and I’m not sure that really counts

• 36 LT // Nov 4, 2008 at 8:06 pm

  I’m 5′7.” My mom’s an inch taller. I have a friend who’s also Asian and taller than I am. Her brothers all clear 6′. So do my male cousins (all full Asian) and another Asian male friend of mine.

  What’s funny is that I’m taller than all my non-Asian female friends, save 1 (she’s 5′11″).

• 37 SW // Nov 11, 2008 at 2:51 pm

  I am 6′10, Male, and the tallest person in the whole university (I am studying in UK) For the past 3 years, i have shown that asian people are not short after all!

• 38 D // Nov 20, 2008 at 2:17 pm

  I’m 5′5 which is average height for an American female. But my family and relatives say I’m tall. Currently, I’m the tallest female in my family. I’m also taller than many of my adult male relatives.

• 39 D // Nov 28, 2008 at 9:33 pm

  my dad is chinese and 6′4. he’s the tallest of his siblings, who all clear 6′.

  i’m 5′7 (female) and i frequently get called tall by asians but… 5′7 is pretty average.

  my dad says he felt like a freak while he was growing up, and before moving to the US none of his clothes ever fit.

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