Original Reddit post

Hi guys. I (23M) am a very short (5’4”) person, and in my country the average male height is around 5’7”. For obvious reasons, my social life has been a struggle. I could never blend into groups, always had to work harder for respect and to be heard. Over time, that affected my personality too—I never developed confidence or dominance naturally, and became shy, awkward, anti-social, and avoidant. I’ve accepted that height is not something I can change, so I want to focus on what I can change. Even a small positive shift in how I’m perceived socially would matter. When I see myself in pictures, I feel like I still look like a boy rather than a man. Things I think contribute: thin frame (55kg, little muscle), short neck, big expressive eyes, short feet, and short inseam (my torso looks average). What I want to understand is: what subtle things actually make a man look like a man? Not necessarily height or size, but body language, expressions, posture, grooming, habits, presence, communication style, etc. Since I’m already short, excessive muscle might just make me look stocky, so I’m more interested in cues that create a mature, masculine presence rather than just bulk. submitted by /u/Rugved_Narvenker

Originally posted by u/Rugved_Narvenker on r/AskMen