"you're petite"

[sandra]

i've been informed of this twice this week - both by older and much taller Caucasian men.

in both instances, i don't think that they meant it in a rude or disrespectful way at all.

but in both instances, i didn't know what the proper response was - as it was a completely unsolicited remark.

so! i know not all asian women are petite, but for those of you who are - do people ever tell you that you are? does it matter if it's an asian person or a non-asian person saying this to you? what is your initial reaction?

(i'm about 5'3". in chinatown, i'm considered tall - it's true!)

[hooligan]

you're five-three? i always thought/felt you were taller.

[sandra]

you're five-three? i always thought/felt you were taller.

i'm almost 5'5" with my heels =)

[Mo'Taka]

if those men said something in the line of "oh you asian girls are petite," than you should slug the bastard. But petite is a general woman's term, usually applied to french women, who are generally a bit smaller than their europeon counterparts.

[nonamerasian]

I'm 5'4'' and I'm told how short I am often.

Funny how quite a few of the people aren't too much taller. Whenever that's the case, you can just size the person up with your eyes and they'll get the point.

I don't put any energy into the issue, though. I really don't care.

(BTW, how are you tall in Chinatown? I'm not tall in Chinatown (Manhattan). I'm only tall in preschools.)

[sandra]

(BTW, how are you tall in Chinatown? I'm not tall in Chinatown (Manhattan). I'm only tall in preschools.)

i don't know - i just am.

[mr. x]

hmm kinda reminds me, this girl in my english class last quarter (asian) was talking about how she used to live in a pretty white area in america (our area is pretty heavily asian as u all know) and how it made her want to be white like everyone else but less so now that she lives here. anyway she said something about asians being small (i forget which discussion in particular) which made me wonder if maybe im considered unusual even around here. i guess im kinda tall and "big" but it coulda been a self-reflective thing (she was petite but the asian girls at my HS were ALL petite, like asian girls from different HS's i swear were like a whole different breed)

anyway where was i. oh yes and i was having ice cream with a girl i had a huge crush on in HS and she said she was tall for a girl and i kinda laughed it off i guess cuz i didnt really think of her as tall or short, just...her. where am i going with this....i duno i guess my warped mentality is like when i think of a tall girl i think of like a tomboyish white girl

[dorkus malorkus]

I'm 4'10 and I do have people tell me how short I am. All I say is thank you, I like being short. I don't really care. its doesn't offend me because i'm comfortable in my own skin. The comments that I usually get are you're short how cute.

[robotic]

i've never been to chinatown. what is it like? do they have japantown and koreatown as well? i'm 5'2" and fourteen. i would really like to grow, though. my twin brother is 5'4", my mother is the same height, and my dad is 5'7".

[Bhodi_Li]

I thought that women would generally like to be called petite?

[nifer]

hrm.... i'm 5'5 (5'7 in certain shoes :tongue: ) so i've never been told i'm petite :wink: although... i have been told by many non-asians that i'm tall for an asian gal? :confused:

[Tao]

most asian females i see in the city are around 5' 6'' and 5' 7''

[rice cracker]

I'm 5'7". I feel like an Amazon now. *puts on three inch heels*

[yoMAMA]

Petite is cute....... :cool:

i know a really cute white girl in college, she looks like a big doll.....and she's only 4'10. [i think she's from bhodi_li's hometown, too :smile: ]

I have a fetish for petite girls, i guess....... :biggrin:
:wink:

[>:^|]

I think it's inappropriate to comment on people's physical appearance. I think there's an element of sexism in that comment. Additionally, I have the feeling it's about establishing dominance and power.

Duh! Like he's telling you something you don't already know?

[Hiroshi2]

i've been informed of this twice this week - both by older and much taller Caucasian men.

in both instances, i don't think that they meant it in a rude or disrespectful way at all.

but in both instances, i didn't know what the proper response was - as it was a completely unsolicited remark.

so! i know not all asian women are petite, but for those of you who are - do people ever tell you that you are? does it matter if it's an asian person or a non-asian person saying this to you? what is your initial reaction?

(i'm about 5'3". in chinatown, i'm considered tall - it's true!)



I've never seen you before, but for some reason I pictured you as being about 5'7" or 5'8", don't ask me why! :smile:


Anyway, being called "petite" or "skinny" may seem like a compliment to some, but not others. While I notice many white (and maybe Asians too, I guess) women prefer to be skinny, many black women prefer to be called "thick", i.e. not skinny, so I've found that calling them skinny may be a bit of an insult, and "petite" is just a polite way of saying that *shrugs*

[iris]

I've been called "petite" or "small." I'm Kasie's height.

I don't really care. It's the truth. And I've told people they're tall before.

[sandra]

I think it's inappropriate to comment on people's physical appearance. I think there's an element of sexism in that comment. Additionally, I have the feeling it's about establishing dominance and power.

Duh! Like he's telling you something you don't already know?

yeh...that's kinda how i feel. especially b/c both were in a work environment. and one was by a client - who is seeking advice from me. it's weird that he would say, "you're so petite."

[iris]

I agree that it is weird from someone you've never met before and a client no less.

[Hiroshi2]

From someone you don't know yeah it's weird. But if it's somebody you know, I don't know what's wrong with it unless it's a negative comment.

[yoMAMA]

yeh...that's kinda how i feel. especially b/c both were in a work environment. and one was by a client - who is seeking advice from me. it's weird that he would say, "you're so petite."


true...that is weird.......

dirty old men?!?!?!

[applehead]

pleeeeease. it is so inappropriate to comment
on someone's physical appearance.
especially a co-worker, stranger or someone you just met.

i get a lot of "you're tall for a chinese girl."
first of all. i know i'm tall. i ain't blind.
second, if you think i'm chinese, you obviously don't
know me well enough to comment on my body.
really.
no one goes around saying "wow. you're really over-weight."
or "you look so aneroxic."
it's just rude.

[BigLew]

I'd say it was a half ass atemp at hitting on you.

[mr. x]

kasia you are ten feet tall in my eyes

[Hiroshi2]

pleeeeease. it is so inappropriate to comment
on someone's physical appearance.
especially a co-worker, stranger or someone you just met.

i get a lot of "you're tall for a chinese girl."
first of all. i know i'm tall. i ain't blind.
second, if you think i'm chinese, you obviously don't
know me well enough to comment on my body.
really.
no one goes around saying "wow. you're really over-weight."
or "you look so aneroxic."
it's just rude.




How tall are you?

[moJo]

i've never gotten the "you're petite" or similar, from strangers. i've gotten "shorty", "you're so short!", etc from my friends (male and female) and exes in a joking, poking-fun way. i don't think they've ever said "petite". that just sounds kinda...ultra-femme, and i don't think i exude that, usually. :rolleyes: oh, and i'm 5'3.

someone at the workplace (aside from coworkers who are your friends) or just a stranger saying that stuff - especially when they think it's a compliment - is just creepy.

[kitchen]

i've always gotten the "you're the perfect height to be my arm rest" *tall guy leans on my head*

i'm 5'1 3/4" !

[Made in China]

I'm 5'5, and (dont mock my youthful age)

I drink milk everyday. Doesn't seem to help.

[BigLew]

I'm 5'5, and (dont mock my youthful age)

I drink milk everyday. Doesn't seem to help.Forget the milk son it's all about protien, vitamins and hormones in American chicken, beef and pork!

[mr. x]

asian guys do it too though, cuz when they know a short short girl they do the head pat thing and she's like

"noooooo im tall!"

[PropellerheadCP]

i've never gotten the "you're petite" or similar, from strangers. i've gotten "shorty", "you're so short!", etc from my friends (male and female) and exes in a joking, poking-fun way. i don't think they've ever said "petite". that just sounds kinda...ultra-femme, and i don't think i exude that, usually. :rolleyes: oh, and i'm 5'3.

someone at the workplace (aside from coworkers who are your friends) or just a stranger saying that stuff - especially when they think it's a compliment - is just creepy.

Oh, they just envy you, because you're the perfect height. Just kick them on the shin and laugh, as they fall below your eye level. :biggrin:

[yoMAMA]

Forget the milk son it's all about protien, vitamins and hormones in American chicken, beef and pork!

word!