We need to talk about sexism related to height and other bodily characteristics. I’ve seen the belief that being shorter than average “distances people from manhood,” specifically in the context of trans men (by other trans people, even!). I don’t see how someone could hold this belief and not apply it to all shorter men, and not apply the inverse to taller trans and cis women (that adding height brings someone closer to manhood/distances them from womanhood). A cis woman has said to my face that she “just thinks short men are unmasculine,” despite being aware that I am a 5’0 trans guy. Height is not necessarily indicative of someone’s relationship to femininity, masculinity, or androgyny. It is not inherently a form of gender expression, as people can often not control it.
Combatting sexism includes not considering being tall, lack of breasts, having a penis/penis size a sign of manhood; or wide hips, breasts, a vagina, and lack of a penis a sign of womanhood. Yes, that includes to stop making fun of cis men for being short, their penis size, and otherwise considering them less of a man for their physical traits. You cannot be fully against transphobia while also claiming that the characteristics people are born with, genitals and otherwise, indicate their gender and how others should perceive them. Your gender is however you identify, regardless of how you look.
