Sure, it's shallow to judge a man by his stature, but I can't help it. I'm only 5-5, and I'm attracted to men who are my own height. It seems perfectly reasonable to me. There are all kinds of equally superficial reasons to be turned on or off by someone. Many women will only date a man if he has a full head of hair. Others insist on a washboard stomach. Measuring a man's attractiveness in vertical inches may be superficial, but at least it's a feature that lasts a lifetime.

Unfortunately, like so many of life's finest luxuries, there just aren't enough short men to go around. In the United States the average man is 5-9. We're second only to the Netherlands for having the tallest people in the world. (The average Dutchman stands almost 6 feet tall, or 6-2 if he's wearing those wooden shoes.) Japan's average man is a perfect 5-5, but it's an awfully long way to go for a date. For American women, there's always going to be a shortage of short guys.

Last December I took a trip to Las Vegas just so I could be there during the annual Jockey's Guild Convention. I pictured a hotel full of short guys, a chance to get lucky with every elevator ride. But it was a losing proposition. The convention was held at the MGM Grand, the biggest hotel in town; short guys are tough to find in a crowd.

Some would say that there aren't as many short men because of natural selection. More women prefer taller men. But do they really, or do they just not know any better?

I've always wondered about women who want their men to be a head taller than they are. Perhaps they are uncomfortable about looking their guy in the eye? Do they feel too large and want to feel petite? Maybe it's some kind of daddy fixation. Or do they just believe that a man doesn't listen anyway, so why not talk to his chest?

Perhaps some women are overwhelmed by the male physique. They're only capable of dealing with one body part at a time. Personally, I like to have everything within easy reach. Kissing is a lot more fun when you're not getting a cramp in your neck. And for a total erotic experience, you just can't beat having lips, nips and hips all match up at the same time. There's a special intimacy that comes with being the same height as your lover. Visually, your perspective is the same. You truly see each other eye to eye. And with lips so close to ears, secrets are easily shared, even in public places.

There's a sense of exhibitionism that comes into play, too. You and your lover are always so perfectly aligned, so perfectly matched up, so easy access. Clothes are all that keep your bodies from touching in all the right places.

A woman in my yoga class says that short guys are great for "playground sex." "It's like when you were kids and the boys and girls were pretty much the same size. Back then just kissing seemed so forbidden and exciting. I feel that same way when I'm with my short boyfriend," she said, adding quickly, "not that I'm into little kids or anything."

There is a special youthfulness about short men. Most retain their boyish looks well beyond boyhood. The aging back problems that plague their taller brothers aren't as common among short men. Gravity is kinder to them. And, of course, sex fits better. Being the same height makes it possible to do complicated positions without being super flexible. Standing sex is easier when your legs are the same length. And if you're into toys or fantasy clothes, well, one size fits both.