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Women, so it would seem, have always favored taller men.

The results of a study released last month suggest that women’s preference for taller men is a natural result of human evolution. Dr. David Carrier, from the University of Utah, said that thanks to their height, taller men are able to pack more punch, quite literally, than their shorter counterparts, making them more useful to women as protectors, according to sexual selection theory.

But in these modern times, aren’t women more interested in matching up with a lover than a fighter?

Apparently not. Even today, women still think taller men are smarter, kinder and stronger.

Despite claiming to be looking for romance, loyalty or other internal attributes in a partner, plenty of women will choose tall men over the more vertically challenged, expecting them to be more successful and powerful.

But I think it’s unfair for women to correlate a man’s height with his ability to protect them and make them happy. There are plenty of short men out there with the brains and brawn to match their taller brothers.

Anyone who thinks taller men are stronger should check out the world of martial arts. Here, you’ll find karate masters and kickboxing champions of short to medium stature taking down their taller counterparts with nothing but strength and skill. Height is irrelevant when it comes to landing a lightning takedown in the dojo.

Height doesn’t matter on the movie screen, either. Just take a look at Tom Cruise. His below-average height of 172 centimeters certainly hasn’t stopped him from becoming one of the most successful actors in the American film industry. Cruise is handsome, talented, famous and super-rich. What more could a woman want?

Would a woman really choose a tall man who couldn’t charm her with sweet words? Would she choose a tall man who was always jobless and broke, over a hard-working shorter man?

As the world is changing, I think women are in fact becoming smarter when it comes to choosing a man based on things other than his physical characteristics. And if you ask me, it’s the guys of average height they should really be looking out for. When you’re the same height as your partner, you can really see eye to eye, so to speak. You can lean on each other’s shoulders as you walk around the mall, and when you go in for the kiss, there’s no need to get up on your tiptoes.

Tasa Nugraza Barley is a features reporter at the Jakarta Globe.

When it was announced in 2005 that British actor Daniel Craig would be the new James Bond, few people were convinced that he could manage the challenging role of the iconic sex symbol. Why? For many, he was simply too short.

Of course, Craig proved the critics wrong with his highly acclaimed performance as the world-famous spy — even from a height of only 178 centimeters. But the widespread doubt about his ability to carry it off only shows the prejudice that exists against men of a certain stature.

The stereotype follows that short men are more aggressive and jealous in relationships — because they need to compensate for their lack of height.

But if you take a look around, you’ll find that many of the most widely adored male stars are no giants.

Only two weeks ago, I was at a mall in Central Jakarta, passing by a music store, when I witnessed a most peculiar scene: a long line of mostly teenage girls, laughing and chatting excitedly. Upon inquiry, I was told that they were waiting for David Choi, an American-Korean singer, who was scheduled to appear for a meet and greet.

Suddenly, the girls all started screaming in unison — David Choi had arrived. I had never seen him before, but was surprised when a relatively short and plain-looking guy, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, strolled into the store. I had expected someone much taller, but was pleasantly surprised to see the real David Choi. Short, but nevertheless causing as much hysteria as any other star.

Personally, I’ve never seen what all the fuss is about when it comes to height. I once dated a man who was shorter than me. I didn’t find him to be insanely jealous or possessive and I never had a problem with his short stature.

Did I flaunt it? Of course not. I didn’t wear high heels to accentuate the fact that my boyfriend was shorter than me. But it also never really bothered me that I was a bit taller than him.

I can’t really speak for him, but the height issued never really seemed to bother him either. I think that anyone with a healthy does of self-esteem should be able to stand above this stupid prejudice when it comes to height.

If people look at a couple where the woman is taller than the man and feel the need to laugh, well then, just let them laugh. And instead of getting angry, just laugh back at them for their narrow-mindedness.

Katrin Figge is deputy features editor at the Jakarta Globe.