Is height important in matters of the heart? George Yancey, professor of sociology, believes that the height preferences of men and women can in part be explained by traditional societal expectations and gender stereotypes.

In the study "Does Height Matter? An Examination of Height Preferences in Romantic Coupling," lead author Yancey and researchers from Rice University uncovered that the height of a potential partner matters more to women than men. The study found that men were much less likely to say that height mattered, and for those who did, they preferred shorter women.

The study appeared in an edition of the Journal of Family Issues.