By Abby Ellin

Abby Ellin is an author, a journalist and a former columnist for The New York Times. She stands 5 feet 2⅞ inches tall.

Sept. 10, 2024

Updated 7:45 a.m. ET

With Tuesday night’s debate approaching, Kamala Harris’s height — she is 5 feet 4¼ inches tall — came up over the weekend as a potential issue during the event.

The former President Donald J. Trump, whose reported height is 6-foot-3, called attention to their size discrepancy on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying no accommodations should be made to make them appear closer to the same size.

“No boxes or artificial lifts will be allowed to stand on during my upcoming debate with Comrade Kamala Harris,” he wrote. He added that such accommodations — which he claims Michael Bloomberg once demanded — would be “a form of cheating.”

Ms. Harris has not commented on whether she has made a request for any sort of lift. But seeing the candidates together may make many who tune in for the debate aware of her actual height for the first time — a reality that could have been previously masked by what some call Tall Energy.

Ms. Harris’s relatively modest height, and how people tend to get it wrong, has come up before.

In signature prosecutorial fashion, she addressed the issue during a January interview with Katie Couric in which Ms. Couric recited a Wikipedia entry that had Ms. Harris erroneously listed as 5-foot-2. Ms. Couric, no giant at just under 5-foot-4, said she was excited to discover that “Kamala is short like me.”

“That is absolutely incorrect,” Ms. Harris said with a smile that suggested she was accustomed to such comments. “With heels, which I always wear, I’m 5-7½, thank you very much.”

The average height of an adult American woman is 5 feet 3½ inches tall, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (for men, it’s 5-foot-9). But that’s beside the point. Even in her beloved Chuck Taylors, which offer little in the way of height assistance, Ms. Harris, to many of her supporters, seems taller than she is.

For some, that is because Ms. Harris exudes Tall Energy, a vertical state of being more commonly linked with the statuesque, but sometimes co-opted by more petite women. The vocal powerhouse Kristin Chenoweth, at 4-foot-11, has it. So does the 5-foot-1 Lady Gaga and the 5-foot-2 Reese Witherspoon.

“Tall Energy is the confidence that comes from being above average height,” Nicholas Rule, a psychology professor at the University of Toronto who researches social perception and cognition, said of the concept.

Mr. Rule said that people tended to respond to taller people in a particular way for evolutionary reasons. In most nonhuman primates, size determines who will win the battles to reproduce. That is why animals make themselves larger when they feel threatened. It is also why some studies have shown that taller candidates typically win elections; they’re considered more dominant, more formidable and stronger. And it’s why other studies have shown that taller people are often rewarded with more money, greater promotions and more dates.

“Being taller makes people think you’re more competent, and being a winner makes you more confident,” said Barry Bogin, emeritus professor of biological anthropology at Loughborough University in England and the author of “Patterns of Human Growth.” Mr. Bogin, 74, said he was 6-foot-1 in his heyday and recalls getting into trouble while goofing around with shorter friends in elementary school. “The teacher said she expected more from me,” he said. “It was backhanded positive feedback.”

Never has Tall Energy — or its corollary, Short Energy — been as evident as it was when pandemic restrictions began to lift and colleagues began meeting one another in person for the first time, coming face to face (or not) with people they had been communicating with for the months, or even years, in “Brady Bunch”-like squares. The results, for some, were mind-blowing.

That was certainly the case for Camille Sweeney, an author and one of the creators of Future Me, a career prep program in New York. She was thrown for a loop when she met some members of her online writing group in person for the first time. Ms. Sweeney expected the organizer, a philosophy professor, to be tiny. “She was smart and perky and wore big glasses, and I just thought she was small,” recalled Ms. Sweeney, who is 5-foot-8. Instead, the professor was lithe and willowy and hovered around six feet tall. “Your perception of someone is one thing, and it was like a blind date,” Ms. Sweeney said. “I was intimidated — and I’m not short.”

Ms. Sweeney acknowledges that her own biases may have affected her perception. Her mother, a “small but mighty force,” is only 5-foot-2. Ms. Sweeney connects shortness with getting-it-doneness, a trait the philosophy professor clearly possessed.

It is similar for Kristen Berman, the 5-foot-1 chief executive of Irrational Labs, an applied behavior science consulting firm in Oakland, Calif. She often hears that, despite her height, she gives the impression of being much taller.

“People are surprised when they meet me,” she said. She can’t really square her diminutive stature with her own image of herself. “I find when I look at other women my height, I’m surprised,” she said. “I don’t see myself as that short. Playing it bigger, louder, with more humor can make a difference. I think that’s a learned behavior over time.”

Still, just to be extra safe, she always stands up straight, shoulders back, sternum forward. And she wears heels at networking events.

Tall and Short Energy aren’t just female attributes. Tom Cruise is about 5-foot-7, but some fans might be unaware of that. “Part of it is the way he carries himself,” said Adam D. Galinsky, author of the forthcoming book “Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others,” who is a professor of leadership and ethics at Columbia Business School. “What you might call Tall Energy I might call Being-in-Control Energy,” he said. “This person knows what they’re doing. They make people feel protected. They’ll have your back.”

To that end, James Madison, the fourth president of the United States who was known for his contributions to the Bill of Rights, stood only 5 feet 4 inches tall, with some believing he was far shorter than that.

While Ms. Harris is competing against a tall man in the presidential election, Mr. Rule and Mr. Galinsky stressed that her size shouldn’t be a liability, because women are expected to be more petite than men. If she were running against, say, Michelle Obama, who is 5-foot-11, or Nikki Haley, who is 5-foot-6, that might be a different story.

And in the end, individuals’ actual height isn’t the point; what matters is how tall they seem.

No one knows that better than Ms. Harris. “My mother was all of five feet tall,” she said in a video posted to Facebook for Mother’s Day in 2019. “But if you ever met her you would think she was seven feet tall.”

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5591742&forum_id=2Reputation#48069244)

not flame

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5591742&forum_id=2Reputation#48069254)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5591742&forum_id=2Reputation#48069262)

You can just round up to 5'3", christ

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5591742&forum_id=2Reputation#48069318)

https://www.cantonrep.com/gcdn/authoring/2008/12/26/NREP/ghows-OH-970e9850-7fcd-4858-97ed-8d5a4ef91068-2a50dcad.jpeg

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5591742&forum_id=2Reputation#48069340)

Tall Guys always use these times to aggrandize themselves beyond all reason. People see Jews and azns as “competent” and Tall Guys as Tall. They make the Tall Guy CEO but it’s not perceived competence. It’s because of Clique. They can’t just say Clique or phenotype. They have to gaslight the Short. Discuss.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5591742&forum_id=2Reputation#48072039)

1. Overview of the Thread Dynamics:

Mainlining's post, which includes the text from a New York Times article titled "Trump Mocks Harris’s Height. But Her Fans See a Certain Stature," is presented without direct commentary but is immediately met with reactions that vary from humor and skepticism to more explicit critique. The post draws attention to a piece that discusses Kamala Harris's height in the context of a potential debate with Donald Trump, touching on themes of physical stature, public perception, and the media's framing of these elements.

2. Key Themes in the Discussion:

A. Satirical and Ironic Responses:

FizzKidd (gleeked lightly):

The response, “wow not flame,” is a direct and sarcastic critique of the article’s content. In AutoAdmit’s context, “flame” is often used to describe content that is engaging, provocative, or entertaining. By declaring the article "not flame," FizzKidd is suggesting it lacks these qualities—possibly viewing the topic of Kamala Harris's height as trivial or undeserving of serious attention.

Cletus McRacism (FAGGOTCHIPPER / Hegemon):

The response, “lmfao,” serves to amplify the mockery directed toward the article. This poaster finds humor in the discussion about Harris's height and Trump’s commentary, further establishing a tone of ridicule.

Just Be Racist:

This poaster’s non-response or blank message continues the tradition of minimalistic engagement that either aims to derail the conversation or show disdain for the topic at hand without using many words. This style of posting is typical in AutoAdmit to maintain a sense of mystery or avoid giving the impression of being overly invested in the discussion.

B. Critical Engagement with Article Content:

Which Dad?:

Suggests that women named or writing in the news should include full-body and face pictures, ostensibly to save readers time. This comment adds a layer of misogyny to the thread, objectifying the female authors and subjects, and reducing the discussion of their content to their physical appearances. This is an example of how AutoAdmit discussions often veer into controversial or offensive territory.

.,.,.,..;.....,.,.,.,.,.,...,.,. ( ):

This poaster critiques the hyper-specific height given for Abby Ellin, mocking the pedantic nature of the detail ("You can just round up to 5'3", christ"). This criticism reflects AutoAdmit's culture of challenging perceived trivialities or inconsistencies, especially in mainstream media.

I am a Christian:

With the response, "Height didn't matter but she actually is tall," this poaster sarcastically downplays the article's focus on Harris's height, suggesting that the media is overcompensating for a perceived shortcoming or irrelevancy by reframing it in a positive light.

C. Broader Societal and Cultural Commentary:

Obeezy ( (1.000.000,00k$$ )):

Provides a more nuanced response, bringing in themes of societal perception and privilege by mentioning "Clique" dynamics, how "Tall Guys" are perceived as more competent, and the idea of "gaslighting the Short." This poaster critiques societal structures and stereotypes that favor tall individuals, especially in professional or leadership contexts, suggesting that such biases are arbitrary or manipulated. They also link to an image of Barry Bogin, criticizing his appearance and name in a way that fits AutoAdmit’s tradition of character-based humor.

D. Underlying Community Dynamics:

Mainlining the $ecret truth of the univer$e:

Mainlining replies to the first commenter stating, "I never flame 🔥 speak the truth," reiterating his commitment to presenting "truths" even when they might be contentious. This fits into his established persona of challenging norms, questioning mainstream narratives, and inviting debate.

Authoritative Control of Discourse:

The thread reflects AutoAdmit’s ongoing dynamics where poasters challenge or mock mainstream media narratives, showing skepticism or disdain for perceived trivialities. By targeting an article that seemingly focuses on a less substantive aspect of a political figure (her height), the poasters implicitly criticize what they see as a lack of meaningful content in current media discourse.

3. Broader Context and Implications:

A. Dissecting Media Narratives and Bias:

The discussion around the New York Times article serves as a platform for poasters to critique media priorities, particularly how mainstream outlets cover political figures and topics that might seem inconsequential. The mockery of a focus on Kamala Harris's height is indicative of a broader skepticism on AutoAdmit toward what they perceive as "fluff" journalism or narratives driven by identity politics.

B. Commentary on Identity Politics and Physical Attributes:

Many of the comments indirectly touch upon themes of identity politics, physical stature, and societal perceptions. This conversation on AutoAdmit showcases how the community often engages with broader societal narratives, not to align with them but rather to mock or critique the very premises on which such narratives are built.

C. Maintaining Community Culture and Continuity:

The thread underscores the community’s core attributes: humor, irony, and irreverence. By focusing on a seemingly inconsequential aspect of a political debate (height), the poasters maintain the site's tradition of contrarianism and push against mainstream narratives, reflecting AutoAdmit's distinct culture of engagement.

Conclusion:

Mainlining’s post, along with the subsequent discussion, reflects the multifaceted nature of AutoAdmit’s discourse—ranging from satirical humor and minimalistic engagement to deeper societal critiques. The thread exemplifies AutoAdmit’s continued exploration of identity, perception, and societal norms, using humor and irony as tools to navigate and challenge mainstream media narratives. The responses highlight the board's preference for subversive commentary, which often seeks to undermine conventional wisdom or dominant narratives by emphasizing their perceived triviality or irrelevance.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5591742&forum_id=2Reputation#48072063)